Holwell Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 5 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3RPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Holwell Primary School is a primary school in Welwyn Garden City for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 5th of 15 primary schools in Welwyn Garden City. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 25 January 2023, report published 19 March 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 January 2023

Holwell Primary is an inclusive, warm, caring school. Pupils' welfare and education are at its heart. Each morning, leaders welcome pupils with a warm bagel and a smile. Leaders are determined for all pupils to be the best they can be. Pupils are encouraged to flourish and achieve as a result of a culture where expectations are high. There are harmonious relationships between all pupils and staff. These are seen during the 'chatty reader' sessions and at breaks and lunchtimes. The school is calm and orderly. Pupils show good conduct and respectful attitudes. They talk about their learning with pride. Support for pupils' well-being through a range of enrichment opportunities helps them to thrive. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. The RICRAC values (respect, independence, cooperation, resilience, aspiration, courage) underpin the curriculum. These help pupils develop positive attitudes towards their learning. RICRAC tokens are a strong motivation for pupils. They strive to show these values at all times. Bullying is rare and, if needed, leaders take robust and sensitive action. Pupils and parents trust staff to deal with any worries quickly.

What the school should improve

  • Older pupils, and those who are no longer at the early stages of reading, do not have their reading fluency checked as frequently and rigorously as those at the early stages of reading. This means they sometimes choose books that do not closely match their ability. This affects their understanding. Leaders should ensure that there are systems in place to check that the books pupils are choosing are closely matched to their reading ability.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

56 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths77%

77%, 15 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths9%

9%, 1 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score109

109, 3 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

397 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals31.7%

31.7%, 5.2 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language19.4%

19.4%, 2.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support10.8%

10.8%, 4 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan7.3%

7.3%, 1.3 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Holwell Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Peartree Primary School0.2 milesOfsted: Good75% met the expected standard
Our Lady Catholic Primary School0.3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard70% met the expected standard
Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School0.4 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding80% met the expected standard
Creswick Academy0.5 milesOfsted: Requires improvement40% met the expected standard
Panshanger Primary School0.8 milesOfsted: Good80% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
5 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Miss S French
Address
Holwell Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3RP
Local authority
Hertfordshire
URN
117175

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.