Purwell Primary School
Fairfield Way, Purwell Primary School, Fairfield Way Hitchin Herts. Sg40pu, Hitchin, SG4 0PUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Purwell Primary School is a primary school in Hitchin for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 17th of 22 primary schools in Hitchin. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 September 2024, report published 10 November 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- 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 24 September 2024
Pupils are happy and feel safe in their school. They know that adults will help if they have any worries. Breaktimes are lively and sociable. Pupils understand and typically meet the school's high expectations, as set out in 'The Purwell Way'. As a result, most pupils are kind, behave well and want to do their best. They are proud of their work and enjoy opportunities to share their success with others. In the early years, children settle into routines quickly. They enjoy the stories and rhymes that they experience together. Older pupils speak excitedly about the books that they are reading. They know that reading is important to their future success. Pupils who need extra help, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are supported to achieve well across subjects. Pupils are polite and welcoming. Older pupils watch out for their younger peers, for example in their roles as canteen helpers. Pupils' wider interests are catered for through a range of clubs and activities. There is something for everyone, including for children in the early years. Ongoing improvements to pupils' school experiences mean that they are prepared effectively for secondary education by the end of Year 6.
What the school should improve
- Not all staff are confident in delivering the intended curriculum. Occasionally, activities are not matched well to pupils' knowledge or what they can do. This means that some pupils do not move on to the next stage as quickly as they could or learn as deeply as they should. The school should prioritise the ongoing evaluation of curriculum implementation so that support can be targeted precisely to match staff's continued professional development needs.
- A few parents feel that communication with the school is not as strong as it needs to be. In such cases, parents feel that contact between school and home is too slow and decisions are not clearly explained. The school should extend its work to strengthen communications so that relationships with all parents are effective.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
30 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
129 pupils on roll, with places for 243
Schools near Purwell Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Exton Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 40% met the expected standard |
| Highover Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 68% met the expected standard |
| William Ransom Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 78% met the expected standard |
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 68% met the expected standard |
| Whitehill Junior School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Cano
- Phone
- 01462432950
- Address
- Fairfield Way, Purwell Primary School, Fairfield Way Hitchin Herts. Sg40pu, Hitchin, SG4 0PU
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117224
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.