St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School
Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School is a primary school in Harpenden for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 7th of 10 primary schools in Harpenden. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2012.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 November 2012, report published 4 December 2012
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 March 2022
St Nicholas is a very happy school. Pupils are polite, friendly, and enthusiastic about learning. In the playground, they like talking about what they know. Parents praise the 'balance' between 'the nurturing environment' and 'fostering a love of learning'. Pupils appreciate the safe and caring community that leaders create. Pupils adopt the school's values, such as kindness and responsibility. This starts in the early years, where children quickly learn to take turns and share. When pupils move in from other schools, they feel welcomed. Pupils treat their peers with respect. They say that bullying is rare. If there are issues, pupils trust leaders to resolve them. Behaviour is calm. In lessons there is a purposeful atmosphere. Play at breaktimes is a lot of fun. Pupils respond well to the high expectations and clear routines that leaders set. Pupils develop their learning and characters through a wide range of opportunities. Older pupils become 'ambassadors' for important aspects of the school, such as reading and sport. Pupils can go to several clubs, for instance mindfulness, street dancing, chess, and girls' football. They describe excitedly what they learn from trips, such as about gravity at a science fair.
What the school should improve
- Not all staff who support pupils with their reading are confident in teaching phonics. Some younger pupils could be learning to read quicker than they are. Leaders must ensure that all staff are trained effectively so they know how to support early readers well.
- In a few areas of the curriculum, leaders do not meticulously identify and assess the knowledge pupils should learn. On occasion, pupils do not develop a deep knowledge or understanding, and so do not make as many connections between the different things they learn, as they should. Leaders must plan the curriculum equally well in all subjects, and ensure that teachers deliver this as leaders intend.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
22 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
149 pupils on roll, with places for 154
Schools near St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpenden Academy | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| St Hilda's School | 0.3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| St Dominic Catholic Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Roundwood Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 69% met the expected standard |
| Manland Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 91% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rizelle Crouch
- Phone
- 01582623620
- Address
- Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TP
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117434
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.