Stapleford Primary School
Church Lane, Stapleford, Hertford, SG14 3NBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Stapleford Primary School is a primary school in Hertford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 May 2024, report published 19 June 2024
- 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 8 May 2024
Pupils attend a close-knit school, nestled in the countryside. They like how leaders and staff know them and their families well. Pupils notice how staff encourage them to do their best. They are particularly pleased with the changes made to the curriculum. It is helping them to build up a rich store of knowledge, such as how to tell the time or learning facts about different countries. Also, pupils dive into the high-quality reading books available in school. Community involvement further enhances pupils' education. Forest school sessions on a nearby country estate, for example, teach valuable skills. These include den- building, campfire starting and foraging. Pupils enthusiastically share experiences of making wild garlic pesto, campfire pizza and delicious s'mores. Pupils get along famously. Break- and lunchtimes are a hive of activity. Pupils perch on climbing frames, play games of football or dance around a maypole. Older pupils mentor younger ones. They guide them through activities, such as how to navigate the dining hall at the start of the school year. Using the school's phrase, 'Stop it! I don't like it' helps pupils to understand and respect personal boundaries. Consequently, pupils feel happy and safe.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes, staff do not readily notice when pupils struggle to learn content or have misconceptions. This means that pupils sometimes remain stuck and disengage or get the wrong idea about a concept. The school should ensure that staff effectively use their training to improve their checks on pupils' learning, spotting readily when to adjust their teaching so pupils achieve well.
- Currently, the school's approach to improving attendance is not addressing the persistent absenteeism for some pupils. This means that some pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. The school should revise how it identifies and addresses absence to ensure more pupils attend school regularly and benefit from all the school has to offer.
Pupil numbers and mix
82 pupils on roll, with places for 96
Schools near Stapleford Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heath Mount School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 73% met the expected standard |
| Bengeo Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 61% met the expected standard |
| Hertford St Andrew CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford) | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 46% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr James Shillito
- Phone
- 01992583341
- Address
- Church Lane, Stapleford, Hertford, SG14 3NB
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117455
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.