Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 7
Ofsted: Good

Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2LJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery is a primary school in Berkhamsted for ages 3 to 7. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2012.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 2 May 2012, report published 18 May 2012

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 December 2022

The school is a friendly community. Pupils give those new to the school and visitors a warm welcome. Pupils and staff have positive relationships. This helps pupils to feel safe. Pupils flourish in the school's nurturing environment. At school, pupils are happy and enjoy learning. Pupils are enthusiastic and are keen to have new opportunities to learn and explore. They are proud of their work. Pupils are confident in their knowledge in most subjects. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils respond well to the high expectations that teachers have. Pupils are motivated by the rewards they receive. During lessons, most pupils behave well. They work hard and try their best. If anyone is occasionally unkind, staff help pupils to become friends again. Bullying is rare and any incidents are dealt with quickly. Pupils know there are many adults they can talk to if they have worries. They understand how to help themselves to manage their emotions. Pupils learn about diversity, and they understand that some families may be different to their own.

What the school should improve

  • In a few subjects, leaders have not identified precisely the knowledge that pupils should learn or broken this down into smaller steps of learning. This means that teachers are not as confident about what they are teaching or as effective in planning sequences of lessons that build successfully on pupils' previous learning. Leaders should ensure that, in all subjects, they precisely identify the knowledge that pupils should learn. They should also ensure that teachers are effective in helping pupils to build on their prior knowledge in the full range of subjects taught.
  • Leaders have been successful in improving the behaviour and attendance of most of the small number of pupils who do not meet the high standards expected. There remains a small group of pupils who are still absent too often or regularly late for school. These pupils miss out on learning. Leaders should continue with their strategies to improve attendance and punctuality so that all pupils benefit fully from their time spent in school.

Pupil numbers and mix

144 pupils on roll, with places for 180

Eligible for free school meals4.2%

4.2%, 22.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language13.2%

13.2%, 8.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support14.6%

14.6%, 0.2 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan0.7%

0.7%, 5.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Thomas Coram Church of England School0.4 milesOfsted: Good68% met the expected standard
Victoria Church of England Infant and Nursery School0.4 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardNot published
St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy1 mileOfsted: Requires improvement58% met the expected standard
Berkhamsted Prep and Pre-Prep School1 mileNo Ofsted inspectionNot published
Greenway Primary and Nursery School1 mileOfsted: Good79% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 7
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Colette Marshall
Address
Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2LJ
Local authority
Hertfordshire
URN
117260

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.