The Grove Academy
Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Grove Academy is a primary school in Watford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 26th of 29 primary schools in Watford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 20 May 2025, report published 22 June 2025
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
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 May 2025
Pupils are greeted each day with welcoming smiles and waves from their friends and staff. Warm relationships sit at the heart of the school. Pupils delight in celebrating the differences between themselves and others. Those new to the school are welcomed with open arms. They quickly become part of this happy and friendly school community. The youngest children in Nursery and Reception get off to a flying start. They are skilfully guided to understand what school is about. They learn, and follow, the rules of their classroom quickly; tidying their equipment with gusto when asked to do so. The youngest children learn and develop extremely well. This continues for older pupils as they successfully continue their learning journey through the school. Older pupils who have roles such as members of the school council, take their responsibility seriously. They are proud of the differences that they help make to better the school for themselves and their friends. Pupils have a well-developed understanding of issues such as stereotypes and healthy relationships. They have an age-appropriate awareness of how to stay safe online and out in the local community. These opportunities come together to support pupils to become mature and responsible citizens by the time they leave the school at the end of Year 6.
What the school should improve
- In some areas of the curriculum, pupils do not have sufficient opportunity to recap and revise some knowledge. Where this is the case, they do not develop the rich and connected knowledge that they could. The school should support staff to ensure they provide opportunities for pupils to revise and recap their knowledge over time.
- Teaching does not always provide the opportunity for a small number of pupils to apply what they learn in phonics in their writing. This means that these pupils do not always have regular and relevant opportunities to apply or consolidate their new knowledge. The school should ensure teaching provides further opportunity for these pupils to practice their new learning.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
70 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
473 pupils on roll, with places for 710
Schools near The Grove Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Stanborough Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Parkgate Junior School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 58% met the expected standard |
| Cherry Tree Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 48% met the expected standard |
| Coates Way JMI and Nursery School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 47% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ASPIRE ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Hennigan
- Phone
- 01923674463
- Address
- Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RH
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 138507
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.