William Ransom Primary School
Stuart Drive, Hitchin, SG4 9QBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
William Ransom Primary School is a primary school in Hitchin for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 9th of 22 primary schools in Hitchin. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 18 March 2025, report published 11 June 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Requires improvement
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 18 March 2025
William Ransom Primary is a caring and happy school. Pupils say they enjoy coming here. Staff greet pupils warmly each day. This contributes towards developing positive relationships with pupils and their families. As a result, pupils arrive calm, settled and ready to learn. Pupils' behaviour is typically positive. This is because the school has clear expectations that are consistently upheld. Pupils understand and follow the school rules. Pupils are respectful and enjoy interacting with each other. When pupils struggle to manage their behaviour, staff provide effective support to help them to get back on track. Pupils know that everyone is unique. They said that every person should be treated respectfully even if they are different from them. The curriculum is well structured. Many pupils achieve well. However, the identification of and subsequent support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is not as strong as it could be. Pupils appreciate the wide range of clubs which are available to all. These include gardening, chess, film and choir. There are a range of sports clubs that are available. Pupils are encouraged to try clubs they have not attended before. This allows them to explore new experiences or further develop existing interests.
What the school should improve
- Leaders do not have a clear strategic oversight of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As a result, staff do not have the information they need to identify and support pupils with SEND effectively. Lessons are not always adapted well. Leaders should strengthen their oversight of the identification of pupils' individual needs and how staff use this information effectively to ensure that pupils with SEND achieve well.
- Where pupils have gaps in their knowledge, the support programme put in place is not always effective. Consequently, these gaps are not closed and pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that any extra pupil support is appropriate and effective so that pupils' gaps in knowledge are closed.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
60 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
419 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near William Ransom Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 68% met the expected standard |
| Mary Exton Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 40% met the expected standard |
| Whitehill Junior School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| Highbury Infant School and Nursery | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Purwell Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Tony Plunkett
- Phone
- 01462624777
- Address
- Stuart Drive, Hitchin, SG4 9QB
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117314
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.