Anstey First School, Buntingford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Anstey First School excels at creating a calm, welcoming environment where children feel valued and safe. Reading and mathematics are taught really well with a strong structured phonics programme, and the curriculum uses creative 'big questions' to help pupils make connections across subjects. The school has excellent behaviour and attendance, supported by positive staff who know pupils well and respond quickly to concerns.
Key Strengths
- Structured phonics programme with pupils achieving above national average in reading
- Calm, respectful behaviour and strong pastoral care - pupils feel safe and valued
- Well-organised curriculum using 'big questions' to help pupils connect learning across subjects
- Strong early years provision with careful focus on communication, language and number
- Effective attendance support including breakfast club and first-day absence calls
Areas for Improvement
- Support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs is inconsistent - some targets are too broad and progress checking is unclear
- Personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme recently changed and not yet fully embedded - teaching is uneven across classes
- Leaders' oversight of alternative provision needs development - no clear process yet to check quality or gather progress information
- Some adaptations to teaching are not precise enough for pupils who need extra help
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, breakfast club, after-school clubs, community events, school council elections
Anstey First School provides a calm, nurturing environment where pupils generally achieve well from their starting points, with strong foundations in reading and mathematics. The school has effective safeguarding and positive behaviour, though support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs needs to be more consistent.
At a Glance
23.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
13.0
Avg class size
3
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
56%
Available places
39 pupils
70 capacity
31 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Buntingford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Buntingford
Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire
Places available
14,951
Applications
12,834
Got 1st preference
88.0%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Primary admissions across Hertfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(7)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.83262%
Overall absence
24%
Persistent absence
25
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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