Anstey First School, Buntingford

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades Anstey First School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally achieve well from their various starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from an ambitious and broad curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years follow a carefully considered curriculum that builds the skills and knowledge they need for future learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders who are new in post have swiftly understand the school's strengths and main priorities for improvement."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Support for pupils who are disadvantaged or who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is not yet consistent."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "The curriculum for personal, social and health education (PSHE), including relationships and health education, is not currently delivered in a consistent and well-organised way."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should rapidly embed the new well-sequenced personal, social and health education programme. They should ensure it is taught consistently well so pupils gain the knowledge needed to understand what it is like to live and thrive in modern Britain"; "Leaders should improve the identification of pupils who have barriers to their learning. They should provide targeted staff training, including in the early years, to ensure consistent delivery of the graduated approach and strengthen their oversight of any alternative provision use".

In its own words: "Hello, and welcome to Anstey First School. We are proud to welcome you to our site, and we know you will see why we love our school! Our aim at Anstey is to ensure our children are respectful, responsible and resilient members of our community, prepared well for their next stage of education."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a nurturing school, chosen by parents for our exceptional rural setting and family atmosphere. Our ambitious curriculum promotes learning through exploration and discovery. Children love going beyond the classroom, into our community to find their voice and place in the world. They become engaged, curious and creative."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, tennis, ukulele, recorder, cooking and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:30am.

For September 2026 entry, 2 families put Anstey First School as their first choice and 13 named it as one of their preferences, for 2 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Anstey First School are Hormead Church of England (VA) First School (1.9 miles, Good); Barkway VA Church of England First School (2.1 miles, Good); Layston Church of England First School (3.1 miles, Requires improvement); and Reed First School (3.4 miles, Good).

5.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Anstey First School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 8 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Anstey First School.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Blind Fiddler PH (outside), 350 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).

Anstey First School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.