Applecroft School, Welwyn Garden City
Applecroft School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Welwyn Garden City. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 15 schools in Welwyn Garden City with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Hertfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Applecroft School in detail
Applecroft School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Applecroft's mission statement is 'Nurturing Potential, Inspiring Minds, Changing Lives'. At Applecroft Nursery we put the well being of the children at the heart of everything we do. We have a wonderful community spirit where people really care. Our purpose-built nursery offers experienced, highly qualified staff within a safe, secure and caring environment."
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Friday 13 November 2026 at 2.15pm, an open day on Friday 27 November 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 8 December 2026 at 1.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Hertfordshire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Applecroft School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (90% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at Applecroft School
For September 2026 entry, 69 families put Applecroft School as their first choice and 199 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Applecroft School are St John's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, Lemsford (0.6 miles, Good, 85% reading, 69% maths); Peartree Primary School (0.8 miles, 80% reading, 88% maths); Our Lady Catholic Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 87% reading, 77% maths); and Templewood Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 77% maths).
Applecroft School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St John's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, LemsfordPeartree Primary SchoolOur Lady Catholic Primary SchoolTemplewood Primary School
Who goes there
9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 46 pupils (10.1%) received SEN support and 13 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Welwyn Garden City Rail Station, about 1050 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barn Close (near), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Applecroft School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 223 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Applecroft School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Applecroft School are Stanborough School (0.5 miles) and Monk's Walk School (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
9.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 90% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 85% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.8
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
15
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Applecroft School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Applecroft School.
- Code Ninjas Welwyn Garden CityAt the school · Not yet graded
- Theatretrain Welwyn-Hatfield800m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Applecroft School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Hertfordshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Applecroft School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Applecroft School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Applecroft School
Will you get a place at Applecroft School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Applecroft School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Applecroft School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Applecroft School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Hertfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Applecroft School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Hertfordshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
423 pupils
420 places
3 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Welwyn Garden City
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Welwyn Garden City
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
14,776
Applications
12,543
Got 1st preference
89.1%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
13.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
454
Total Pupils
220
Boys
234
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
17.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,419
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2278k
Total funding
£70k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.5%
Overall absence
5.6%
Persistent absence
372
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Applecroft School
Questions parents ask about Applecroft School
What are SATs results like at Applecroft School?
Of the pupils at Applecroft School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Applecroft School's Ofsted rating?
Applecroft School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2008 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Applecroft School?
No fixed boundary. When Applecroft School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Applecroft School?
Applecroft School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Applecroft School?
Classes at Applecroft School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Applecroft School?
Applecroft School has around 454 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Applecroft School?
3.5% of sessions were missed at Applecroft School in 2024/25. 5.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Applecroft School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Applecroft School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Applecroft School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Code Ninjas Welwyn Garden City (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Applecroft School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Applecroft School?
Applecroft School is at Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6JZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)