Central Primary School, Watford

Requires Improvement
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~326m)Possible (~466m)Unlikely (~606m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Sabriye Wright
Pupils:399 / 450 capacity
LA:Hertfordshire
Phone:01923225129
Address:Derby Road, Watford, WD17 2LX
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:117156
UKPRN:10077244
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Watford
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Central Primary is exceptional at welcoming and supporting all pupils, especially those from diverse backgrounds, those learning English, and those with additional needs. The school creates a calm, inclusive community where pupils feel valued and safe, allowing them to focus on learning and developing positive relationships. Teachers provide tailored support so every child can succeed, with particular strengths in early reading and helping pupils catch up quickly.

Key Strengths

  • Excellent inclusion and support for pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, and those learning English as an additional language
  • Strong pastoral support and emotional wellbeing provision that helps pupils feel calm and ready to learn
  • Well-designed, broad curriculum with clear sequencing and effective teaching of reading, writing and mathematics
  • Inclusive culture where pupils feel safe, respected and welcomed regardless of background or circumstances
  • Effective leadership that prioritizes pupils' needs and removes barriers to learning

Areas for Improvement

  • Strengthen consistency in language development approaches in early years, particularly weaving language development into daily routines and activities
  • Continue to improve pupils' standards in writing, including handwriting, spelling and grammar

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, trips, events, themed days, community events, annual careers day

Central Primary School is a diverse, inclusive primary school that effectively supports pupils from many different backgrounds, including those learning English as an additional language and pupils with special educational needs. The school creates a safe, welcoming environment where pupils achieve well and feel valued.

At a Glance

23.8%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+18ppMaths+13ppWriting+13pp

Reading has improved from 63% to 81%. Maths has improved from 66% to 79%. Writing has improved from 64% to 77%.

Class Sizes

27.3

Avg class size

27.0

Infant (KS1)

27.8

KS2

15

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Watford High Street Rail Station (entrance)
350m · 6 min walk

Bus Stops

Beechen Grove (Stop O)
235m · 4 min walk
King Street (Stop T)
254m · 4 min walk
Water Lane (Stop P)
256m · 4 min walk
High Street (Stop E)
297m · 5 min walk
Market Street (Stop G)
355m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

89%

Available places

399 pupils

450 capacity

51 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Watford

Medium pressure
New homes approved:1,965
Projected new pupils:491

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Watford

Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

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(12)

Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement

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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.4247%

Overall absence

15.10989%

Persistent absence

364

Enrolments

Authorised4.39498%
Unauthorised1.02971%
Persistent (10%+)15.10989%
Severe (50%+)0.54945%

Absence trend

4.10594%
18/19
3.3273%
20/21
6.75811%
21/22
7.39439%
22/23
6.02904%
23/24
5.4247%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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