Hertford Prep, Hertford
Hertford Prep is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Hertford. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in June 2025.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hertford Prep in detail
Hertford Prep in its own words
In its own words: "I’m delighted that you’re considering our school for your child. I understand just how significant this decision is, and I want to assure you that at Hertford Prep, your child will be nurtured, known and celebrated. Hertford Prep ( formerly St Joseph's In The Park ) is a warm, supportive community where every child is recognised as an individual."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Hertford Prep are Duncombe School (1.1 miles), Haileybury College (2.8 miles), Heath Mount School (4.4 miles) and Sherrardswood School (5.4 miles).
Duncombe SchoolHaileybury CollegeHeath Mount SchoolSherrardswood School
Who goes there
In 2026, 30 pupils (23.1%) received SEN support and 12 (9.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hertford North Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hertford Prep 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 77 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. Ofsted last inspected this school in 24 January 2007, before the latest ISI inspection.
Routine Inspection
17 June 2025
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
17 May 2022
Regulatory Compliance
13 September 2017
Integrated
24 June 2014
About
Hertford Prep is a co-educational independent preparatory day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated within the grounds of Hertingfordbury Park near Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. The school became part of the Mill Hill Education Group in 2021 and adopted its current name in 2025 following a rebrand.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Hertford Prep
Our New Brand Film: Look A Little Closer
4 Sep 2026
Hertford Prep School Appoints New Head for September 2026
20 Apr 2026
Trip to Amazon Warehouse
1 Apr 2026
From Hertford Prep's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Hertford Prep
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
63%
Available places
130 pupils
205 places
75 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hertford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hertford
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
32.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
130
Total Pupils
71
Boys
59
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Hertford Prep
When was Hertford Prep last inspected?
Hertford Prep is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in June 2025.
How many pupils go to Hertford Prep?
Hertford Prep has around 130 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Hertford Prep?
Hertford Prep is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Hertford Prep?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hertford Prep?
Hertford Prep is at St Mary's Lane, Hertingfordbury, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 2LX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)