Martins Wood Primary School, Stevenage

Inadequate
Primary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 211

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~379m)Possible (~541m)Unlikely (~703m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Zoe Philips
Pupils:532 / 780 capacity
LA:Hertfordshire
Phone:01438222602
Address:Mildmay Road, Stevenage, SG1 5RT
Trust:IVY LEARNING TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 December 2022

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 9 months ago
Inadequate

Overall

Requires Improvement

Quality of Education

Requires Improvement

Behaviour & Attitudes

Requires Improvement

Personal Development

Requires Improvement

Leadership & Management

Requires Improvement

Early Years

Inspected 2 December 2025View full report
URN:149330
UKPRN:10091132
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Stevenage
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Martins Wood Primary has transformed behaviour and created calm classrooms where pupils can focus on learning. Staff are well-trained in teaching reading, writing and maths, breaking down lessons so pupils aren't overwhelmed and providing timely help when needed. The school is particularly effective at supporting disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs, ensuring they make good progress alongside their peers.

Key Strengths

  • Strong improvements in pupil behaviour with calm, orderly classrooms that support learning
  • Effective safeguarding with an open culture where concerns are actively managed
  • Well-trained staff who break down learning effectively, especially in reading, writing and mathematics
  • Good attendance rates that are improving, with leaders responding quickly to any issues
  • Ambitious early years curriculum that prepares children well for Year 1

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils with SEND have writing targets that are not well matched to their needs, affecting their progress
  • Checks on pupils' writing progress are not always informing teachers' next steps precisely enough
  • Some writing knowledge and skills are not being maximised due to inconsistent assessment feedback
  • Governors are still developing a clearer understanding of their role

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sports, musical performances, school clubs, Pupil Parliament, debating (through work with other schools), leadership roles including sports crew, walk to school week

Martins Wood Primary School has made significant improvements in safeguarding, behaviour and the curriculum. Overall, pupils now achieve in line with national expectations, with particular progress in reading, mathematics and reducing unwelcome behaviour.

At a Glance

17.7%

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+7ppMaths+18ppWriting+16pp

Reading has improved from 71% to 78%. Maths has improved from 67% to 85%. Writing has improved from 53% to 69%.

Class Sizes

26.0

Avg class size

29.1

Infant (KS1)

24.0

KS2

20

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Primary School (o/s)
79m · 1 min walk
Ascot Crescent (N-bound)
132m · 2 min walk
Sefton Road (E-bound)
237m · 4 min walk
Derby Way (S-bound)
244m · 4 min walk
Martins Way (S-bound)
343m · 6 min walk
Can you get into this school?
Enter your postcode to find out

Commute Calculator

Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply

Sign up free to see your commute to this school

What are my chances?

Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.

Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

68%

Available places

532 pupils

780 capacity

248 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Stevenage

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,625
Projected new pupils:406

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stevenage

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

2 December 2025
InadequateReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesRequires Improvement
Personal DevelopmentRequires Improvement
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement
Early YearsRequires Improvement

House Prices

Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost

Sign up free to see house prices near this school

SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

Sign up free to see special needs support at this school

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.

Sign up free to see who goes to this school

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.

Sign up free to see teacher and staff data

School Funding

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

Sign up free to see how this school is funded

Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.29752%

Overall absence

12.25806%

Persistent absence

465

Enrolments

Authorised3.5755%
Unauthorised1.72203%
Persistent (10%+)12.25806%
Severe (50%+)1.93548%

Absence trend

6.66582%
22/23
6.32801%
23/24
5.29752%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

Reviews

No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.

Leave a Review

You need to be signed in to leave a review.

Secondary Schools Nearby

Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to

Nearby Schools

Do you work at this school?

Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.