Pirton School, Hitchin

Requires Improvement
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.5km)Possible (~2.1km)Unlikely (~2.7km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Jenn Magdeburg
Pupils:136 / 175 capacity
LA:Hertfordshire
Phone:01462712370
Address:High Street, Pirton, Hitchin, SG5 3PS
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:117128
UKPRN:10076924
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Hitchin
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Pirton School provides an exceptionally strong early years experience where children thrive and are extremely well prepared for Year 1. The school creates a caring, inclusive environment where all pupils - including those facing challenges - feel valued, supported and safe. Pupils benefit from a carefully planned curriculum, excellent personal development support, and a welcoming atmosphere that helps them build confidence and develop into respectful young people.

Key Strengths

  • Early years is a clear priority with children achieving very well and reaching high standards by end of Reception
  • Strong focus on personal development, wellbeing and character education helping pupils understand themselves and others
  • Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, ensuring they progress in line with peers
  • Well-planned curriculum that helps pupils build knowledge step by step, especially in reading, writing and mathematics
  • Attendance above national averages with leaders making this a high priority

Areas for Improvement

  • Inconsistent application of expectations for learning and behaviour across the school
  • Staff do not always check pupils' understanding carefully or address gaps in basic knowledge promptly
  • Pupils do not consistently use accurate spelling, writing and subject vocabulary in subjects other than English and mathematics
  • Low-level disruption not always addressed promptly, interrupting learning
  • Some parents feel communication could be improved

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, residential visits, safety events, Anglo-Saxon camp visits, museum visits, play leader roles, reading ambassador roles

Pirton School is a welcoming school where pupils are known and well supported. The school has strong early years provision and prioritizes pupils' personal development and wellbeing, with most pupils achieving expected standards and ready for the next stage of their education.

At a Glance

14.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-17ppMaths+3ppWriting-13pp

Reading has declined from 92% to 75%. Maths has remained stable at around 70%. Writing has declined from 83% to 70%.

Class Sizes

22.5

Avg class size

17.5

Infant (KS1)

24.7

KS2

6

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Latest from Pirton School

From Pirton School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.

Getting There

Bus Stops

War Memorial (opp)
140m · 2 min walk
Motte & Bailey PH (o/s)
209m · 3 min walk
Post Office (opp)
225m · 4 min walk
Danefield Road (nr)
281m · 5 min walk
High Street (NE-bound)
346m · 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

78%

Available places

136 pupils

175 capacity

39 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Hitchin

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,247
Projected new pupils:312

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Hitchin

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(108)

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

4.41525%

Overall absence

11.19403%

Persistent absence

134

Enrolments

Authorised2.90853%
Unauthorised1.50673%
Persistent (10%+)11.19403%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.82517%
18/19
3.66682%
20/21
5.68616%
21/22
6.26527%
22/23
6.09262%
23/24
4.41525%
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.

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.