Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School, Nr Buntingford

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School on 6 areas: 2 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has improved at the school and now sits above the national average."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a wide personal development programme that includes relationships, health and sex education."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or who are disadvantaged, are not securing the knowledge and skills that they need to learn more complex ideas and concepts."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The curriculum is not delivered as leaders intend and it does not meet the needs of all pupils consistently well."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have remained committed and focused while navigating changes in staffing."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders know the improvements that the school needs to make."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff have a shared understanding of the school's curriculum and the approaches to deliver it as effectively as they intend"; "Leaders should ensure that staff make effective use of assessment strategies to identify and address any gaps in pupils' learning to enable them to learn the curriculum content as fully as intended"; "Leaders should ensure that guidance and individual plans to support pupils to overcome barriers to their learning are carefully followed and reviewed to ensure that pupils' learning is supported appropriately and moved on swiftly".

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 1 family put Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School as their first choice and 6 named it as one of their preferences, for 2 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School are Therfield First School (2.1 miles, Good); Reed First School (2.9 miles, Good); Barkway VA Church of England First School (4 miles, Good); and Layston Church of England First School (4 miles, Requires improvement).

14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).

4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (68%) and Mixed (23%).

In 2026, 3 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 4 (18.2%) 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.

Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Ashwell & Morden Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (near), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).

Sandon Junior Mixed and Infant School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.