St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Watford

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades St Anthony's Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance at the school is higher than the national average."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils' needs are assessed precisely, accurately and at the earliest opportunity."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school has strengthened its programme for personal development significantly since the last inspection."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Overall, pupils achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils build their learning securely."

Early years - Expected standard. "In the early years, a carefully planned curriculum supports children's learning well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders know their school well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that staff consistently use assessment effectively to move pupils' learning on, particularly to address any errors or misconceptions. • Leaders should continue to embed the new mathematics curriculum, leading to improved achievements in mathematics, including for pupils who are disadvantaged".

In its own words: "At St. Anthony’s we aim to create a thriving Christian community of children, parents, governors and staff. We endeavour to use the Gospel so that it influences everything that relates to our work as a school. We remain aware that we travel with Jesus in each step of our development as we fulfil our mission statement."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, karate, drama, eco club, art and cheerleading.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Anthony's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 72% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 79% in reading and 84% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 62 families put St Anthony's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 128 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Anthony's Catholic Primary School are Ascot Road Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 80% maths); Willow Tree Primary School (0.3 miles); Laurance Haines School (0.5 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths); and Chater Infant School (0.7 miles, Good).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Anthony's Catholic Primary School.

81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Anthony's Catholic Primary School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 29% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (29%).

10.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 71% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (38%), White British (15%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 71 pupils (15.8%) received SEN support and 11 (2.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest Underground station is Watford Underground Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Goodwin House (opposite), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Anthony's Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 278 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Anthony's Catholic Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Anthony's Catholic Primary School are Westfield Academy (0.2 miles), Watford Grammar School for Boys (0.6 miles), Croxley Danes School (0.6 miles) and Watford Grammar School for Girls (1 mile).