St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak, Bishop's Stortford

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress appropriately as they move through the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance is an ongoing focus for leaders."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a curriculum designed to give every pupil the knowledge and skills they need for their next stage of education."

Early years - Expected standard. "The school's early years provision gives children a calm, purposeful and nurturing start to school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Inclusion is at the heart of the school's ethos."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school benefits from effective leadership that places pupils at the heart of every decision."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal development and wellbeing offer underpins the school's values of respect, wisdom, love and forgiveness."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should continue to drive improvements in pupils' attendance so that overall attendance rises above national averages for all pupils. • Leaders should ensure that the personal, social and health education curriculum provides greater depth so that pupils can understand key themes securely and make meaningful connections to the world around them. • Leaders should ensure that assessment is used more effectively to identify gaps in learning and to inform teaching across the curriculum".

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

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

For September 2026 entry, 5 families put St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak are Hatfield Heath Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 77% reading, 84% maths); Little Hallingbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 80% reading, 75% maths); Sheering Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (3 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 81% maths); and Roseacres Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 76% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak.

11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak (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 they are kept well informed about progress (73%).

6.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%) and Mixed (12%).

In 2026, 6 pupils (12.2%) received SEN support and 1 (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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 6 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Dukes Head (outside), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.