The Grove Academy, Watford

From the headteacher's welcome: "At The Grove, we are proud to be a warm, caring and inclusive school community where every child is valued, heard, encouraged and supported to thrive. We aim to provide a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment in which children grow in confidence, develop their independence and build a lifelong love of learning."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care until 5:00pm, from £5 per day.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 2 November 2026 and an open day on Friday 15 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at The Grove Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 68% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 55 families put The Grove Academy as their first choice and 81 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 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 The Grove Academy are Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good); Parkgate Junior School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 68% reading, 73% maths); Cherry Tree Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 74% reading, 83% maths); and Coates Way JMI and Nursery School (0.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 70% maths).

The Grove Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

The Grove Academy is one of 6 schools run by Aspire Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Grove Academy (as of September 2025): 57% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 35% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (35%).

46.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (32%), Asian (21%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest railway station is Garston (Herts) Rail Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Pelhams (ne-bound), 290 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Grove Academy 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 286 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Grove Academy issued 39 suspensions, 8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to The Grove Academy are Future Academies Watford (1 mile), Saint Michael's Catholic High School (1.1 miles) and Parmiter's School (1.4 miles).