The Grove Academy, Watford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Your child will be welcomed into a caring, happy community where staff genuinely know and support each pupil. The school has strong teaching, especially in early reading and phonics, so your child will develop into a confident reader. Staff are particularly skilled at supporting children with additional needs, and every pupil is encouraged to develop good character and understand the difference between right and wrong.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding early years provision with skilfully trained staff who help the youngest children develop strong foundations for learning
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with swift identification of needs and well-tailored help
- Strong teaching of phonics that helps pupils become fluent and confident readers
- Warm, inclusive school community where pupils celebrate differences and behave well
- Effective personal development programme helping pupils understand right from wrong and become responsible citizens
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils don't get enough opportunity to recap and revise important knowledge in certain subjects, limiting how well they connect what they learn
- A small number of pupils don't practice applying their phonics knowledge in writing, meaning they don't develop spelling accuracy as well as they could
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that prioritises pupils' safety and interests.
Extracurricular Activities
School council
The Grove Academy has improved significantly from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating and now provides a good quality of education in a warm, welcoming environment. The school's early years provision is outstanding, and pupils develop well as they progress through the school.
At a Glance
34.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
37 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 76%. Maths has remained stable at around 77%. Writing has improved from 62% to 73%.
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
28.4
Infant (KS1)
29.4
KS2
15
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
67%
Available places
473 pupils
710 capacity
237 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Watford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Watford
Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire
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(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.64399%
Overall absence
17.5%
Persistent absence
400
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Grove Academy
Nearby Schools
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