Woodlands Primary School, Borehamwood

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Woodlands Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are committed to providing opportunities for success for all pupils, regardless of their starting points."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme is very deliberately designed to meet pupils' needs."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' outcomes in national tests in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6 have been improving year-on-year for the last 3 years."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance overall is improving steadily and is currently close to the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have improved the early years curriculum and environment."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are united in their ambition to provide a highly inclusive school, where every pupil feels they belong."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure they support staff to consistently adapt their teaching in the moment and based on their ongoing assessments, so that pupils' opportunities to progress and deepen their learning are maximised"; "Leaders should continue to focus on improving attendance, particularly on reducing the number of pupils who are frequently absent, so that all pupils benefit fully from the school's offer and achieve as well as they can".

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of all the staff, children, parents and governors, I would like to welcome you to Woodlands Primary School. Woodlands is a one form entry primary school in Borehamwood that caters for children from Reception to Year 6. Woodlands is located in a pleasant setting with spacious grassed areas, a playing field and conservation area."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Woodlands Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 62% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Woodlands Primary School as their first choice and 116 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Woodlands Primary School are Cowley Hill School (0.1 miles, Good, 81% reading, 84% maths); St Teresa Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 70% reading, 77% maths); Parkside Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); and Meryfield Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 67% maths).

Woodlands Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

33.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

Woodlands Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Elstree & Borehamwood Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Delamere Road (opposite), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 310 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour 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, Woodlands Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 2.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Woodlands Primary School are Hertswood Academy (0.2 miles), Elstree Screen Arts Academy (0.6 miles) and Yavneh College (0.9 miles).