Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #81 in Hertfordshire public Top 37% UK

Central Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Sabriye Wright

location_onWatford, WD17 2LX

language Visit Website phone 1923225129

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

403

school

Expected Standard

69%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Central Primary School is a Community school primary school in Watford, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 37% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Central Primary School is a community school in Watford, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 411 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #81 of 334 primaries in Hertfordshire and #4,207 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 61%

Reading81% LA 76%

Writing77% LA 70%

Maths79% LA 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

46%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading63% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing64% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths66% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

51%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading63% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing63% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths62% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.7

Read

LA 0.3

-3.5 to 0.0

-2.8

Write

LA -0.4

-4.6 to -1.1

-0.6

Maths

LA -0.1

-2.3 to 1.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading60% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing87% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths76% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA -0.1

-2.4 to 0.9

4.4

Write

LA -0.5

2.8 to 5.9

0.2

Maths

LA -0.5

-1.2 to 1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 66%

Reading84% LA 78%

Writing94% LA 78%

Maths81% LA 76%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.9

Read

LA 0.1

0.8 to 5

5.4

Write

LA -0.5

3.3 to 7.5

1.5

Maths

LA -0.4

-0.4 to 3.4

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 May 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

07 November 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

20 June 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

12 January 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

28 January 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

31 March 2003

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-05-23

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-11-07

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-06-20

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 411 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.7%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	411	3	0.7%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	412	1	0.2%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	422	4	0.9%	0.8%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	415	2	0.5%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	412	2	0.5%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	413	2	0.5%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	403	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	397	1	0.3%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	424	5	1.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	428	9	2.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	422	2	0.5%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	435	2	0.5%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	433	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	433	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	451	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	451	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	444	1	0.2%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	451	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	447	4	0.9%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	451	12	2.7%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	428	11	2.6%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	429	6	1.4%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	417	5	1.2%	0.5%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	411	5	1.2%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	405	5	1.2%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	406	2	0.5%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 23 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 15 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree47%

disagree17%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree30%

agree50%

disagree17%

strongly disagree3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree43%

agree17%

disagree20%

strongly disagree7%

not applicable13%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree27%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree3%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree40%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree40%

disagree13%

strongly disagree7%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree50%

disagree7%

don't know7%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree47%

disagree3%

don't know7%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree27%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree3%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes77%

no23%

Top Primary Schools in Hertfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL3 4SJ

emoji_events #1 in LA

Field Junior School

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 0AZ

emoji_events #2 in LA

London Colney Primary & Nursery School

Good

location_on St Albans, AL2 1JG

emoji_events #3 in LA

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School

Requires improvement

location_on Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3JP

emoji_events #4 in LA

Richard Whittington Primary School

Good

location_on Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3NP

emoji_events #5 in LA

Bovingdon Primary Academy

Good

location_on Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0HL

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Hertfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Hertfordshire

St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans

Field Junior School

London Colney Primary & Nursery School

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School

Richard Whittington Primary School

Bovingdon Primary Academy