Ofsted: Good emoji_events #21 in Hertfordshire public Top 9% UK

The Grove Junior School

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

personMiss Lorna Urquhart

location_onHarpenden, AL5 1QB

language Visit Website phone 1582760031

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

357

school

Expected Standard

82%

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Age Range

7-11

summarize

The Grove Junior School is a Community school primary school in Harpenden, serving ages 7-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 9% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

The Grove Junior School is a community school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 7-11. The school has approximately 355 pupils on roll, of whom 9% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 19% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #21 of 334 primaries in Hertfordshire and #1,556 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 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

82%

LA 61%

Reading91% LA 76%

Writing85% LA 70%

Maths86% LA 73%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading89% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing81% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths89% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading89% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing85% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths89% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.2

Read

LA 0.3

0.8 to 3.6

0.8

Write

LA -0.4

-0.5 to 2.2

1.4

Maths

LA -0.1

0.1 to 2.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

79%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading88% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths86% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.1

Read

LA -0.1

-0.2 to 2.4

0.4

Write

LA -0.5

-0.8 to 1.6

-0.4

Maths

LA -0.5

-1.5 to 0.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 66%

Reading91% LA 78%

Writing93% LA 78%

Maths88% LA 76%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.1

-0.3 to 2.3

-0.3

Write

LA -0.5

-1.5 to 0.9

-0.4

Maths

LA -0.4

-1.5 to 0.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 December 2022

Inspection Report

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21 March 2017

Inspection Report

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07 March 2013

Inspection Report

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12 January 2010

Inspection Report

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23 May 2007

Inspection Report

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07 May 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-03-21

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-03-07

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-01-12

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

0.8%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.8%(3 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 355 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.8%, which is above 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)	355	3	0.8%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	356	1	0.3%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	361	1	0.3%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	359	3	0.8%	0.7%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	361	1	0.3%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	357	1	0.3%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	357	3	0.8%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	353	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	359	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	347	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	346	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	346	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	339	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	338	1	0.3%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	346	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	346	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	350	2	0.6%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	361	3	0.8%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	360	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	361	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	361	1	0.3%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	356	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	361	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	360	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	360	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	361	0	0.0%	0.5%	0

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

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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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 26 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 9 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 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.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

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

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree33%

disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree65%

agree33%

disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree42%

agree23%

disagree2%

don't know3%

not applicable29%

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

yes18%

no82%

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

strongly agree50%

agree34%

disagree3%

dont know13%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree35%

disagree4%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree34%

disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree41%

disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree65%

agree32%

disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree67%

agree27%

disagree3%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree55%

agree37%

disagree5%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

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

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