Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #94 in Hertfordshire public Top 10% UK

St Dominic Catholic Primary School

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

personMiss Clare O'Sullivan

location_onHARPENDEN, AL5 1PF

language Visit Website phone 1582760047

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

240

school

Expected Standard

81%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

St Dominic Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in HARPENDEN, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 10% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Dominic Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in HARPENDEN, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 234 pupils on roll, of whom 5% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 81% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 23% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #94 of 359 primaries in Hertfordshire and #4,782 of 15,231 nationally.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 27.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 26.0%.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.7 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

81%

LA 61%

Reading97% LA 76%

Writing87% LA 70%

Maths94% LA 73%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

87%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading93% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing90% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths93% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

97%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading100% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths97% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.2

Read

LA 0.3

0.8 to 5.5

2.4

Write

LA -0.4

0.1 to 4.7

2.9

Maths

LA -0.1

0.7 to 5.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

93%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading98% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing93% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths98% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

112

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.2

Read

LA -0.1

2.6 to 5.8

0.4

Write

LA -0.5

-1.1 to 1.9

1.6

Maths

LA -0.5

0.2 to 3.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 66%

Reading93% LA 78%

Writing82% LA 78%

Maths93% LA 76%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.1

0.4 to 3.6

-2.8

Write

LA -0.5

-4.3 to -1.3

0.9

Maths

LA -0.4

-0.5 to 2.3

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

31 May 2025

Inspection Report

22 November 2023

Inspection Report

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05 March 2009

Inspection Report

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10 June 2008

Inspection Report

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01 February 2006

Inspection Report

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02 October 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-11-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-03-05

Section 5 RTI Historic EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-02-01

None EIF

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 234 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	234	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	230	3	1.3%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	235	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	231	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	232	1	0.4%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	241	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	240	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	238	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	233	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	231	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	231	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	233	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	236	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	233	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	227	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	227	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	228	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	265	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	265	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	265	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	293	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	292	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	285	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	299	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	296	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	286	0	0.0%	0.5%

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 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.

53.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

54.0%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 agree20%

agree27%

disagree40%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree27%

agree40%

disagree20%

strongly disagree13%

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

strongly agree13%

disagree7%

strongly disagree67%

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 agree13%

agree33%

disagree20%

strongly disagree7%

don't know27%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree20%

agree20%

disagree47%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree7%

agree33%

disagree33%

strongly disagree20%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree20%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree13%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree13%

agree33%

disagree27%

strongly disagree27%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree7%

agree20%

disagree27%

strongly disagree27%

don't know20%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes27%

no73%

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

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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