Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Hertfordshire public Top 12% UK

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School

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

personMr James Berry

location_onWelwyn Garden City, AL7 3JP

language Visit Website phone 1707339079

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

422

school

Expected Standard

80%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School is a Community school primary school in Welwyn Garden City, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 12% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School is a community school in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 422 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 13% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #4 of 334 primaries in Hertfordshire and #417 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.3 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

80%

LA 61%

Reading82% LA 76%

Writing82% LA 70%

Maths84% LA 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

35%

LA 61%England 61%

Reading60% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing49% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths44% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

32%

LA 59%England 60%

Reading59% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing46% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths42% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.5

Read

LA 0.3

-2.2 to 1.1

-3.3

Write

LA -0.4

-4.9 to -1.8

-2.9

Maths

LA -0.1

-4.5 to -1.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading63% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths67% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.1

Read

LA -0.1

-1.7 to 1.5

-1.4

Write

LA -0.5

-2.9 to 0.0

-1.5

Maths

LA -0.5

-2.9 to -0.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

58%

LA 66%

Reading63% LA 78%

Writing71% LA 78%

Maths63% LA 76%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA 0.1

-3 to 0.2

-0.6

Write

LA -0.5

-2.1 to 0.9

-1.1

Maths

LA -0.4

-2.5 to 0.3

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 June 2025

Inspection Report

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08 March 2023

Inspection Report

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05 November 2020

Inspection Report

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23 May 2017

Inspection Report

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13 February 2013

Inspection Report

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13 June 2011

Inspection Report

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18 October 2007

Inspection Report

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06 October 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-24

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2023-03-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-05-23

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-02-13

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

1.7%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(6 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 422 pupils. During this period, there were 7 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.7%, 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)	422	7	1.7%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	396	4	1.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	421	2	0.5%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	419	6	1.4%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	418	4	1.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	427	3	0.7%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	422	4	0.9%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	417	6	1.4%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	431	6	1.4%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	428	2	0.5%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	428	2	0.5%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	437	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	437	1	0.2%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	435	6	1.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	440	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	440	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	440	6	1.4%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	446	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	440	8	1.8%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	439	9	2.1%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	445	4	0.9%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	440	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	433	5	1.2%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	435	3	0.7%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	440	6	1.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	442	6	1.4%	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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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 36 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 30 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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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.

77.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree27%

agree36%

disagree20%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree36%

agree57%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree25%

agree14%

disagree23%

strongly disagree11%

don't know2%

not applicable25%

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

yes36%

no64%

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

strongly agree25%

agree25%

disagree31%

strongly disagree13%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree41%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree41%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree43%

disagree18%

strongly disagree7%

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

strongly agree27%

agree50%

disagree11%

don't know11%

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

strongly agree25%

agree64%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree25%

agree30%

disagree23%

strongly disagree7%

don't know16%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes70%

no30%

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

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

Cunningham Hill Junior School

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL1 5QJ

emoji_events #7 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

Richard Whittington Primary School

Bovingdon Primary Academy

Cunningham Hill Junior School