Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School
St Albans, AL3 5RL · Hertfordshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
124th of 337 primary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 398 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 6.8/10 against 4,217 of them, against 6.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 69.0 · 63 | 40% | 2.51 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 13.0 · 78 | 25% | 1.94 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 69.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 13.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (6.8 out of 10 either way). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 430 pupils against a stated capacity of 570. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who do not reach the higher standard in maths? What specific activities are available during the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the recent inspection?
What Ofsted said about Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School
Overview
Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The report describes a school with a "highly inclusive culture" where pupils are "happy, safe and enjoy learning." Leadership, alongside governors and the trust, leads improvements decisively, fostering a collaborative environment that prioritises staff well-being and pupil resilience.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "carefully designed to engage all pupils," with staff nurturing curiosity and promptly addressing misconceptions to help pupils recall knowledge with confidence.
- Reading is a clear priority, with books carefully matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge and enthusiastic use of class libraries fostering a "love of reading."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "extremely well supported," being promptly identified and fully included in lessons within inclusive classrooms.
- Behaviour is calm and respectful, underpinned by high staff expectations and positive relationships where pupils know they can seek help from adults.
- The school promotes well-being through outdoor learning spaces and ambassador roles that develop pupils’ "confidence and leadership skills."
Areas to improve
- In some foundation subjects, the curriculum is "not yet fully embedded," meaning pupils struggle to connect new learning with prior knowledge. The school must refine approaches to ensure pupils can retrieve subject-specific skills over time.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 65% |
| 2023/24 | 70% |
| 2024/25 | 69% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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