Hollybush Primary School
Hertford, SG14 2DF · Hertfordshire · primary school
326th of 340 primary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 401 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 — 1.4/10 against 1,932 of them, against 1.6/10 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 | 32.0 · 4 | 62% | 0.22 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 4.0 · 35 | 38% | 1.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hollybush Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 32.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. Only 4.0% reached the higher standard. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 190 pupils against a stated capacity of 240. 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 are not reaching the expected standard in core subjects? What specific activities take place during the breakfast and after-school clubs? How do teachers manage class sizes given the current number of spare places?
What Ofsted said about Hollybush Primary School
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending Hollybush Primary School, benefiting from positive relationships with staff and a calm environment where bullying is rare. However, the quality of education and leadership require improvement due to inconsistent curriculum delivery and insufficient checks on pupil understanding, which creates gaps in knowledge.
Strengths
- Pupils have "positive and caring relationships" with adults and behave well, with staff addressing issues in a "calm and consistent way".
- Children in the early years are "happy in school" and confident in routines, with staff effectively promoting their interests and spoken language.
- Pupils demonstrate a "very strong understanding of how to keep themselves safe" and are prepared well for life in modern Britain through clubs and visits.
- Staff are "overwhelmingly positive" about workload considerations and training, feeling proud to work at the school.
- The school provides "high-quality pastoral support," ensuring all pupils know who to speak to if they have worries.
Areas to improve
- The reading curriculum must be better planned and sequenced to ensure all pupils become "confident and fluent readers," particularly those falling behind in early reading.
- Teachers need to improve their skills in checking pupils’ learning to identify misconceptions and determine when pupils are ready to move on to new content.
- The governing body must implement a "rigorous and effective programme" for checking school work to hold leaders fully to account.
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 | 48% |
| 2023/24 | 26% |
| 2024/25 | 32% |
| England | 63% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the average across the 14,239 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level average, 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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