Parkgate Junior School
Watford, WD24 7DN · Hertfordshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
104th 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.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,208 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.4/10 among them, against 5.0/10 nationally. 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 | 58.0 · 35 | 40% | 1.39 |
| Ofsted | 96 | 35% | 3.37 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 12.0 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Parkgate Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 58.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the school recorded 12.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in September 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.4 out of 10 among them, against 5.0 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join multi-skills, football, netball, skills 7, dance, gymnastics, tennis, and discovery sports clubs. The school also offers breakfast and after-school clubs.
Getting in
The published school roll is 236 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 below the expected standard in maths? What specific activities are included in the discovery sports club? How does the school manage the transition for children moving to secondary education?
What Ofsted said about Parkgate Junior School
Overview
This ungraded inspection confirms the school remains ‘outstanding’, though inspectors noted that a graded inspection might yield a lower judgement. The school is described as a ‘welcoming and vibrant’ environment where pupils are ‘safe, cared for and valued’. Leaders are ‘ambitious for every pupil’, ensuring high expectations and a curriculum that meets diverse needs.
Strengths
- Pupils ‘enjoy coming here’ and ‘get on very well together’, fostering ‘mutual respect’ through debates about heritage and religion.
- Teachers possess ‘good subject knowledge’ and effectively check that pupils ‘have retained key knowledge’, particularly in reading and mathematics.
- Staff ‘skilfully and quickly identify’ the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), providing ‘bespoke learning plans’.
- The school offers a ‘well-considered personal development curriculum’, preparing pupils for ‘life in modern Britain’ through global awareness and health education.
- Governors and leaders show a ‘high level of commitment’ to maintaining standards, with staff well-being prioritised and workloads kept ‘manageable’.
Areas to improve
- Learning targets for a few pupils with SEND are ‘not sufficiently precise’, meaning support is ‘not as focused on their needs as it should be’.
- Feedback in writing and foundation subjects is ‘less clear’, preventing pupils from ‘deepen[ing] their knowledge’ to the depth intended by leaders.
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 | 41% |
| 2023/24 | 66% |
| 2024/25 | 58% |
| 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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