Primary school

Cowley Hill School

  • Community School
  • ages 3–11
  • Mixed
  • Hertfordshire
  • WD6 5DP
Ofsted report card · inspected Jan 2026

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 3,333 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 23%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 49%49%2016/17: top 38%2017/18: top 48%2018/19: top 48%2022/23: top 40%2023/24: top 43%2024/25: top 23%No exams

Against East of EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM75% · East of England 64%8/10 Above+24.4 pts
Higher standard, RWM12% · East of England 7%8/10 Above+26.7 pts
Reading score106 · East of England 1065/10 Middle+21.6 pts
Maths score106 · East of England 1056/10 Middle
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 55% · 40 pupils · East of England 54%2016/17: 68% · 41 pupils · East of England 63%2017/18: 68% · 57 pupils · East of England 65%2018/19: 68% · 57 pupils · East of England 67%2022/23: 65% · 60 pupils · East of England 61%2023/24: 65% · 55 pupils · East of England 63%2024/25: 75% · 57 pupils · East of England 64%75%55%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 10% · 40 pupils · East of England 5%2016/17: 12% · 41 pupils · East of England 8%2017/18: 4% · 57 pupils · East of England 9%2018/19: 9% · 57 pupils · East of England 9%2022/23: 15% · 60 pupils · East of England 7%2023/24: 16% · 55 pupils · East of England 7%2024/25: 12% · 57 pupils · East of England 7%16%4%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 101 · 40 pupils · East of England 1032016/17: 103 · 41 pupils · East of England 1042017/18: 105 · 57 pupils · East of England 1052018/19: 103 · 57 pupils · East of England 1042022/23: 106 · 60 pupils · East of England 1052023/24: 106 · 55 pupils · East of England 1052024/25: 106 · 57 pupils · East of England 106106101No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 102 · 40 pupils · East of England 1032016/17: 106 · 41 pupils · East of England 1042017/18: 107 · 57 pupils · East of England 1042018/19: 106 · 57 pupils · East of England 1052022/23: 106 · 60 pupils · East of England 1042023/24: 105 · 55 pupils · East of England 1042024/25: 106 · 57 pupils · East of England 105107102No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
33 of 33 who put it first2014 · 98.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st3333
2nd3713
3rd234

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2026

  • InclusionExpected
  • AchievementExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected
  • Early yearsExpected
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2006Satisfactory
  2. 2009Good
  3. 2011Good
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2021Remains Good
  6. 2026Lowest Expected

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026416
Free school meals (past 6 years)27.8%
First language not English44.1%
SEN support21.0%
EHC plan1.2%
Absence (sessions missed)5.8%
Persistently absent pupils16.5%

Girls 51.9%Boys 48.1%

89.5% full · 465 places

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 62 responses (14.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school79% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school80.6% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved74.2% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?24.2% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 24.2% who said Yes above20% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?21% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 21% who said Yes above46.1% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know59.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 8.1% had no concerns to raise64.9% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart56.5% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well67.7% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?75.8% yes
  • Your overall view of the school67.9% positive

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher20.1
Pupils per adult11.1
  • Classroom teachers 18.4
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 16.7
  • Other support 5.2

Teachers 20.4 FTE · Whole workforce 42.3 · 57 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£6,459
Spend per pupil£6,961
Staff spend per pupil£5,394
Reserve per pupil£1,077
  • +£442,182revenue reserve
  • −£206,186in-year balance

Grants £6,703 · self-generated £348 · premises £367 per pupil