Schools by area › Hertfordshire › Samuel Lucas Primary School
Samuel Lucas Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Community school
Gaping Lane, Hitchin SG5 2JQ · samlucas.herts.sch.uk · 01462 456737
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 75%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Hertfordshire 64%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.82 mi
- 1.32 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Not Nearest School · Hertfordshire Council
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 416
- 99% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 5.5%
- First language not English
- 8.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered under “Not Nearest School” went to a home 0.82 mi (1.32 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.39 mi (628 m). Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 68 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 82% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 59 | 68 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 59 | 88 | 1.5▲ | 67% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 59 | 87 | 1.5▲ | 62% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 60 | 74 | 1.2▲ | 77% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 69 | 1.2▲ | 75% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.82 mi1.32 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.39 mi0.63 km | |
| September 2022 | 0.47 mi0.75 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.49 mi0.79 km | |
Results
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 25% the higher standard. Across Hertfordshire it was 64%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲75% | 62% | ||
| ▲25% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲110 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Samuel Lucas Primary School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 3 October 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 3 Oct 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Mar 2009
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Good Feb 2006Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
98% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (131 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 98%
- Replies
- 131
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 69% who raised concerns
based on the 26% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (19%) with SEND