Schools by area › Hertfordshire › The Grove Academy
The Grove Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Sponsored academy
Fourth Avenue, Watford WD25 9RH · thegroveacademy.org.uk · 01923 674463
On the mapSearch near WD25 9RH
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2025
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 64%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Hertfordshire 64%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 3.73 mi
- 6.00 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Not Nearest School · Hertfordshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 473
- 67% of 710 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 34%
- First language not English
- 46.1%
- 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 3.73 mi (6.00 km) from the school. Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 55 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 100% 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 | 55 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 59 | 50 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 54 | 50 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 55 | 51 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 48 | 45 | 0.9 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.73 mi6.00 km | |
| September 2025 | All | |
| September 2024 | All | |
| September 2022 | All | |
Every applicant was offered a place (60 allocations for 90 places).
Every applicant was offered a place (55 allocations for 90 places).
Every applicant was offered a place (51 allocations for 90 places).
Results
In 2024/25, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% 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 | |||
| ●64% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Grove Academy on 20 May 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 20 May 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Nov 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective May 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
57% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (37 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 57%
- Replies
- 37
- 8% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 95% who raised concerns
based on the 62% who had a child bullied
based on 14 parents (38%) with SEND