Highwood Primary School

Highwood Primary School is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across all inspected areas except for early years provision which received an 'Outstanding' grade. Pupils enjoy their learning and feel safe in a supportive environment where adults are approachable. The school has a broad and ambitious curriculum that caters to student needs, which is positively reflected in students' achievements and attitudes towards learning. Additionally, the supportive culture and high expectations promote a sense of pride and community among students and staff alike.

Strengths

• Pupils have positive attitudes towards learning.
• The early years provision is outstanding.
• Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum.
• Staff provide effective support and adaptations for pupils with SEND.
• Pupils feel safe and are engaged in school activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects lack clear identification of key knowledge for pupils.
• Inconsistent expectations for behavior lead to some issues.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Highwood Primary School attended 94.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.8% of pupils at Highwood Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Highwood Primary School had 23.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 31.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.9% of pupils at Highwood Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Highwood Primary School received £6,932 and spent £7,024 for each of its 438 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £137,000 (£313 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bushey · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Highwood Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highwood Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Highwood Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Highwood Primary School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Highwood Primary School have?

Highwood Primary School has 445 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highwood Primary School cover?

Highwood Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Highwood Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 41% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highwood Primary School?

Highwood Primary School is at Mead Way, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW.