Therfield First School

Therfield First School is performing well overall, with an overall effectiveness rating of 'Good'. This inspection marks the first routine evaluation since the COVID-19 pandemic, following a long gap since the last inspection in 2009 when the school was rated 'Outstanding'. The school fosters a supportive and engaging environment where pupils are enthusiastic about learning and participate actively in their education and community. Their strong emphasis on personal development and various curricular activities has led to high levels of pupil engagement and well-being. While the school excels in many areas, including the quality of education and leadership, there are notable areas for improvement, particularly within certain foundation subjects where clarity in vocabulary and knowledge progression needs to be enhanced. This will assist teachers in accurately gauging pupils' understanding and planning effectively for their next steps in learning. Overall, the strengths of the school's ethos and community involvement shine through, contributing positively to pupils' educational experiences.

Strengths

• Strong focus on oracy and practical learning.
• Pupils exhibit high levels of enthusiasm for learning.
• Well-supported pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Calm and well-managed classroom behavior.
• Pupils take active roles in their local community.
• Broad and rich curriculum available to students.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum lacks clarity in a few foundation subjects regarding vocabulary and knowledge progression.

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 Therfield First School attended 97.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 0.0% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Therfield First School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Therfield First School had 16.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.0% 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, 20.3% of pupils at Therfield First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.3% 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 Therfield First School received £8,867 and spent £8,739 for each of its 69 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £43,000 (£623 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 Royston · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

What is Therfield First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Therfield First School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Therfield First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Therfield First School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Therfield First School have?

Therfield First School has 69 pupils on roll.

What age range does Therfield First School cover?

Therfield First School for pupils aged 4 to 9.

Where is Therfield First School?

Therfield First School is at The Causeway, Therfield, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9PP.