Chater Infant School

Chater Infant School continues to maintain its overall 'good' rating following an ungraded inspection. The evidence suggests that if a graded inspection were to take place now, the school may achieve an outstanding rating. The school's strong emphasis on inclusion, high expectations, and tailored learning approaches allow pupils to thrive and excel in various subjects. Pupils demonstrate kindness, respect, and a positive attitude towards learning, while a strong partnership with families enhances their educational experience.

Strengths

• The curriculum is precisely structured and effectively addresses pupils' diverse needs.
• Teachers excel at developing pupils' communication and language skills.
• Pupils demonstrate strong writing skills by the end of key stage 1.
• Pupils behave exceptionally well and show a high level of engagement in learning.
• The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Pupils feel valued and are offered various roles to contribute to school life.

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 Chater Infant School attended 93.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.8% 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 Chater Infant 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 Chater Infant School had 23.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.3% 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, 11.7% of pupils at Chater Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.5% 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 Chater Infant School received £7,984 and spent £7,667 for each of its 207 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £256,000 (£1,237 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 Watford · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Chater Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chater Infant School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Chater Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Chater Infant School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Chater Infant School have?

Chater Infant School has 223 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chater Infant School cover?

Chater Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Chater Infant School?

Chater Infant School is at Chater Infant School, Southsea Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7RD.