Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School

Parkgate Infants’ and Nursery School continues to demonstrate strong performance as a good school, fostering a positive and supportive school community. Pupils thrive in an environment that celebrates cultural diversity and promotes mutual respect. The curriculum is well-structured, emphasizing essential communication and language skills, which benefits all pupils, including those with special educational needs and those new to English. The school is aspirational for its students, encouraging them to believe in their potential while nurturing a love for reading through initiatives like the school's library bus. However, some areas need improvement, particularly in the consistent use of assessment information by teachers to tailor learning effectively for all pupils. While many teachers effectively adapt learning based on pupils’ needs, there are instances where tasks do not match their abilities, leading to missed opportunities for progress. Overall, Parkgate remains a welcoming and aspirational school with a strong emphasis on both academic achievement and personal development.

Strengths

• Strong community relationships foster a safe and supportive environment.
• Early years education provides children with a good start and promotes safety and health.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND and those new to English.
• Strong emphasis on reading and literacy, supported by a dedicated library bus.
• Encouragement of cultural awareness and respect through diverse learning experiences.
• High expectations for behavior reinforced through 'Golden Rules' and the 'Parkgate Way'.
• Staff well-being is prioritized, creating a positive work environment.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent use of assessment information to tailor learning tasks for pupils.

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 Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.6% 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, 2.0% of pupils at Parkgate Infants' and Nursery 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 Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School had 21.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.8% 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, 10.9% of pupils at Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.0% 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 Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School received £6,931 and spent £7,378 for each of its 195 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £102,000 (£523 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 Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School last inspected by Ofsted?

Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School have?

Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School has 202 pupils on roll.

What age range does Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School cover?

Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School?

Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School is at Northfield Gardens, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 7RL.