The Grove Junior School

The Grove Junior School continues to maintain a good level of performance. Pupils enjoy their time at school in a supportive and respectful environment, building strong relationships with staff and peers. Leaders are committed to high expectations both in behavior and academic learning, ensuring that pupils feel safe and valued. The curriculum is ambitious, and while reading is taught effectively, there are areas within the curriculum where clarity on specific knowledge expectations needs improvement. This inspection marks the first routine inspection since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the school's ongoing commitment to adapting its practices and support for students.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a calm and respectful atmosphere.
• High expectations are set for both behavior and learning.
• Effective teaching of reading, helping pupils become confident readers.
• Strong support systems are in place for pupils with SEND.
• A wide range of extracurricular opportunities enhances personal growth.

Areas for Improvement

• In a few subjects, curriculum clarity and sequencing of content need development.

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 The Grove Junior School attended 97.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.9% 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, 1.1% of pupils at The Grove Junior 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 The Grove Junior School had 19.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 18.3% of pupils at The Grove Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.7% 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 The Grove Junior School received £6,311 and spent £6,543 for each of its 350 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £120,000 (£344 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 Harpenden · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is The Grove Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Grove Junior School is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.

When was The Grove Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Grove Junior School was last inspected in February 2023.

How many pupils does The Grove Junior School have?

The Grove Junior School has 350 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Grove Junior School cover?

The Grove Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are The Grove Junior School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Grove Junior School?

The Grove Junior School is at Dark Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 1QB.