Hormead Church of England (VA) First School

Hormead Church of England (VA) First School is performing well overall, achieving a good rating in all inspection areas. The school fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and happy. There is a notable emphasis on high expectations for all students, including those with SEND, and adults effectively adapt learning to meet pupils' needs. The curriculum is designed to develop knowledge systematically, and there is a strong focus on early reading, which helps most pupils become fluent readers. Teachers and leaders are committed to ensuring the personal and academic growth of pupils, promoting Christian values and positive relationships within the community.

Strengths

• High expectations for pupil achievement.
• Strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Inclusive and positive school community.
• Effective leadership and management.
• Prioritization of early reading and literacy.
• Wide range of activities promoting personal development.

Areas for Improvement

• New curriculum plans are still being evaluated.
• Some pupils have low attendance, affecting their learning.

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 Hormead Church of England (VA) First School attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Hormead Church of England (VA) 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 Hormead Church of England (VA) First School had 19.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 9.8% of pupils at Hormead Church of England (VA) First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.6% 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 Hormead Church of England (VA) First School received £8,322 and spent £8,430 for each of its 137 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £65,000 (£473 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 Buntingford · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Hormead Church of England (VA) First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hormead Church of England (VA) First School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Hormead Church of England (VA) First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hormead Church of England (VA) First School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Hormead Church of England (VA) First School have?

Hormead Church of England (VA) First School has 143 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hormead Church of England (VA) First School cover?

Hormead Church of England (VA) First School for pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Hormead Church of England (VA) First School?

Hormead Church of England (VA) First School is at Great Hormead, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0NR.