Churchfield Church of England Academy

Churchfield Church of England Academy is currently facing some challenges that could affect its performance going forward. Despite being previously rated as good, this ungraded inspection indicated that some aspects of the school may not be as strong as they were during the last evaluation. Pupils are generally engaged and show an understanding of the school's values, but there are concerns regarding their retention of previous learning, particularly in English and mathematics as they transition to secondary school. Moreover, while the school has a supportive environment and strong safeguarding practices, inconsistencies in behavior management have led to disruptions in lessons.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate a strong understanding of the school's values and feel safe.
• The curriculum is broad, balanced, and well-sequenced.
• Staff are well trained in supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Reading is prioritized, with effective phonics instruction.
• Pupils have opportunities for personal development and leadership roles.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils struggle to recall previous learning, affecting their progress.
• Inconsistencies in behavior management lead to disruptions during lessons.
• Some teachers do not address misconceptions or gaps in knowledge effectively.

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 Churchfield Church of England Academy attended 93.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.6% 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, 1.3% of pupils at Churchfield Church of England Academy 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 Churchfield Church of England Academy had 21.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 31.3% 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, 6.6% of pupils at Churchfield Church of England Academy 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 2024–25 Churchfield Church of England Academy received £7,024 and spent £6,987 for each of its 311 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £129,000 (£416 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, income was £7,648 and spending £7,542 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Waltham Cross · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

Churchfield Church of England Academy is part of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Wenlock CofE Academy Luton
• Kensworth Church of England Academy Dunstable
• Studham Village CofE Academy Studham
• Manshead Church of England Academy Luton
• Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy Dunstable
• Totternhoe Church of England Academy Dunstable
• Caldecote Church of England Academy Biggleswade
• Northill CofE Academy Biggleswade
• St Leonards CE Academy Leighton Buzzard
• Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy Bedford

What is Churchfield Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Churchfield Church of England Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Churchfield Church of England Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Churchfield Church of England Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Churchfield Church of England Academy have?

Churchfield Church of England Academy has 303 pupils on roll.

What age range does Churchfield Church of England Academy cover?

Churchfield Church of England Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Churchfield Church of England Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Churchfield Church of England Academy?

Churchfield Church of England Academy is at Cheshunt Wash, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN8 0LU.