Aycliffe Drive Primary School

About Aycliffe Drive Primary School

Aycliffe Drive Primary School sits within Hertfordshire’s Dacorum borough, a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11. Among the 401 primary schools in the local authority, it ranks 267th, placing it in the bottom half of schools when measured by the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. For context, the top-performing peers in the area are Little Gaddesden Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harvey Road Primary School and The Russell School, all of which achieved the highest possible ranking score. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Brockswood Primary School, just 1.8 kilometres away. Aycliffe Drive itself was rated Good in its most recent graded inspection in 2019, and an ungraded inspection in October 2024 noted that some aspects were not as strong. That said, the school has clearly improved since its previous graded inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall.

In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% of pupils at Aycliffe Drive reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is below the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%. Looking at individual subjects, 74% met the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths, but only 57% did so in writing. At the higher standard, just 2% of pupils achieved the combined measure, with 17% reaching that level in reading, 19% in maths and 5% in writing. The average scores were 103 in reading and 104 in maths. Progress scores are not available for this school, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds compared with pupils nationally. In its most recent graded inspection, Ofsted rated leadership and management, and overall effectiveness, as Good, while early years provision was judged Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development and the quality of education were not separately graded in that inspection.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 73 applications for 37 places and 28 first-preference offers. That means nearly two families applied for every place. Facilities include a library, music rooms, a sensory room, an outdoor playground, playing fields and a chapel. The school offers a nursery provision for younger children. Sports on offer include football, dance, athletics and cross country, while clubs range from choir and drama to gardening, chess and coding. For children with special educational needs, the school lists provisions for seven categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, show that 79% of the 52 respondents would recommend the school. However, views were mixed on SEND support, with 50% agreeing or strongly agreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need, and 44% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. This is a school that suits families who value its Good-rated leadership and early years provision, but who are aware that academic outcomes sit below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Aycliffe Drive Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents