Classpot

Cowley Hill School

Hertsmere, WD6 5DPPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2026
KS2 Results
65%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
41 1st-choice / 50 places
Ranking
#6,180
of 13,686 nationally

About Cowley Hill School

Cowley Hill School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 41 first-preference applications for its 50 Reception places, and was oversubscribed with 127 total applications. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2. 54, meaning for every available place, more than two families expressed a preference. This level of demand is a strong indicator of parent confidence, even though Parent View survey data is not available in this snapshot. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2021, confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently. Headteacher Louise Thomas leads a mixed, non-denominational primary for pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. The school has capacity for 465 pupils and currently enrols 424, so it is running close to full.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWinstre Road, Borehamwood, Hertsmere, WD6 5DP
HeadteacherLouise Thomas
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils424
Free School Meals (FSM)26.8%
School Capacity424 / 465 (91% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

6 Oct 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (6 Oct 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cowley Hill School

Cowley Hill School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.