Gaddesden Row JMI School

About Gaddesden Row JMI School

Gaddesden Row JMI School is a small state primary in Dacorum, Hertfordshire, and its headline Key Stage 2 results sit noticeably below the local authority average. In the 2023/24 academic year, just 43% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Hertfordshire average of 64% for primary schools. That 21-point gap is significant, and it places the school in the bottom half of primaries both locally and nationally. In Dacorum, it ranks 41st out of 47 schools on this measure. The school’s Progress 8 scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is hard to say whether pupils are making typical progress from their starting points. What is clear is that the raw attainment figures are lower than many families might expect for the area. The school is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in October 2023, a rating it has held consistently across both its recent inspections, but the exam results suggest there is work to do on academic outcomes.

Looking more closely at the breakdown, the picture is mixed. In maths, 71% of pupils met the expected standard and the average score was 102, which is close to the national benchmark. Reading was weaker, with only 43% reaching the expected standard and an average score of 101. Writing fared better, with 57% meeting expectations and 29% achieving the higher standard. No pupils reached the higher standard in reading or maths, and none achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s Ofsted report notes that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management are all Good, and early years provision is also rated Good. The school has 49 pupils on roll, well below its capacity of 56, and a relatively high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 28.6%. This context may help explain some of the attainment challenges, though the data does not provide a direct comparison with similar schools on disadvantage.

Gaddesden Row is a small, non-denominational mixed primary for children aged 4 to 11. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 15 applications for 8 places and 6 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.88. The school offers a range of facilities including a dining hall, art studios, a sensory room, an ICT suite, a sports hall, music rooms, an outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming and athletics, and clubs include coding, drama, book club and eco club. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that may suit families who value a small, close-knit setting with strong pastoral support and a Good Ofsted rating, but who are prepared to look beyond the headline attainment figures and consider the broader context of the school’s intake and community.

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