Goffs Oak Primary & Nursery School

About Goffs Oak Primary & Nursery School

Goffs Oak Primary & Nursery School is a state primary in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and it’s a school that families clearly want to get into. With 240 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it’s running above its official limit, and the 2025/26 admissions data tells a similar story: 134 applications for just 30 places, with 45 of those as first preferences and only 28 first-preference offers made. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 4.47, meaning nearly four and a half children apply for every spot. The school’s intake is notably less disadvantaged than the national average — just 7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with roughly 23% nationally. Headteacher Michelle Beck leads a mixed, non-religious primary that also offers nursery provision for three-year-olds, so it’s a genuine all-through option from early years up to Year 6.

Academically, Goffs Oak performs solidly above its local authority average. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 results, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Hertfordshire average of 64%. That puts the school 10th out of 26 primaries in Broxbourne, and in the top 38% nationally. Individual subject scores are respectable: a reading average score of 105, maths at 104, and writing at 77% expected. Higher-standard attainment is more modest — 10% achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects — but the school’s progress scores aren’t published, so it’s hard to say how much value it adds. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, rated it Good across the board: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all scored a 2. That’s consistent with its previous Good rating from 2013.

The school offers a decent spread of facilities for its size, including a library, music rooms, a sports hall, a forest school area, a sensory room and even a chapel. Sports provision covers dance, tennis, swimming, cross country, athletics, rounders and netball, and there are clubs for eco activities, coding and chess. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, and visual impairment. Given the high demand and oversubscription, families living closest to the school or with siblings already attending will have the best chance of a place. Goffs Oak suits parents who want a well-regarded, Good-rated primary with strong core results, a broad extracurricular offer and a clear SEND framework, all within a popular commuter belt area.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Goffs Oak Primary & Nursery School

Helpful Guides for Parents