Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School

About Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School

Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School is a small village primary in Dacorum, with just 76 pupils on roll against a capacity of 110. That spare capacity is notable because the school is actually oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26: it received 17 applications for 8 places, with 7 of those coming as first preferences. The oversubscription ratio of 2.13 suggests strong local demand, despite the school not being full overall. The pupil body is more disadvantaged than the national average, with 24.3% of children eligible for free school meals, a figure that sits well above the typical primary school in England. The school has a Church of England religious character and offers nursery provision from age three, which may be a draw for local families looking for continuity through the early years. The headteacher is Matt Beach, and the school operates as a state-funded mixed primary for ages 3 to 11.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, with Good grades for leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour and attitudes. This represents a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2016, when it was judged Requires Improvement. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%. However, individual subject scores were stronger: 78% met expectations in both reading and maths, and average scaled scores of 107 in reading and 105 in maths are above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 56% of pupils achieved that level in reading, though no pupils reached it in writing or the combined measure. The school ranks 29th out of 47 primary schools in Dacorum on the combined expected standard metric.

The school’s facilities include an ICT suite, library, forest school area, sensory room, music rooms and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming and dance, while clubs include gardening, coding, choir and art club. The school identifies specific SEND support for pupils with dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, and speech, language and communication needs. For families considering this school, the oversubscription data makes it clear that securing a place is competitive, particularly for Reception. The small size and village setting will appeal to those seeking a close-knit environment, and the nursery provision offers a natural entry point. The below-average combined KS2 results are worth weighing against the strong individual subject scores and the school’s clear improvement trajectory from its previous Requires Improvement rating.

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