Holwell Primary School

About Holwell Primary School

Holwell Primary School sits within Hertfordshire local authority, a large county with 401 primary schools, and ranks first among the 34 primary schools in the Welwyn Hatfield borough. That top spot places it ahead of strong local peers like Little Gaddesden Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harvey Road Primary School and The Russell School, all of which share the same high ranking score. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 5 to 11, with no religious character. Headteacher S French leads a school that is close to capacity — 406 pupils against a published capacity of 420 — and oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 148 applications for 57 places and 43 first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are keen to get into, and its position at the top of the borough rankings reinforces that reputation.

Academically, Holwell performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Hertfordshire average of 64%. The school also achieves strong higher-standard scores: 40% of pupils reached the higher standard in reading, 19% in maths and 10% in writing. Average scaled scores sit at 108 for reading and 106 for maths. Ofsted last inspected in January 2023 and awarded a Good rating across all five categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The previous inspection, back in 2011, also rated the school Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. Nationally, Holwell ranks in the top 7% of all primary schools for its combined expected standard measure.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including playing fields, a dining hall, an outdoor playground, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, dance, rounders, cricket and football, while clubs include choir, book club and science club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.6 applications per place, so families applying from outside the immediate catchment should be prepared for competition. Holwell suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong academic outcomes, a broad range of activities and clear SEND support, all within a school that has held a Good Ofsted rating consistently across its recent inspections.

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