Kimpton Primary School

About Kimpton Primary School

Kimpton Primary School is a smaller-than-average state primary in North Hertfordshire, with 145 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, meaning it operates at around 69% of its physical space. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.7%, which is slightly above the national primary average and suggests a modestly above-average level of disadvantage for a village school. Despite the spare capacity, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 26 applications for just 11 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.36. Ten of those applications were first-preference offers, and the school was officially oversubscribed, indicating strong local reputation even with room to grow. The school is mixed, non-religious, and serves ages 3 to 11, with nursery provision available. Kim Swash is the headteacher, and the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2021, rated it Good across all categories — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018.

Academically, Kimpton’s Key Stage 2 results in 2023/24 paint a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 50%, which is below the local authority average of 64% and places the school in the bottom 50% nationally, ranked 32nd out of 38 schools in North Hertfordshire. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: reading was a relative strength, with 77% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 40% achieving a higher standard — well above the national average for higher attainment. Writing saw 70% at expected and 17% at higher, while maths was weaker, with 63% at expected and only 10% at higher. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 102 in maths. Progress measures were not available, so it is difficult to assess how much value the school adds relative to starting points, but the reading results are clearly a standout.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including an ICT suite, art studios, a sensory room, library, music rooms, and both sports hall and playing fields. Sports provision covers cricket, rounders, tennis, dance and netball, while clubs include film, eco, science, gardening, art and coding — a decent breadth for a small primary. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Kimpton, the key takeaway is a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating, is genuinely popular despite spare capacity, and offers strong reading outcomes. It will suit parents who prioritise a village setting, a broad club offer, and a school that has demonstrated improvement, but who are comfortable with maths results that lag behind the local average.

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