Manor Fields Primary School
96%
Capacity
447
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Manor Fields Primary School
Manor Fields Primary School sits within Hertfordshire, a local authority with 401 primary schools, and ranks 10th out of 47 schools in the East Hertfordshire area based on its Key Stage 2 results. That puts it comfortably in the top quarter of schools locally. Among its top-performing peers in the same LA are Little Gaddesden Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harvey Road Primary School, and The Russell School, all of which share the highest ranking scores. Manor Fields itself holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate inspection in 2016. The school is led by headteacher Helen Smith and serves 447 pupils aged 3 to 11, operating just under its full capacity of 465. It is a mixed, non-religious state primary with no boarding or sixth form, but it does offer nursery provision for younger children.
Academically, Manor Fields performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a Hertfordshire LA average of 64%. The school also excels in higher attainment: 14% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. In reading, the average score was 110, with 49% reaching the higher threshold, while in maths the average was 109 and 53% achieved the higher mark. Writing saw 20% of pupils reach the higher standard. The school’s Ofsted inspection in March 2022 rated every category as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a clear turnaround from the previous inspection, where overall effectiveness was judged Inadequate and leadership and management were also rated Inadequate.
Manor Fields is a popular choice for local families: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 118 applications for 60 places, with 51 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. The school offers a broad range of facilities including music rooms, a sports hall, art studios, a library, an ICT suite, playing fields, and a forest school. Sports on offer include dance, netball, swimming, cricket, athletics, and football, while clubs range from book and art clubs to gardening and eco club. The school has specific SEND provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families seeking a strong academic record within a supportive environment, Manor Fields represents a solid option in East Hertfordshire, especially given its improved Ofsted rating and above-average outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Penningtons, Bishop's Stortford, East Hertfordshire, CM23 4LE |
| Headteacher | Helen Smith |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 447 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.2% |
| School Capacity | 447 / 465 (96% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (75%)
2842nd of 13,686
Nationally
273rd of 1,612
In East of England
10th of 47
In East Hertfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
75%
Expected Standard
14%
Higher Standard
'22/23
75%
'23/24
75%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
118
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
51 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: manorfields.herts.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.6%
- White (other)8.1%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian5.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Manor Fields Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Penningtons, Bishop's Stortford
East Hertfordshire, CM23 4LE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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