Preston Primary School

About Preston Primary School

Preston Primary School is a Church of England primary in North Hertfordshire that currently operates well below its capacity, with 68 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 105. This undersubscription is notable given the local context: the school received 18 total applications for just 5 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, an oversubscription ratio of 3.6, and all 5 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 2.9%, significantly lower than the national average and suggesting a relatively affluent intake. The school is mixed-gender and serves children aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. Headteacher Jacomina Luitingh leads a small, tight-knit community where the pupil count leaves considerable room for growth, and the oversubscription data indicates that while demand exists, it is concentrated among families who make the school their first choice.

Academically, Preston Primary holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. At Key Stage 2, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which falls below the local authority average of 64%. However, individual subject results tell a more nuanced story: 91% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, with 45% achieving the higher standard, while maths saw 73% at expected and 27% at higher. Writing was weaker, with 64% at expected and only 18% at higher. Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 106 in maths. The school ranks 30th out of 38 primary schools in North Hertfordshire on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority. Nationally, it sits in the 68th percentile, meaning roughly a third of schools perform worse on this measure.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, outdoor playground, forest school, playing fields, gymnasium and chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, athletics, swimming, rounders, cricket and netball, while extracurricular clubs include film, coding, chess, gardening and choir. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families considering Preston, the key selling point is the small, community-focused environment with strong behaviour standards and a Church of England character, though the below-average KS2 combined results mean it may not suit those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes. The oversubscription data suggests that families who do apply are highly committed, and the school’s capacity means there is likely to be space for late applicants or those moving into the area.

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