Waterside Academy

About Waterside Academy

Waterside Academy, a state primary in Welwyn Hatfield, received a Good rating from Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2022, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement grade in 2016. The school’s most telling academic metric is its Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard score: 70% of pupils met this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits above the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%, placing Waterside 128th out of 401 primary schools in the county. In the Welwyn Hatfield borough specifically, the school ranks 13th out of 34 primaries, putting it in the top 40% locally. The Ofsted report awarded Good across all five graded categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — confirming that the school’s improvement trajectory has been sustained.

Digging deeper into the exam data, the school’s average scaled scores in reading and maths both sit at 103, which is in line with the national average of 100. However, the proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 9%, a figure that suggests stretch for the most able pupils is an area to watch. Individually, 22% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, 17% in maths and 17% in writing. The school’s progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is not possible to compare how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. With 46.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national average — the school serves a community with significant socioeconomic challenges, making its above-average expected standard attainment a notable achievement.

Waterside Academy is a relatively small school, with 177 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, and it offers nursery provision for children aged three and up. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 39 applications for 19 places, with all 19 first-preference applicants receiving offers. Facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, a forest school and a chapel. The school runs clubs in drama, choir, science, chess and coding, and offers sports including gymnastics, netball, tennis and cross country. Its SEND provisions cover a broad range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. This combination of strong core outcomes, a supportive SEND offer and a clear improvement story makes Waterside a solid choice for local families, particularly those looking for a primary that has demonstrably raised its game.

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