Westfield Primary School

About Westfield Primary School

Of the 33 families who applied for a place at Westfield Primary School for the 2025/26 academic year, only six received a first-preference offer, giving the school an oversubscription ratio of 4.13. That means more than four families applied for every available place, a strong signal of local demand. The school has a total capacity of 210 pupils but currently enrols 155, so there is room to grow. Just over a quarter of pupils (28.5%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and suggests the school serves a diverse catchment. Headteacher Emma Leach leads a mixed, non-denominational primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2024, rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a significant drop from its previous Outstanding grade in 2010. Behaviour and attitudes, and quality of education, were both rated Requires Improvement, while leadership and management and early years provision were judged Good.

Academically, Westfield’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 paint a mixed picture. Sixty per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is slightly below the local authority average of 64%. However, the school performed notably well in reading: 87% of pupils reached the expected standard and 53% achieved a higher standard, well above typical figures. Maths was weaker, with 67% at expected and 20% at the higher standard. Average scores were 108 in reading and 104 in maths. Progress measures are not available for this cohort, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds. Nationally, Westfield ranks in the bottom half of primary schools on the combined expected standard metric, sitting at the 57th percentile. Within Dacorum, it ranks 23rd out of 47 primary schools, placing it in the middle of the local pack.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary of its size, including an art studio, ICT suite, sensory room, playing fields, sports hall, gymnasium and even a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, dance, netball and cricket, and there are clubs for science, film, eco and drama. For children with additional needs, Westfield provides support for a wide range of conditions, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is oversubscribed, so families living closest to the site will have the strongest chance of securing a place. Given its Requires Improvement rating, this is a school that will suit parents who are willing to engage closely with the school’s improvement journey, particularly those who value the strong reading outcomes and the breadth of enrichment activities on offer.

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