Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy

About Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy

Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy posts a KS2 expected standard in reading, writing and maths of 67%, which sits just above the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64% for primary schools. That three-point gap is modest but consistent, and the school’s ranking within North Hertfordshire — 20th out of 38 primaries — places it in the middle of the pack locally. Nationally, it sits around the 40th percentile, so it’s not an outlier in either direction. What’s more striking is the spread of results: reading stands out with 82% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 34% hitting the higher standard, while maths trails a little at 75% expected and 18% higher. Writing sits between the two at 80% expected but only 8% higher. The school’s overall score of 67 on the KS2 expected metric puts it in the top 50% of schools in the East of England region, which is a solid, if unspectacular, performance for a junior academy.

Academically, the picture is one of steady improvement. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good — a clear step up from the Requires Improvement rating it received in 2016. The most recent ungraded inspection in December 2024 confirmed that standards have been maintained. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 96% of respondents would recommend the school, and 97% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy here. On specific academic measures, 87% agreed the school has high expectations for their child, and 97% felt their child does well. The school’s capacity is 230, but it currently has 263 pupils on roll, so it’s oversubscribed by about 14%, which suggests strong local demand.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, playing fields, a sensory room, gymnasium, music rooms, art studios, outdoor playground, sports hall and a chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, tennis, athletics, rounders and swimming, while clubs include chess, art, eco, book, coding and drama. SEND support is available for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, visual impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. Among parents of children with SEND, 86% agreed the school gives them the support they need. For families looking for a well-regarded junior school in North Hertfordshire that’s performing slightly above the local average and is clearly popular with current parents, Wilshere-Dacre is a strong contender — though the oversubscription means you’ll want to get your application in early.

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