School profile

The Grove Junior School

Primary · Community school · Harpenden, AL5 1QB

Good

Map showing The Grove Junior School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#1,393 of 15,057

Better than 90% of schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

The Grove Junior School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 7 Mar 2013

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Outstanding

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeCommunity school
Ages7 to 11
Pupils350
GenderMixed
Head teacherMiss Lorna Urquhart
Local authorityHertfordshire
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 117258.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths82%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire64%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.19%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire11%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.110, better than England, better than Hertfordshire107106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.109, better than England, better than Hertfordshire105105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.109, better than England, better than Hertfordshire106105
Expected standard in reading91%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire79%76%
Expected standard in writing85%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire73%73%
Expected standard in maths86%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire76%75%
Pupils taking tests88--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils350
Girls173
Boys177
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.9.1%
First language not English10.6%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.360
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.2.8%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.64
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.6
Average class size28.9

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
75.7%
White and Asian
4%
Other mixed
3.7%
Other White
2.9%
Chinese
2.6%
Indian
1.7%
Pakistani
1.7%
Other ethnic group
1.4%
African
1.1%
Irish
0.9%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher19.5
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.5
Teachers (FTE)17.91
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.42
Support staff (FTE)17.64
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2519.6
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2518
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250.6
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence3.4%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire4.9%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.5.3%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire12.1%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.3%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire1%1%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate1.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions1.1%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Grove Junior School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.0 miPrimaryThe Grove Infant and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.4 miPrimaryHigh Beeches Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.4 miNot applicableAldwickbury SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.5 miPrimaryCrabtree Infants' SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimaryCrabtree Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimarySt Dominic Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.9 miPrimaryHarpenden AcademyFree schools
Good
1.0 miSecondaryKatherine Warington SchoolFree schools
Good
1.1 miSecondarySir John Lawes SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
1.1 miPrimarySt Nicholas CofE VA Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Grove Junior School

What is The Grove Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The Grove Junior School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 7 Mar 2013.

How does The Grove Junior School rank in England?

The Grove Junior School ranks 1,393 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (better than 90% of schools).

What are The Grove Junior School's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 82% of pupils at The Grove Junior School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

How many pupils attend The Grove Junior School?

The Grove Junior School has 350 pupils aged 7 to 11.

What is the capacity of The Grove Junior School?

The Grove Junior School had 360 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Grove Junior School?

At The Grove Junior School, the average class had 28.9 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 19.5 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Grove Junior School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Grove Junior School missed 3.4% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 5.3% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.