School profile

The Grove Academy

Primary · Academy sponsor led · Watford, WD25 9RH

Good

Map showing The Grove Academy

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

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#7,758 of 15,057

Similar to most schools in England

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

The Grove Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 20 May 2025

Area360 rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages3 to 11
Pupils473
GenderMixed
Head teacherMr Gary Wicks
TrustASPIRE ACADEMIES TRUST
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Sept 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138507.

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 maths64%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire64%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.0%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire11%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire107106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire105105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.107, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire106105
Expected standard in reading76%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire79%76%
Expected standard in writing73%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire73%73%
Expected standard in maths77%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire76%75%
Pupils taking tests70--

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

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils473
Girls236
Boys237
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.30.2%
First language not English46.1%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.630
Pupils excluding nurseryPupils who take up school places.420
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.33.3%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.65
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.19
Average class size26.5

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
32.3%
Other White
18.6%
Indian
8.5%
Pakistani
7.6%
African
7.2%
Other ethnic group
5.7%
Other Asian
4.9%
White and Black Caribbean
3.8%
Other mixed
3.2%
White and Asian
2.3%

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 teacher19.1
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.5
Teachers (FTE)23.37
Teaching assistants (FTE)13.08
Support staff (FTE)30.9
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2522.7
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2517.3
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253.4

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

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.59
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.81
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.55
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.55
Applications from another local authority (Reception)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence6.4%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire4.9%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.13.7%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire12.1%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.1.6%, worse than England, worse 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 rate8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions2.7%
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 Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimaryParkgate Infants' and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.4 miNot applicableStanborough Primary SchoolOther independent school
Good
0.5 miNot applicableStanborough Secondary SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miPrimaryParkgate Junior SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.7 miNurseryKingswood Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimaryCherry Tree Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryCoates Way JMI and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miPrimaryKnutsford Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimarySt Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryKingsway Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Grove Academy

What is The Grove Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Grove Academy is rated Good, last inspected on 20 May 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does The Grove Academy rank in England?

The Grove Academy ranks 7,758 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are The Grove Academy's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 64% of pupils at The Grove Academy met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

How hard is it to get into The Grove Academy?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, The Grove Academy made 59 offers from 81 applications (1.4 per offer), and 55 of 55 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Grove Academy?

The Grove Academy has 473 pupils aged 3 to 11.

What is the capacity of The Grove Academy?

The Grove Academy had 630 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Grove Academy?

At The Grove Academy, the average class had 26.5 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 19.1 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Grove Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Grove Academy missed 6.4% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 13.7% 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.