School Chooser

Featherstone Wood Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedCouncil222 pupilsNurseryStevenageHertfordshire
School Chooser Score
31
Below
similar schools
Likely range 14 to 57, so it could be “in line”
Out of 100. Better than 47% of the 50 schools most like it. Getting better year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, October 2022
Reached the expected level at 1164%England 63%
Attendance92.9%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families35%Far more than most schools
Places18 spare222 pupils, 240 places
Pupils per teacher22.0School workforce census

Featherstone Wood Primary School is a council school in Stevenage for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 222 pupils and room for 240. About 35 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 31 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 47% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Featherston Road, Stevenage, SG2 9PP01438 235550featherstonewood.herts.sch.ukMrs Teresa Skeggs headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 18 October 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

22 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1164%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level0%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score104.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score104.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 52%52%20172018: 46%46%20182019: 53%53%20192023: 30%30%20232024: 61%61%20242025: 64%64%2025
Since 2017: +12%Improving overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017HertfordshireEngland
Pupils tested222827172823
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths64%61%30%53%46%52%64%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths0%0%0%6%4%4%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score104.0103.0101.0103.0101.0101.0106.6105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score104.0101.099.0103.0102.0105.0105.2104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score104.0103.0100.0105.0101.0105.0106.1105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard77%64%59%65%54%61%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard77%68%52%76%68%78%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)64%61%41%71%71%78%
Reading progressReading progress score-1.1-2.7-3.2-2.2
Maths progressMaths progress score-1.9-2.4-2.3+1.2
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged33%56%27%54%60%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged85%63%33%40%46%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
33%85%
Gap 52 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
64%64%
No gapEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%0%
No gapEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Plenty of spare places186 pupils for 236 places, 2024/25
79% full

50 places were empty (21% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 13% since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 1.6 miles away in 2026, 900 m away in 2025. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 1.6 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesApplied at allGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3081301.6 milesLA
2025 Primary308330900 mLA
2024 Primary306528all offeredLA

The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.

What a home within 1.1 miles of the school costs

Typical sale price within 1.1 miles of the school£335,000half sold for £305k to £375k
Homes sold584December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district0%a typical home in the district sells for £335,250

Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll222Census January 2026
Places24092% full
Pupils from low-income families33%35% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English17%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support17%37 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan14%30 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.18 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)34%£106,950 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls110 / 112
White British pupils69%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 8 pupils, for autism, speech, language and communication.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Hertfordshire with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 28.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 27.0 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (33), emotional and mental health (13), Specific learning difficulty (13), Autistic spectrum disorder (6), Moderate learning difficulty (1), Severe learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll222204185194182170
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals33%31%31%38%40%26%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language17%21%24%20%18%18%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support20%16%22%19%23%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans6%5%6%7%4%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance92.9%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school22.8%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils9.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.0%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence7.1%6.8%8.3%8.8%5.1%4.9%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.1%5.0%4.9%5.8%3.9%3.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.0%1.8%3.3%3.0%1.1%1.4%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence22.8%22.3%26.4%29.4%14.6%9.6%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate9.39.710.85.02.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00001

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers9.8full-time equivalent, 11 people
Pupils per teacher22.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers91%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants14.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£44,717
Teachers who left in the year5%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.52024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,317England £7,738. Total £1.7m
Income per pupil£7,291England £7,697. Total £1.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,722England £3,480
Money in reserve7%Not much put by: £99k, £497 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£204kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£8,317spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m41012 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate81 per 1,000 people11% lower than the England average
Typical house price£335,000Stevenage
Nearest bus stop160 mFoxfield, 15 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Ashtree Primary AcademyAcademy470 m209Requires improvement 20210Compare
Peartree Spring Primary SchoolFoundation690 m626Good 202333Compare
Aston St Mary's Church of England Aided Primary SchoolChurch of England0.7 miles129No overall grade 202595Compare
Longmeadow Primary SchoolCouncil0.7 miles201No overall grade 20254Compare
Shephalbury Park Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles228Good 202221Compare
St Nicholas CofE (VA) Primary School and NurseryChurch of England0.9 miles186No overall grade 20256Compare
Camps Hill Primary SchoolAcademy1.0 miles462Good 202419Compare
Roebuck AcademyAcademy1.0 miles452Report card 202628Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Featherstone Wood Primary School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats47%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 31 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 32 · highest 98100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 31 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 31% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 14 to 57. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.15
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 22 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.9 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.10
DfE progress measure; 22 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well above
+0.20
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.13
2024/25; 171 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.07
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 22 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Featherstone Wood Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. Featherstone Wood Primary School scores 31 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 47% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 14 to 57, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.

What is Featherstone Wood Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Featherstone Wood Primary School good at its last full inspection on 18 October 2022.

How good are Featherstone Wood Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 64% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Featherstone Wood Primary School have?

222 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 240 places, so it is 93% full.

Is Featherstone Wood Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 1.6 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Featherstone Wood Primary School?

Pupils were in school 92.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Featherstone Wood Primary School?

The average class had 26.1 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Featherstone Wood Primary School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism, speech, language and communication. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Featherston Road, Stevenage, SG2 9PP
Telephone
01438 235550
Website
www.featherstonewood.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Teresa Skeggs
Type of school
Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Ward
Bandley Hill & Poplars
Constituency
Stevenage
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 1998
URN
131505 · LAESTAB 9192005 · UKPRN 10075244
Formerly
Bandley Hill Junior School, Bandley Hill Infants' School

Where these figures come from