St Paul's Walden Primary School
similar schools
St Paul's Walden Primary School is a council school in Hitchin for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 74 pupils and room for 105. About 27 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 27 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 49% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.
Bendish Lane, Whitwell, Hitchin, SG4 8HX01438 871241stpaulswalden.herts.sch.ukMrs Carolina Davey headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 19 March 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
7 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 7 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 11 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 38% | 45% | 39% | 67% | 55% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 0% | 9% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 106.0 | 105.0 | 106.0 | 101.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 106.6 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 101.0 | 99.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 105.2 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 104.0 | 102.0 | 105.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 101.0 | 106.1 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 86% | 85% | 73% | 50% | 67% | 64% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 71% | 46% | 45% | 50% | 89% | 55% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 71% | 69% | 73% | 61% | 78% | 82% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +2.0 | -3.4 | -3.2 | -3.6 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -3.4 | -5.1 | -2.0 | -4.9 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | – | – | 14% | – | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | 55% | 67% | – | – | – |
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.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
39 places were empty (37% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 16% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
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. Every child who applied got a place (11 offers for 15 places).
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.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 15.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 22.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (9), language and communications needs (8), Specific learning difficulty (4), Autistic spectrum disorder (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 74 | 66 | 70 | 76 | 79 | 84 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 27% | 17% | 13% | 11% | 10% | 7% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 4% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 24% | 26% | 20% | 19% | 18% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.2% | 5.1% | 6.8% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.6% | 3.4% | 5.5% | 4.3% | 2.2% | 3.0% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.3% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 6.9% | 12.9% | 24.2% | 22.2% | 4.0% | 7.9% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 7.1 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
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.
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
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Primary School | Council | 1.8 miles | 133 | Report card 2026 | 37 | Compare |
| Breachwood Green Junior Mixed and Infant School | Council | 1.8 miles | 84 | Report card 2026 | 29 | Compare |
| Preston Primary School | Church of England | 2.1 miles | 60 | Good 2024 | 30 | Compare |
| Codicote Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 2.9 miles | 276 | No overall grade 2025 | 84 | Compare |
| Cockernhoe Endowed CofE Primary School | Church of England | 3.7 miles | 68 | Report card 2026 | 47 | Compare |
| Woolenwick Junior School | Council | 3.8 miles | 232 | Good 2023 | 27 | Compare |
| Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School | Council | 3.8 miles | 207 | Outstanding 2023 | 92 | Compare |
| Wigmore Primary | Council | 3.9 miles | 597 | Good 2024 | 32 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St Paul's Walden Primary School with the 45 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 45 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 45 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Paul's Walden Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunton CofE Junior School | Church of England | 14.7 miles | 66 | Good 2023 | 77 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 27 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 27% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 8 to 66. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | below | -0.17 | 2024 and 2023 results; 13 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 2.5 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.06 | DfE progress measure; 13 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | 0.00 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.05 | 2024/25; 58 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.11 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 13 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | 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 St Paul's Walden Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. St Paul's Walden Primary School scores 27 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 49% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 8 to 66, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is St Paul's Walden Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St Paul's Walden Primary School good at its last full inspection on 19 March 2024.
How good are St Paul's Walden Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 71% 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. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does St Paul's Walden Primary School have?
74 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 70% full.
Is St Paul's Walden Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 39 places were empty in 2024/25 (37% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at St Paul's Walden Primary School?
Pupils were in school 95.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 7% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St Paul's Walden Primary School?
The average class had 17.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Bendish Lane, Whitwell, Hitchin, SG4 8HX
- Telephone
- 01438 871241
- Website
- www.stpaulswalden.herts.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Carolina Davey
- Type of school
- Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Ward
- Hitchwood
- Constituency
- Hitchin
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 117144 · LAESTAB 9192101 · UKPRN 10076923
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, consistent financial reporting 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Hertfordshire council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2024, 2025, 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.