OFSTED and SIAMS
OFSTED
St Mary’s was inspected by OFSTED under the previous inspection framework and was judged to be Good in all areas.
These judgements included:
- Quality of Education - Good
- Behaviour and Attitudes - Good
- Personal Development - Good
- Leadership and Management - Good
- Early Years Provision - Good
The inspection recognised the aspirational curriculum and positive culture within the school, stating:
"An exciting, aspirational curriculum develops pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well."
Inspectors also highlighted the strong relationships and positive attitudes of pupils:
“Pupils enjoy learning and work hard at school. Behaviour is good in lessons, at playtime and while moving about the school.”
Since this inspection, St Mary’s has continued to develop and strengthen many areas of school life, including our inclusive provision, curriculum development, personal development opportunities and wider support for all pupils.
Although it has been some time since our last Ofsted inspection, the school continues to receive positive external validation. Our Hertfordshire School Effectiveness Adviser has recognised the significant developments across the school and the continued journey of improvement, reflecting that St Mary’s is moving from strength to strength.
"There are strong, effective and purposeful leaders.... This is a school that has been on a rapid improvement track since the appointment of the current headteacher."
In November 2025, Ofsted introduced a new national inspection framework. St Mary’s is looking forward to being inspected under this updated framework and to sharing the continued journey of the school.
Guided by our vision of “Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing; together shining a light”, we remain committed to ensuring every child feels valued, supported and inspired to achieve their full potential.
Parent View gives you the chance to voice your opinion on our school to Ofsted. It surveys how you feel about 12 aspects of the school, from the quality of teaching to dealing with bullying and poor behaviour.
Ofsted uses this information to inform their decision on when to next inspect. Parents can see what others have said, and view the results for any school in England.
SIAMS
St Mary’s Church of England Primary School was judged to be a Good Church School in our most recent SIAMS inspection in 2018. The inspection recognised the strength of our Christian vision and the positive impact this has on the whole school community.
Inspectors highlighted that:
“The school’s Christian values are having a noticeable impact on pupils’ behaviour and achievement.”
The report also recognised the importance of wellbeing, spirituality and belonging within school life, stating:
“Pupils and staff find solace in the spiritual and prayer life of the school.”
The inspection praised the strong relationships across the school community and noted that:
“Pupils are happy, confident and articulate and relationships are generally good.”
Since this inspection, St Mary’s has continued to develop and strengthen its Christian vision and inclusive ethos. Through our vision of “Aspiring, nurturing, flourishing; together shining a light”, we remain committed to ensuring every child feels valued, supported and inspired to flourish academically, spiritually and personally.
We continue to work closely with St Mary’s Church, the Diocese of St Albans and the wider community to ensure our Christian vision remains at the heart of school life.