Richard Whittington Primary School

East Hertfordshire · CM23 3NP

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 273 pupils, 15.3% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 9.5% on SEN support Behaviour 5.1% absence rate Staff 17.1% turnover Financials £6,560 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Richard Whittington Primary School

General Information

Address: Thornbera Gardens, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3NP – View on map
Phone: 01279657778
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Headteacher Craig Wood
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 46 families put it first for 30 places – 15 for every 10 places. 65% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2025 11 · 2026 15
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

273 pupils out of 330 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 39
% eligible for free school meals: 15.3%
Pupil mix: 4 in 10 (more mixed than the East Hertfordshire average)
English as an additional language: 12% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 17.1% a year (East Hertfordshire 14.7%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 38% moved to another school, 62% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (one year, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Hertfordshire: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 33 (0.3 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 13 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 3 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Hertfordshire (the council area this school is in), not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 5.1%
Persistently absent pupils: 11.7%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 9.5%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 5.1%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 14 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 9 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 2 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 6 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 3 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 2 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 2 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2019 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 80% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 24% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 17 percentage points above the East Hertfordshire average (63%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Above (3-year average 71% against an expected 64%)
3-year average (expected standard): 71%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 89% · Writing 87% · Maths 93% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 91%
Average test scores: reading 110, maths 110
Based on: 45 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolEast Hertfordshire averageEngland↗ Improving Up 16 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 17 percentage points above the East Hertfordshire average (63%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 6th of 47 junior and primary schools in the area

=3Northgate Primary School82%
=6Manor Fields Primary School80%
=6Richard Whittington Primary School80%
#8Walkern Primary School79%
=9Hillmead Primary School77%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Thorley Hill Primary School87%
#2Simon Balle All-Through School84%
=3Benington Church of England Primary School82%
=3Little Hadham Primary School82%
=3Northgate Primary School82%
=6Manor Fields Primary School80%
=6Richard Whittington Primary School80%
#8Walkern Primary School79%
=9Hillmead Primary School77%
=9Mandeville Primary School77%
=9Reedings Junior School77%
#12Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School76%
#13Aston St Mary's Church of England Aided Primary School75%
=14Hunsdon Junior Mixed and Infant School73%
=14Summercroft Primary School73%
=14Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School73%
=17St Andrew's CE Primary School and Nursery70%
=17Windhill2170%
=19Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School68%
=19St Michael's Church of England Primary School68%
#21All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Datchworth67%
#22St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S66%
#23St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Junior School65%
=24High Wych Church of England Primary School63%
=24Widford School63%
=26All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford61%
=26Bengeo Primary School61%
=26St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School61%
#29Thorn Grove Primary School60%
#30Morgans Primary School & Nursery58%
#31St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School57%
=32Little Munden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School56%
=32Puller Memorial, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary School56%
=32St Catherine's Church of England Primary School56%
=32St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School56%
#36Abel Smith School55%
#37Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery54%
#38Spellbrook CofE Primary School53%
#39Wheatcroft Primary School51%
#40Priors Wood Primary School48%
#41Avanti Meadows Primary School47%
#42St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford)46%
#43Furneux Pelham Church of England School42%
#44Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery School36%
#45Tewin Cowper Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School35%
#46Hollybush Primary School32%
#47Bayford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School23%

View full Ofsted inspection report

28th of 45 primary schools in East Hertfordshire for Ofsted rating

#26Northgate Primary SchoolGood
#27Puller Memorial, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#28Richard Whittington Primary SchoolGood
#29Roger De Clare First CofE SchoolGood
#30St Andrew's CE Primary School and NurseryGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Abel Smith SchoolOutstanding
#2Bengeo Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Hunsdon Junior Mixed and Infant SchoolOutstanding
#4Jenyns First School and NurseryOutstanding
#5Windhill21Outstanding
#6All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's StortfordGood
#7All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, DatchworthGood
#8Ardeley St Lawrence Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#9Avanti Meadows Primary SchoolGood
#10Bayford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#11Benington Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#12Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and NurseryGood
#13Furneux Pelham Church of England SchoolGood
#14Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#15Hertford St Andrew CofE Primary SchoolGood
#16Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary SchoolGood
#17High Wych Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#18Hillmead Primary SchoolGood
#19Hormead Church of England (VA) First SchoolGood
#20Little Hadham Primary SchoolGood
#21Little Munden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#22Mandeville Primary SchoolGood
#23Manor Fields Primary SchoolGood
#24Millfield First and Nursery SchoolGood
#25Morgans Primary School & NurseryGood
#26Northgate Primary SchoolGood
#27Puller Memorial, Church of England, Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#28Richard Whittington Primary SchoolGood
#29Roger De Clare First CofE SchoolGood
#30St Andrew's CE Primary School and NurseryGood
#31St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#32St Catherine's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#33St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/SGood
#34St Michael's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#35St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#36Stapleford Primary SchoolGood
#37Summercroft Primary SchoolGood
#38Thorley Hill Primary SchoolGood
#39Thorn Grove Primary SchoolGood
#40Thundridge Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#41Walkern Primary SchoolGood
#42Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#43Wheatcroft Primary SchoolGood
#44Widford SchoolGood
#45Layston Church of England First SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,560 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

42nd of 55 primary schools in East Hertfordshire for spending per pupil

#40Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery£6,649
#41Morgans Primary School & Nursery£6,634
#42Richard Whittington Primary School£6,560
#43Abel Smith School£6,557
#44Priors Wood Primary School£6,549

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Anstey First School£13,677
#2Avanti Brook Primary School£12,857
#3Widford School£11,979
#4Ardeley St Lawrence Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£11,690
#5Jenyns First School and Nursery£10,160
#6Hertford St Andrew CofE Primary School£9,507
#7Bayford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£9,145
#8Hollybush Primary School£8,993
#9Little Munden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£8,965
#10Stapleford Primary School£8,819
#11Furneux Pelham Church of England School£8,758
#12Hormead Church of England (VA) First School£8,356
#13Avanti Meadows Primary School£8,187
#14Thundridge Church of England Primary School£8,157
#15St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School£8,051
#16All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Datchworth£7,901
#17All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford£7,864
#18Buntingford First School£7,814
#19Spellbrook CofE Primary School£7,649
#20Layston Church of England First School£7,583
#21St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£7,463
#22Tewin Cowper Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£7,402
#23Benington Church of England Primary School£7,335
#24St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford)£7,319
#25Hillmead Primary School£7,316
#26Roger De Clare First CofE School£7,279
#27St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School£7,230
#28Little Hadham Primary School£7,226
#29Thorn Grove Primary School£7,189
#30Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery School£7,144
#31Walkern Primary School£7,124
#32St Michael's Church of England Primary School£7,101
#33Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School£7,068
#34Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School£6,990
#35Hunsdon Junior Mixed and Infant School£6,960
#36St Catherine's Church of England Primary School£6,949
#37Aston St Mary's Church of England Aided Primary School£6,929
#38Millfield First and Nursery School£6,772
#39Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School£6,658
#40Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery£6,649
#41Morgans Primary School & Nursery£6,634
#42Richard Whittington Primary School£6,560
#43Abel Smith School£6,557
#44Priors Wood Primary School£6,549
#45High Wych Church of England Primary School£6,503
#46Mandeville Primary School£6,415
#47Thorley Hill Primary School£6,374
#48St Andrew's CE Primary School and Nursery£6,321
#49Summercroft Primary School£6,314
#50Bengeo Primary School£6,256
#51Wheatcroft Primary School£6,163
#52Northgate Primary School£6,002
#53Windhill21£5,903
#54Manor Fields Primary School£5,730
#55St Joseph's Catholic Primary School B/S£5,677

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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