Located in Hitchin, Purwell Primary School is a primary school, serving pupils aged 3 to 11. The school is a community school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.

Purwell Primary School currently has around 163 pupils on roll, which is about 67% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 58.9% boys and 41.1% girls. Around 34.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 6.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 24%.

The majority of pupils are from a white british background (65%).

Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

School Information

Address: Fairfield Way, Hitchin, SG4 0PU
Website: http://www.purwell.herts.sch.uk
Telephone: 01462432950
School Type: Community school
Education phase: Primary
Local authority: Hertfordshire
Headteacher / Principal: Mr Richard Cano
Religious character: Does not apply
Admissions policy: Not applicable
Unique reference: 117224

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 24/09/2024

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 3 - 11
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 243
Number of Pupils: 163
Number of Boys: 96
Number of Girls: 67

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 6.6% 4%
Persistent absence: 24% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British65.00%106
Other White7.40%12
Other (any other ethnic group)5.50%9
White and Black Caribbean4.90%8
Other Asian3.70%6
Other Mixed3.70%6
Chinese3.10%5
Pakistani1.80%3
African1.20%2
Unclassified1.20%2
White and Asian0.60%1
Caribbean0.60%1
Other Black0.60%1
Indian0.60%1
Irish0.00%0
Bangladeshi0.00%0
White and Black African0.00%0
Gypsy/Roma0.00%0
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0

Education - Primary

Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.

Reading: Average (1.1)
Writing: Average (-0.7)
Maths: Average (0.3)
Pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths
School
62%
Town average
65%
Local authority average
68%
England average
61%
Pupils achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths
School
0%
Town average
13%
Local authority average
14%
England average
8%
Average score in reading
School
104.0
Town average
107.7
Local authority average
108.4
England average
105.1
Average score in maths
School
103.0
Town average
106.0
Local authority average
106.8
England average
104.3

Nearby Schools

Nursery

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
York Road Nursery School
York Road , SG5 1XA
4out of 4 2,291 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Purwell Primary School
Fairfield Way , SG4 0PU
- not rated 0 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
Mary Exton Primary School
St Michael's Road , SG4 0QA
3out of 4 787 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Highover Junior Mixed and Infant School
Cambridge Road , SG4 0JP
- not rated 857 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
William Ransom Primary School
Stuart Drive , SG4 9QB
- not rated 1,086 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin
Benslow Lane , SG4 9RD
4out of 4 1,350 yd Voluntary aided school Yes Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Hitchin Girls' School
Highbury Road , SG4 9RS
- not rated 1,761 yd Community school Not Applicable Girls More About School
Hitchin Girls' School
Highbury Road , SG4 9RS
- not rated 1,761 yd Academy converter Not Applicable Girls More About School
The Highfield School
Highfield , SG6 3QA
- not rated 1,915 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School
The Highfield School
Highfield , SG6 3QA
3out of 4 1,915 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School
Hitchin Boys' School
Grammar School Walk , SG5 1JB
- not rated 2,324 yd Community school No Boys More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
North Herts Education Support Centre
Briar Patch Lane , SG6 3LY
- not rated 1,800 yd Pupil referral unit Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Kingshott School
Stevenage Road , St Ippolyts SG4 7JX
- not rated 2,011 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School
The Chrysalis School for Autism
Units 8 & 9 , The Glover Centre SG5 1RT
- not rated 2,078 yd Other independent special school No Mixed More About School
St Christopher School
Barrington Road , SG6 3JZ
- not rated 2,376 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School
St Francis College
Broadway , SG6 3PJ
- not rated 2,603 yd Other independent school Yes Girls More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.