Crabtree Junior School Review 2026: High-performing junior school with strong routines and rich enrichment

Year 3 is when many children start to show their academic shape, and Crabtree Junior School leans into that moment with clear expectations and a tightly sequenced curriculum. Serving pupils aged 7 to 11, it operates as a junior school rather than an all-through primary, with two classes per year group and a maximum of 32 pupils in each class.

The latest inspection outcome is emphatic. The 29 to 30 November 2023 Ofsted inspection graded the school Outstanding across all areas and confirmed safeguarding is effective.

Governance and leadership are unusually stable for a school of this size. Miss Emma Simmons is the executive headteacher, and the school is part of Ivy Learning Trust.

This is a school that likes children to take responsibility early. The inspection evidence points to pupils actively stepping into leadership roles, including peer mediator and play leader responsibilities, alongside a strong emphasis on teamwork and independence. That leadership culture is not positioned as a badge for a few, it is framed as a routine part of school life.

Wellbeing support is visible in the way it is structured. The Hive is described as a dedicated space where skilled adults support pupils with emotional needs, and the staffing model includes a named learning mentor and wellbeing support role. Taken together, it suggests pastoral care is built into the daily operating system, not treated as a separate service for crisis moments.

The school also uses a school dog, Bodhi, as part of its wellbeing approach, with the trust-wide context that each Ivy Learning Trust school has a school dog. This is not a gimmick on paper, it is explicitly linked to supporting vulnerable pupils, confidence-building around reading, and calm routines.

Leadership context matters for parents because junior schools can sometimes feel like a midway institution between infant and secondary. Miss Emma Simmons is listed as executive headteacher (and headteacher across the infant and junior schools), with an appointment date shown in school governance information as 06 March 2018.

The data is exceptionally strong for Key Stage 2 outcomes.

• In 2024, 90.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%.

• At the higher standard, 44.3% reached the higher threshold in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%.

• Science outcomes were also strong, with 92% meeting the expected standard, compared with the England average of 82%.

These figures describe a cohort consistently working beyond the expected standard, not a small spike that could be explained by a one-off year.

The school’s position in FindMySchool’s primary outcomes rankings reinforces that picture. Ranked 585th in England and 6th locally (Harpenden) for primary outcomes, it sits well above the England average and within the top 10% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

Scaled scores add helpful detail for families who want to understand what “strong” looks like in practice. The average scaled scores were 110 in reading, 108 in mathematics, and 111 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. As a reference point, a scaled score of 100 indicates meeting the expected standard in KS2 tests.

What that means day to day is simple. Pupils are not only meeting thresholds, many are operating securely above them across the tested domains, which typically correlates with confident reading routines, explicit vocabulary teaching, and consistent practice in maths and writing.

The curriculum design is deliberately structured. The school describes a mapped sequence of learning across subjects, built so that knowledge and skills are revisited and developed year on year, with clear “end points” for units. Vocabulary development is positioned as a core design principle, specifically including subject-specific and academic vocabulary, rather than leaving language growth to chance.

The teaching approach is also anchored in evidence-led methods. The school explicitly references Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction and the Education Endowment Foundation as part of its whole provision, which signals a preference for clear explanations, guided practice, and careful checking of what pupils remember before moving on.

For pupils joining at junior phase, reading support matters. The inspection report describes targeted, expert phonics teaching for pupils who need it, helping them catch up quickly, alongside a broader reading culture where pupils encounter rich texts and recommend books to one another.

As a junior school, Crabtree’s main destination point is the move to Year 7. For many families, local state options in and around Harpenden include Sir John Lawes School, Roundwood Park School, St George’s School, Harpenden, and Katherine Warington School. Admissions at secondary level in Hertfordshire are shaped by published admission rules and priority areas, so parents should treat “likely next school” as a function of where you live, not simply where you did primary.

A practical implication of Crabtree’s strong Key Stage 2 outcomes is that pupils are typically well placed to access demanding secondary curricula. Families considering selective or independent routes will still need to plan separately for those admissions pathways, as the junior school’s job is to deliver Key Stage 2 well, not to run a test-preparation programme.

Parents comparing options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to look at nearby secondary schools side by side, including inspection outcomes and published performance indicators.

This is a junior entry school, so the key intake point is Year 3 (age 7). The school states that most places are taken by pupils transferring from the linked infant school, but it also welcomes pupils from other local schools and families moving into the area.

Two details are particularly important for parents:

1. There is no automatic transition from the linked infant school, families must still submit the Common Application Form.

2. Admissions (excluding in-year) are handled through Hertfordshire’s coordinated process.

For September 2026 entry (2026 to 2027 admissions), the school publishes a clear timeline:

• Applications opened 03 November 2025

• Closing date 15 January 2026

• Offers made 16 April 2026

• Acceptance deadline 23 April 2026

• Last date to register an appeal 15 May 2026 (4pm)

The visit pattern is also useful context. The school’s admissions page shows school visit mornings scheduled in November, and it describes an information session in the summer term for incoming Year 3 parents. Because open events can change annually, families should use these as typical timings and check the school’s latest updates before making plans.

Pastoral support appears both staffed and structured. The school’s published staffing includes a learning mentor and wellbeing support role, and the inspection evidence highlights tailored social and emotional support where needed.

SEND support also appears integrated. The inspection report notes accurate identification and assessment of pupils with SEND, with pupils accessing the same ambitious curriculum as peers, supported in ways that remove barriers to learning. The website staffing list shows an identified SENDCo.

The school dog, Bodhi, is presented as part of a calm, supportive culture, and the wellbeing pages indicate that the school uses structured wellbeing approaches (for example, Zones of Regulation is listed within the wellbeing section).

A strong junior school should offer breadth without turning enrichment into a scramble. Crabtree’s extracurricular menu is unusually specific, with language and skills clubs that align neatly with its academic strengths.

Named clubs and activities listed include Chess, Drama Kids, Fizzballers, Junior Field Games, Linguafanatics French (Years 3 to 6), Linguafanatics Spanish (Years 3 to 4), Mandarin, My (after school) Art Club, Sewing Bugs, Lego Club, Tech Club, and Tennis Club (Years 3 to 4).

The inspection report adds useful colour on what “breadth” looks like. It references opportunities ranging from archery and chess to Mandarin, and it describes pupils developing detailed knowledge across subjects, including in sport. The implication for families is that enrichment is not treated as a bolt-on, it is part of the school’s learning identity and pupil confidence-building.

Student leadership roles also sit within this wider picture. The inspection evidence highlights structured opportunities for pupils to contribute to school life and build responsibility, which tends to suit children who enjoy being given a job to do, not just being entertained.

The published school day for the junior school runs from 8:40 to 15:15.

Wraparound care is available via an on-site provider. Breakfast club runs 7:30 to 8:45, and after-school club runs 15:15 to 18:30, with a food offer described as including breakfast in the morning, plus snack and supper after school. Holiday provision is also described as available for children from age 3 through to the end of Year 6.

For travel, most local families will find the school accessible from Harpenden town routes, with Harpenden railway station the most obvious rail link. As with most Harpenden schools, drop-off can be busy, so families benefit from building in time for walking the last section rather than relying on door-to-gate parking.

• Junior-only structure. This is a Year 3 to Year 6 school, so families need to plan for two transitions, into junior at 7 and on to secondary at 11. That suits children who enjoy a fresh start, but it can feel like a lot of change for more cautious personalities.

• Apply even if your child is at the linked infant school. There is no automatic transfer, parents still have to complete the coordinated application. Missing this detail can create avoidable stress.

• High attainment can bring pace. With outcomes at this level, expectations are likely to be consistently high. Many children thrive on that clarity; some may need careful support to avoid perfectionism becoming unhelpful.

• Wraparound is provided by a third-party operator. The hours are long and practical for working families, but policies and booking will sit with the provider rather than the school itself, so it is worth checking how cancellations and regular bookings work.

Crabtree Junior School is a high-performing junior school that combines very strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with a structured, evidence-led approach to teaching. Leadership opportunities, wellbeing support (including The Hive), and a clearly named extracurricular offer add breadth without losing focus.

Best suited to families who want a purposeful junior phase with consistent routines, a strong reading and curriculum culture, and enrichment that extends into languages and practical clubs, as well as sport.