Roman Way Academy Review 2026: First school with strong routines, outdoor space, and an on-site pool

The latest Ofsted inspection in September 2023 judged Roman Way Academy Good overall, with Good grades for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years.

For parents, the practical implication of that inspection profile is consistency. A Good judgement across the board is usually the mark of a school where expectations are understood, the curriculum is working for most pupils, and leaders have a clear grip on priorities. In this case, external review materials describe a curriculum designed from early years through Year 4, with high expectations for pupils and structured lessons that help children recall prior learning.

Where the inspection is especially useful is in its specificity about what is still being tightened. It identifies that, in a few subjects, leaders need to set out the intended knowledge and content more clearly, and that some staff need stronger subject knowledge so teaching matches leaders’ intentions. It also flags that some year groups need more chances to apply reading knowledge and build fluency. Those are not unusual development points for a small primary-phase academy, but they are meaningful for families deciding fit, because they highlight where the school is focusing its improvement work.

Roman Way’s curriculum story is strongest when it is anchored to early primary realities, children learn best when they understand routines, when content is sequenced, and when adults check understanding in the moment. The inspection materials describe structured lessons, carefully planned activities that build on what pupils already know, and confident use of subject vocabulary in many subjects. That combination tends to suit pupils who like clarity and who respond well to well-paced teacher explanation and guided practice.

Early reading is a stated priority, starting in the early years where the school highlights oracy and early reading skills as central. In practice, that means families should expect a strong emphasis on language, phonics foundations, and reading habits from Nursery and Reception onwards.

SEND support is presented as integrated rather than siloed. The inspection materials describe staff working closely with parents and other professionals, adapting learning so pupils with SEND can access the same curriculum as peers and experience success. For families, the implication is that support is expected to happen inside everyday lessons and routines, not only via separate interventions.

Nursery provision, how it fits

Because Nursery is part of the school, early years is not just childcare attached to a primary, it is the start of the school’s learning culture. The school describes purposeful indoor and outdoor learning environments for Nursery and Reception, and it links that to core early years priorities such as speaking and listening and early reading foundations.

Nursery admissions are handled directly through the school, and the school publishes a Nursery application process for the Autumn 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms. For Nursery fee details, families should check the school’s own published information; eligible families may also be able to use government-funded early years hours.

Roman Way is a first school that runs through Year 4, so progression planning matters earlier than it does for a typical 4 to 11 primary. That structure can be a real positive for pupils who benefit from a smaller setting in the early years and Key Stage 1, because it avoids the sudden leap into a large secondary-style environment at age 9. It also means families need to be organised about the Year 5 move and should start thinking ahead about the next school well before Year 4.

The school itself points parents to Hertfordshire’s admissions routes for Reception entry and provides information about transition planning. In practice, the most useful approach is to treat Roman Way as a strong early-stage foundation, then shortlist the likely Year 5 options early, visit them, and confirm the relevant admissions criteria and deadlines.

Roman Way has three distinct entry routes, Nursery, Reception, and in-year places in Reception to Year 4.

Reception entry for September 2026 is coordinated through Hertfordshire Local Authority. The national closing date listed is 15 January 2026, with offers issued on 16 April 2026 (or the first working day after), and the deadline to accept or decline an offered place is 01 May 2026.

Nursery entry is handled directly through the school rather than the local authority route, and the school publishes Nursery admissions information covering Autumn 2025 through Summer 2026.

In-year applications (after the start of term or for other year groups up to Year 4) are also supported via the school’s published in-year process.

Demand indicators suggest the school is not a soft-touch option for admission. The most recent admissions data available shows 64 applications for 38 offers for the primary entry route, which implies more applicants than places. Families who are serious about the school should treat deadlines as non-negotiable and use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check proximity if distance criteria apply in a given year. )

Open events can be a useful way to understand the early years environment. The school publishes Nursery and Reception open sessions aimed at September 2026 starters, including dates in October 2025 and February 2026.

Pastoral support at Roman Way is tied closely to routine and visibility. Safeguarding leadership is clearly identified on the school’s published safeguarding information, with the headteacher as the designated safeguarding lead and an assistant headteacher as deputy. The school also states that staff receive regular safeguarding updates and that a number of staff are trained paediatric first aiders, which is particularly relevant for Nursery and Reception families.

Inspectors confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

For many families, the day-to-day feel of wellbeing is shaped less by policies and more by whether adults are consistent, whether pupils know who to go to, and whether problems are dealt with early. The inspection materials describe pupils feeling safe and having positive relationships with staff, and they highlight structured expectations around behaviour.

Roman Way’s enrichment is not framed as “anything for everyone”, it is more grounded in practical, age-appropriate clubs and experiences that widen pupils’ confidence and curiosity.

The school lists a rotating after-school clubs programme, with examples including Art in Nature, Junk Modelling, Lego Builders, Choir, Science Club, and Puzzles and Games. These are well matched to the 3 to 9 age range because they blend creativity, hands-on making, and early scientific curiosity without relying on older-child independence.

External review materials also describe pupils accessing activities such as woodland club, storytelling club, and cooking club, plus trips and workshops. The implication for families is that enrichment is designed to build real-world experience and confidence, not just fill an hour after school.

Facilities contribute as well. The school highlights extensive fields and outdoor learning areas, and it notes an on-site swimming pool where all children learn to swim. For pupils, that can be transformative, swimming becomes normal rather than occasional, and confidence in water often carries over into general physical confidence.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day runs 8.45am to 3.20pm for Reception to Year 4, and 8.45am to 3.15pm for Nursery (with personal timetables followed).

Wraparound care is available. Breakfast Club runs 8.00am to 8.40am and is priced at £5.50 per session. An after-school option operates to 6.00pm, with published session pricing through the provider.

For families managing logistics, the key planning point is the early finish for Nursery compared with older year groups, and the need to confirm what wraparound options apply to a child’s age and timetable.

• Age range ends at Year 4. The move to Year 5 happens earlier than in a standard primary, so families should plan the next step well in advance and prioritise visits and admissions research during Year 3 and early Year 4.

• Competition for places. Admissions data indicates more applicants than offers for the primary entry route, so deadlines and criteria matter, especially for Reception entry through Hertfordshire’s coordinated process.

• Curriculum consistency is still being refined in a few subjects. External review materials highlight that some subjects need clearer curriculum definition and that some staff need stronger subject knowledge so teaching matches leaders’ intentions. Families who place high weight on breadth should ask how subject leadership and staff development are being strengthened.

• Reading fluency opportunities vary by year group. The school has been advised to ensure pupils in all year groups get enough chances to apply reading knowledge and build fluency. For parents of reluctant readers, it is worth asking how reading practice is structured beyond phonics foundations.

Roman Way Academy suits families who want a structured first-school experience with clear expectations, strong early years foundations, and lots of practical enrichment tied to outdoor space and hands-on clubs. The combination of wraparound care, leadership roles for pupils, and facilities such as an on-site pool makes it a compelling option for Nursery to Year 4.

It best suits families who like a consistent behaviour culture and who are comfortable planning early for the Year 5 transition. The main challenge is admission competitiveness rather than the day-to-day experience once a place is secured.