The Grove Academy is a mainstream primary school in Watford, Hertfordshire, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 65 of its 473 pupils (13.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 473 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
13.7% get SEN support
65 of 473 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
19 of 473 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication40
- Autism18
- Social, emotional and mental health12
- Moderate learning difficulty8
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 473 (places for 710)
- Headteacher
- Mr Gary Wicks (Principal)
- Part of
- Aspire Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 34% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138507
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Hertfordshire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, May 2025
Inspected in May 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RH
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Garston Manor School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Saint Michael's Catholic High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 1.2 miles
- Nisai Virtual Academy Ltd Independent · Ages 16–25 1.7 miles
- Bushey Meads School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 2.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 10.9%, EHC plans 4% 0.4 miles
- Parkgate Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.6 miles
- Cherry Tree Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.6%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about The Grove Academy
How many pupils at The Grove Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 65 of the 473 pupils (13.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at The Grove Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (40 pupils), autism (18 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Grove Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Grove Academy?
Through Hertfordshire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Grove Academy?
You can ask for The Grove Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Grove Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Saint Michael's Catholic High School, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is The Grove Academy?
Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RH, in Hertfordshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.