An Ofsted inspection was carried out at Croxley Danes School on 24th February 2026. This was a significant milestone for Croxley Danes, marking our first full inspection under Ofsted's renewed and more rigorous inspection framework. 

This new framework represents a significant shift in how schools are evaluated, moving away from simple one-word judgments to a more nuanced assessment across key areas. All inspections are led by His Majesty's Inspectors (HMIs) to ensure the highest level of professional scrutiny. The standards are incredibly high, requiring schools to demonstrate not just compliance, but a deep, evidence informed culture of excellence. 

The new 'Expected' grading is equivalent to the old 'Good', with the new 'Strong' standard being equivalent to an upper 'Good'/'Outstanding'. The new top grading of 'Exceptional' is only given to the top 5% of schools who are able to demonstrate at least three years of sustained outcomes that are significantly above national averages. 

Our results across the board reflect a school that is performing at a Strong or Expected standard in every category. With this distribution of gradings, we are currently well within the top 20% of schools nationally, which is a significant achievement especially for a newer school.

Please see below for a summary:

Strong Standards: We achieved a "Strong Standard," meaning we are working at well above the expected level, in Attendance and Behaviour, Inclusion and Leadership and Governance. These are regarded as the 3 most challenging areas in which to obtain a Strong grading, and so to get this grade in all 3 areas really sets us apart from other schools. 

Expected Standards: We met the "Expected Standard" in Achievement, Curriculum and Teaching, Personal Development and Post-16 Provision. 

The inspectors recognised that:

the school fosters a highly inclusive environment where all pupils feel welcomed and valued... Behaviour across the school is extremely positive [and] pupils enjoy positive relationships with staff and each other.

You can view the full report below