Hertford Prep

Hertford Prep (formerly St Joseph’s in the Park) is a co-educational independent preparatory day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated within the grounds of Hertingfordbury Park near Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. The school became part of the Mill Hill Education Group in 2021 and adopted its current name in 2025 following a rebrand. History The school traces its origins to 1898, when Sisters of Mercy from St Joseph’s Convent in Chelsea founded a small day and boarding school in Hertford, opposite the Catholic Church in St John’s Street. During the 1950s the Sisters moved the school to the Hertingfordbury Park estate, occupying the house and parkland in 1947 and developing purpose-built classrooms by 1957. The Sisters withdrew from direct management in 1983; the school later became privately owned, adopted the name *St Joseph’s in the Park* in 1996 and became a charitable trust in 2006. The main building, Hertingfordbury Park, contains 17th- and 18th-century fabric and is recorded on the National Heritage List for England. Local histories and parish archives record the Sisters’ presence in St John’s Street and the relocation to the estate in mid-century. In 2021 the school joined the Mill Hill Education Group, and in November 2025 it rebranded as Hertford Prep with a new crest and uniform. Site and facilities Hertford Prep occupies about 15 acres within the Hertingfordbury Park estate, including woodland used for outdoor learning and a "Forest School" area. Facilities include sports pitches, a hall for music and drama, and specialist classrooms for science, computing and art. Curriculum The school offers a broad preparatory curriculum across core subjects, creative arts, sport and outdoor education. Pupils typically transfer at age 11 to a range of independent senior schools, with some achieving scholarships. Governance and affiliations The school is a member of the Independent Schools Council and the Independent Association of Prep Schools and is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Inspection reports 2007 Ofsted inspection. An Ofsted inspection on 24–25 January 2007 found that St Joseph’s in the Park "successfully meets its aims of ensuring each pupil’s academic and personal development" and "provides a good quality of education and care with some outstanding features." The **curriculum** was "good with an outstanding range of extra-curricular activities" (p. 3), supported by specialist teaching in art, music and languages. Inspectors praised the *Woodlands* Learning Support Centre for "excellent opportunities for pupils with specific learning difficulties" (p. 4). Teaching quality was "good overall with some outstanding," and pupils’ **spiritual, moral, social and cultural development** was "outstanding," with behaviour "exemplary" (pp. 6–7). Welfare, health and safety** were judged good, though improvements were advised to the medical room and staff safeguarding training (pp. 7–8). The school met all Independent School Standards except for full implementation of its safeguarding policy and the absence of a designated medical room (p. 9). Funded nursery education was rated "outstanding," with "exceptional teaching and rapid progress through the Foundation Stage" (pp. 11–12). 2014 ISI Integrated Inspection. The ISI inspection (24–27 June 2014) rated pupils’ **achievement and learning** as *excellent*, supported by "high-quality teaching and a vibrant curriculum." Pupils made rapid academic progress, particularly within the *Woodlands* provision (p. 5). Pastoral care and leadership were both judged *excellent*, with the school fully meeting all regulatory standards (pp. 8–12). 2017 ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection. An ISI inspection (13–14 September 2017) confirmed that the school met *almost all* standards and Early Years Framework requirements. All standards relating to curriculum, governance and premises were met; a safeguarding documentation issue concerning barred-list checks for a few visiting staff was corrected soon after (p. 6). Leadership and management were described as effective and supportive of pupils’ wellbeing (pp. 5–7). 2022 ISI Focused Compliance and Educational Quality Inspection. Between 17 and 20 May 2022, the ISI confirmed that *all* Independent School Standards and Early Years requirements were met. Pupils’ **academic and other achievements** were *good* and their **personal development** *excellent* (pp. 8–11), with "outstanding behaviour" and strong communication skills. Early Years and SEND provision were "highly effective," and inspectors recommended reducing "reliance on worksheets" to encourage creativity (p. 8). 2025 ISI Routine Inspection. An ISI routine inspection (17–19 June 2025), shortly before the school’s rebrand to Hertford Prep, confirmed full compliance and commended leadership under the Mill Hill School Foundation for "effective strategic oversight and a strong safeguarding culture." The curriculum was "broad and balanced," with Early Years and SEND support "highly individualised" (pp. 7–8). Pupils demonstrated "exemplary behaviour and confidence" (p. 9), and safeguarding systems were "fully compliant and proactive" (p. 13). Inspectors advised strengthening economic and financial education (p. 11). Collectively, inspection evidence from 2007 to 2025 shows sustained compliance with independent-school standards, high-quality teaching, and effective leadership and governance through the school’s transition to Hertford Prep. See also Mill Hill School References External links Official website www.isi.net/institutions/school/hertford-prep-7616 – Independent Schools Inspectorate reports millhilleducationgroup.com – Mill Hill Education Group