Alban City School
91%
Capacity
384
Pupils
4.1x
Demand
About Alban City School
Alban City School, a state primary in St Albans, stands out sharply against the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the Hertfordshire average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 64%, this school achieves 90% — a full 26 percentage points higher. That places it second out of 40 primary schools in St Albans, and within the top five per cent nationally. The school’s overall Ofsted rating is Good, following an ungraded inspection in 2023 that confirmed it remains Good, but its leadership and management were judged Outstanding. That combination of strong leadership and exceptional academic results makes Alban City a clear outlier in a competitive local area.
Digging into the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school’s performance is consistently strong across all three core subjects. In reading, 95% of pupils met the expected standard and 48% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 109. Maths tells a similar story: 95% at expected, 38% at higher, and an average score of 109. Writing is slightly lower but still well above the LA average, with 92% at expected and 17% at higher. The combined expected standard figure of 90% is particularly notable given that the school has a below-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 9.6%. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the raw attainment figures alone suggest a school that consistently exceeds local norms.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 43 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 176 applications, a ratio of over four to one, and all 36 first-preference applicants were offered places. Facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, forest school, music rooms and a chapel, and the school runs clubs ranging from science and coding to chess and film club. Sports on offer include cricket, tennis, athletics and rounders. SEND provision covers a broad range of needs, including dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school for families who place a high priority on academic attainment and are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process to secure a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 5 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 7 Hatfield Road, St Albans, St Albans, AL1 3RR |
| Headteacher | Gilly Stray |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 384 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.6% |
| School Capacity | 384 / 420 (91% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 27 Mar 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (90%)
284th of 13,686
Nationally
25th of 1,612
In East of England
2nd of 40
In St Albans
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
90%
Expected Standard
12%
Higher Standard
'22/23
78%
'23/24
90%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed43
176
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
36 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Breakfast club
07:30-08:30
After-school care
15:30-18:00
Source: albancityschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British50.3%
- White (other)20.6%
- Mixed16.8%
- Asian8.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
540 mstraight line
Green ring on the map shows the effective catchment for 2026/27. Check your address below.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
15
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
12
Primary
Cutoff distances vary year to year and apply only to applicants who reach the distance criterion. Faith, sibling, and SEND priorities take precedence.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Alban City School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
7 Hatfield Road, St Albans
St Albans, AL1 3RR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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