Mandeville Primary School

About Mandeville Primary School

Mandeville Primary School in St Albans is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 60 applications for just 29 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07, meaning more than two families applied for every spot. Of those, 28 first-preference families were offered places, which suggests that for most who put it top of their list, it worked out. While the school doesn't publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, that level of demand is a strong signal in itself. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available, and is led by headteacher Cathy Longhurst. It has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across both its most recent inspections, with the leadership and management judged Outstanding and early years provision rated Outstanding as well.

Academically, Mandeville performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 26th out of 40 primary schools in St Albans on this metric, placing it in the top half locally. Looking at individual subjects, 83% met expectations in maths and 78% in writing, while reading came in at 73%. Higher-standard attainment is more modest: 12% achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with 36% reaching it in reading and 27% in maths. Average scaled scores were 106 in both reading and maths. Nationally, the school sits around the 34th percentile, which is respectable without being exceptional. The school's ranking score of 69 places it in the top 50 tier of its ranking system.

The school offers a good range of facilities including a Forest School, ICT suite, sports hall, dining hall, outdoor playground and even a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, football, cricket and athletics, and there are clubs for coding, science and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, Mandeville provides support for social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. With 27.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse catchment. It is not a boarding school and has no sixth form. Given its oversubscription, families should definitely apply as a first preference to maximise their chances. It suits parents who value strong leadership, a Good Ofsted with Outstanding elements, and a school that is well-regarded enough to be in genuine local demand.

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