Manland Primary School

About Manland Primary School

Manland Primary School in St Albans is a state primary for 203 pupils, running very close to its capacity of 210. The school serves a notably less deprived intake than the national average, with just 3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, compared with the typical primary figure of around 23% across England. Demand for places is extremely high: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 129 applications for 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.3 to one. Of those, only 25 first-preference families were offered a spot, meaning even putting Manland first on your application is no guarantee of a place. The school is non-denominational and mixed, taking children from age four to eleven. With a Good Ofsted rating from its most recent inspection in 2024, and an Outstanding early years provision, it clearly holds strong appeal for local families.

Academically, Manland performs well above the local authority average. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 87% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, against a Hertfordshire primary average of 64%. The school also excels at the higher standard: 32% of pupils achieved that top tier across all three subjects. In reading and maths, average scaled scores were both 110, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. Subject-level results are strong too — 94% met expectations in both reading and maths, and 90% in writing. Manland ranks 6th out of 40 primary schools in St Albans on the expected-standard metric, placing it in the top 15% locally. Nationally, it sits in the top 4% of all primaries. The school has held a Good rating across its last two graded inspections, with leadership and management also judged Good.

The school offers a practical set of facilities including playing fields, an outdoor playground, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, gymnastics, netball and tennis, while clubs include Eco Club, Drama and Science Club. SEND support is broad, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, hearing impairment and physical disability, among others. Given the intense competition for places, this is a school for families who can plan ahead and are prepared to be flexible with alternatives. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is The Lea Primary School and Nursery, just 0.7 km away, which may be a realistic backup. Manland suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a relatively affluent, oversubscribed local market.

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