Saint Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

About Saint Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Saint Albert the Great Catholic Primary School in Dacorum posts a combined Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths expected standard score of 52%, which sits noticeably below the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64% for primary schools. This places the school in the bottom half of its local authority ranking, at 253rd out of 401 primary schools, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The gap is most pronounced in writing, where only 55% of pupils met the expected standard, and just 3% reached the higher standard. Reading and maths fared better, with 76% of pupils hitting the expected mark in each, though higher-attaining pupils remain scarce — only 17% achieved the higher standard in reading and 10% in maths. The school's average scaled scores of 104 in reading and 103 in maths are solid but unremarkable. For families prioritising strong academic outcomes against the local benchmark, these figures suggest Saint Albert the Great is not the strongest performer in Dacorum.

That said, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 judged it Good across every graded area — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — maintaining the same rating it held in its previous inspection in 2013. The parent view, based on 48 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows 81% would recommend the school. Parents were particularly positive about the range of subjects and clubs, with 94% agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child can take part in clubs and activities. However, the picture is more mixed on behaviour: only 65% of parents agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 31% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Support for pupils with SEND also divided opinion, with 50% agreeing and 40% disagreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need.

Saint Albert the Great is a small Roman Catholic primary with a nursery, serving 205 pupils against a capacity of 210. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 reception places, receiving 69 applications for 29 places, with 24 first-preference offers made — a ratio of 2.38 applicants per place. The school offers a sensory room, chapel, music rooms, art studios, and playing fields, plus clubs including film, drama, art, book club, choir, and coding. Sports provision covers gymnastics, cricket, swimming, cross country, and dance. SEND support is listed for dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. This is a faith-based school with a clear Catholic character, and its size means a close-knit feel. It will suit families who value a religious ethos and a broad range of activities over top-tier academic rankings, and who are comfortable with the school's mixed parent feedback on behaviour and SEND support.

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