Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy

About Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy

Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy sits in Hertfordshire, a local authority where the average Key Stage 2 attainment score for primary schools is 64. The school itself holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections, including the most recent graded inspection in October 2018. That places it in line with the majority of primary schools in the area, though it is worth noting that Hertfordshire has 45 Outstanding-rated primary schools out of 401 total, so Good is a solid, middle-of-the-road outcome here. The school is oversubscribed, receiving 49 applications for its 25 Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with all 25 first-preference families offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.96 suggests a healthy local reputation, even if the headline Ofsted grade doesn't push into the Outstanding bracket.

On academic outcomes, the data is limited to the Ofsted inspection findings rather than published SATs results or Progress 8 scores, so direct comparison with the LA average of 64 for Key Stage 2 is not possible from the school's own figures. However, the inspection report from 2018 rated both the quality of education and leadership and management as Good, and early years provision also scored Good. The school's previous inspection in 2013 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management at the same level. This consistency suggests stable academic standards over time. With 212 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is effectively full, and 12.8 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly below the national average for primary schools, indicating a relatively mixed but not disadvantaged intake.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, playing fields, sports hall, ICT suite, forest school and chapel, which supports a broad curriculum. Sports on offer include rounders, gymnastics, netball, tennis, athletics, swimming and cricket, while clubs extend to drama, choir, film club, book club and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. The school also has a nursery provision, making it a convenient option for families with younger siblings. Given its Catholic character and oversubscribed status, this school will particularly suit practising Catholic families in St Albans who value a faith-based education and want a well-resourced primary with strong SEND support, but who are not necessarily seeking an Outstanding-rated school.

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