Sandridge School

About Sandridge School

Sandridge School is a state primary in St Albans that is significantly undersubscribed relative to its capacity, with 142 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 236. This means the school is operating at roughly 60% of its potential size, which is unusual for the area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.5%, well above the national average and a clear signal that the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, demand for places in the 2025/26 admissions round was strong: the school received 33 applications for just 15 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.2 to one. Ten of those applications were first-preference offers, suggesting that while the school is popular among local families who know it, it is not yet a first-choice destination for the majority. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children aged 4 to 11 under headteacher Lisa Roberts.

Academically, Sandridge presents a mixed picture. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 55% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 34th out of 40 primary schools in St Albans on this metric, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: the average reading score was 106 and maths 105, both slightly above the national average of 100. A higher-than-typical 42% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading, and 32% did so in maths, though writing at the higher level was only 13%. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is difficult to assess how much value the school adds. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour all judged Good. The ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards were maintained.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a library, music rooms, a sensory room, and a forest school, which will appeal to families who value outdoor learning. Sports provision covers dance, football, cricket, swimming and cross country, while clubs include coding, eco club, book club, choir, gardening and art club. SEND support is a clear strength: 27% of parent survey respondents said their child has SEND, and 100% of those who answered the relevant question agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need. The school lists provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, SEMH, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autism. Parent satisfaction is very high overall, with 94% of respondents saying they would recommend the school. This is a school that suits families who prioritise a supportive, inclusive environment over raw academic rankings, and who are comfortable with a smaller, less pressured setting.

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