Sauncey Wood Primary School

About Sauncey Wood Primary School

Sauncey Wood Primary School holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2025, with every graded category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all judged Good. That consistency is worth noting, but the headline academic story lies in its Key Stage 2 results. Only 40% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well below the Hertfordshire local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 39th out of 40 primary schools in St Albans on this measure, placing it in the bottom 2.5% of the district. Individual subject scores tell a more mixed story: 73% reached the expected level in reading and 70% in maths, but writing lagged at just 40%. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 7%.

Average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 106 in maths, both slightly above the national benchmark of 100, which suggests that while most children are making solid progress in the core subjects individually, the combined measure reveals a gap — particularly in writing. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Parent opinion, gathered through Ofsted’s Parent View between September 2024 and September 2025, is broadly positive: 78% of the 65 respondents would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. However, only 48% felt that the school gives SEND children the support they need, and 22% said they would not recommend the school — a notable minority.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 32 applications for 17 places and 14 first-preference offers made, giving a ratio of 1.88 applicants per place. It serves 169 pupils against a capacity of 210, so there is some room for growth. Facilities include a library, art studios, music rooms, a gymnasium and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, rounders, tennis, football and dance, and clubs include book club, film club and choir. The school has a SEN unit and provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, dyslexia and social and emotional mental health needs. With 27.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a more disadvantaged intake than many in St Albans. This is a school that suits families who value a Good-rated local option with strong reading and maths scores, but who are aware that writing outcomes and combined attainment are areas needing attention.

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