How Wood Primary and Nursery School
St Albans, AL2 2HU · Hertfordshire · primary school
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217th of 337 primary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 398 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,259 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.8/10 among them, against 4.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 62.0 · 44 | 40% | 1.74 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 4.0 · 35 | 25% | 0.88 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
How Wood Primary and Nursery School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 62.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 4.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.8 out of 10 among them, against 4.0 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 215 pupils against a stated capacity of 220. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the national median in core subjects? What specific strategies are used to raise attainment in the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about How Wood Primary and Nursery School
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending How Wood Primary and Nursery School, where they feel safe and are well cared for by staff. The inspection found that leaders have designed a “well structured and ambitious” curriculum, resulting in pupils achieving well overall and leaving ready for secondary school. The school maintains a positive culture where values of respect and kindness are embraced, and bullying is “very rare”.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “well structured and ambitious” in most subjects, helping pupils build understanding over time and make connections between topics.
- Staff teach reading effectively, ensuring children make a “strong start to learning to read” and receive quick support to close gaps in phonics knowledge.
- Pupils display “tolerance” and a clear understanding of difference, with opportunities to visit places of worship and museums to broaden their horizons.
- Leaders accurately identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who follow the full curriculum alongside their classmates.
- Safeguarding arrangements are “effective”, with staff receiving regular training and acting promptly when concerns arise.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers have the expertise and subject knowledge to teach all subjects “highly effectively”, as planning is not yet clear in a small number of areas.
- Teachers need to set “explicit and meaningful” targets for pupils with SEND and monitor their impact consistently to help these pupils close knowledge gaps.
- Leaders should ensure curriculum planning in all subjects precisely identifies the subject-specific knowledge pupils should learn and the order in which it is taught.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff know what to do if they identify concerns and that pupils know who to talk to if they have a worry.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 46% |
| 2023/24 | 56% |
| 2024/25 | 62% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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