Verulam School
St Albans, AL1 4PR · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
30th of 78 secondary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 82 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 756 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.6/10 among them, against 8.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 63.6 · 85 | 30% | 2.56 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.4 · 79 | 25% | 1.97 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 54.4 · 84 | 10% | 0.84 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Verulam School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 55.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.4 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.5 out of 10 among them, against 7.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the chess club and travel on trips to Blue Peris in Snowdonia, CERN in Geneva, Iceland, Lanzarote, and New York.
Getting in
The published school roll is 987 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,135. 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 to maintain the progress seen in 2023/24? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How do the recent inspection findings influence current teaching practices?
What Ofsted said about Verulam School
Overview
Verulam School continues to be a good school, where the majority of pupils are "settled and contented" and feel safe. Leaders maintain high expectations for academic achievement, providing a "broad, ambitious curriculum" that prepares students well for life in the 21st century.
Strengths
- Pupils achieve well in most subjects, with teachers demonstrating "strong command of their subjects" and systematically building knowledge.
- The personal, social and health education curriculum is "well thought through and very well resourced," supporting mental health and well-being.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive "bespoke individual support" in ‘The Hub’, helping weaker readers become more fluent.
- Sixth-form students develop leadership skills in a "structured learning environment" and are quickly welcomed into the school community.
- Staff and pupils appreciate that leaders are "supportive and are visible around the school."
Areas to improve
- Assessment strategies need review, as methods do not always reflect subject characteristics and excessive testing limits time for teaching new knowledge.
- Classroom support for pupils with SEND is not consistently good; staff require training to adapt teaching effectively so these pupils can make strong progress.
- Behaviour incident records are not always analysed in sufficient detail to monitor trends or provide additional support for individuals or groups.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 51.8 |
| 2024/25 | 52.5 |
| 2025/26 | 54.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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