SchoolScoresHeathlands School
Special school · All-through, ages 3 to 18 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form · Boarding
Heathlands Drive, St Albans, AL3 5AY
01727 807807 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 26 September 2017.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 February 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
8 pupils in this year group.
Only 8 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
0% — 64 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 13% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 50% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 93 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 99 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
18 pupils in this year group.
0% — 53 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 45 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 0% | 53% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 6.4 | 50.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 0.5 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
6 pupils in this year group.
Only 6 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
67% — 28 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 25 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 67% | 95% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 58% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 2% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 31% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 67% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hertfordshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round.
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 41.0% | 44.3%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 98.7% | 99.4%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 1.3% | 0.6%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 87.6% | 13.5%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 7.9% | 12.7%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 17.6% | 34.2%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 5.9 | 19.0 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 3.9% | 7.3% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.22% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 4.6 | 5.7 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 15.0% | 15.3%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Batchwood School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 9% grade 5+ English and maths
- Watling View School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2025
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Heathlands School's Ofsted rating?
Heathlands School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
How did Heathlands School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 45 points below the England average of 45%.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 117685.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.