SchoolScoresHow Wood Primary and Nursery School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Spooners Drive, Park Street, St Albans, AL2 2HU
01727 768885 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 March 2023.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
26 pupils in this year group.
62% — 2 points below the Hertfordshire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 19 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 17 |
| Of those, offered a place | 17 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 65 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 27th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 35th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.0% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 33rd lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 32nd lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 34% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.6% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 37th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 13% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.8 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 35th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 33rd highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 12% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.3 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 36th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 14% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.4 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 81% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 23.4% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Park Street CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Killigrew Primary and Nursery School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mandeville Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Prae Wood Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2024 · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Abbey CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bowmansgreen Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is How Wood Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
How Wood Primary and Nursery School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 March 2023.
How did How Wood Primary and Nursery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Is How Wood Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put How Wood Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 19 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 117235.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.