Bowmansgreen Primary School, St Albans
Bowmansgreen Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in St Albans. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 31st-highest of the 32 schools in St Albans with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. It was 80% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Hertfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bowmansgreen Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Bowmansgreen Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 75% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Bowmansgreen Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Bowmansgreen Primary School as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bowmansgreen Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bowmansgreen Primary School are Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary Academy (0.2 miles, 90% reading, 97% maths); London Colney Primary & Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths); Clore Shalom School (1.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Windermere Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 85% reading, 70% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Bowmansgreen Primary School.
Saint Bernadette Voluntary Catholic Primary AcademyLondon Colney Primary & Nursery SchoolClore Shalom SchoolWindermere Primary School
What parents say
79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bowmansgreen Primary School (as of September 2025): 62% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
12.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Mixed (14%) and Asian (11%).
In 2026, 62 pupils (19.7%) received SEN support and 6 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Bowmansgreen Primary School had 27 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Park Street Railway Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Telford Road (near), 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bowmansgreen Primary School issued 20 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bowmansgreen Primary School are Samuel Ryder Academy (1.2 miles) and Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School (1.8 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bowmansgreen Primary creates a warm, inclusive environment where children develop a genuine love of reading from Reception onwards. The school has made significant improvements in behaviour management and support for pupils with additional needs, ensuring all children feel valued and confident. Staff focus on developing children's emotional skills and kindness, helping them become thoughtful, well-rounded learners.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are kind, thoughtful, and kind to each other - bullying is now rare
- Effective teaching of phonics and reading, with strong support for struggling readers
- Improved support for pupils with special educational needs through robust systems and trained staff
- School promotes pupils' independence, leadership abilities and inclusion effectively
- Strong behaviour management and attendance culture - staff have expertise to support pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers sometimes do not adapt their teaching to address pupils' mistakes and misconceptions, affecting how well pupils remember concepts
- Attendance of some pupils remains too low - the school needs to respond more quickly to absence patterns
- School needs to embed recent changes to SEND support systems more fully
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff and pupils feeling safe and cared for.
Extracurricular Activities
Festival of reading, house captains, pupil parliament, sign language instruction, breakfast club, leadership roles
Bowmansgreen Primary School has maintained its good standards and made effective improvements since the previous inspection. The school is a happy place where pupils learn to respect each other and develop strong social and emotional skills.
At a Glance
19.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
79 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 71% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 67% to 51% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
26.4
Infant (KS1)
23.4
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bowmansgreen Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bowmansgreen Primary School.
- Jousters At BowmansgreenAt the school · Not yet graded
- Twilights wraparound care260m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Bowmansgreen Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Hertfordshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bowmansgreen Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bowmansgreen Primary School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 12 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bowmansgreen Primary School
Will you get a place at Bowmansgreen Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bowmansgreen Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bowmansgreen Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bowmansgreen Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Hertfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bowmansgreen Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Hertfordshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
334 pupils
420 places
86 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - St Albans
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Albans
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
14,776
Applications
12,543
Got 1st preference
89.1%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
62
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
21.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
315
Total Pupils
171
Boys
144
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
27
Teachers
11.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,353
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,499
Per pupil
£2099k
Total funding
£111k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
19.3%
Persistent absence
300
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bowmansgreen Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bowmansgreen Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bowmansgreen Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.
What is Bowmansgreen Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bowmansgreen Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bowmansgreen Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bowmansgreen Primary School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Bowmansgreen Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Classes at Bowmansgreen Primary School average 24.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Bowmansgreen Primary School has around 315 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bowmansgreen Primary School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Bowmansgreen Primary School in 2024/25. 19.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bowmansgreen Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Bowmansgreen Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Jousters At Bowmansgreen (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Bowmansgreen Primary School's term dates?
Bowmansgreen Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Hertfordshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 12 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bowmansgreen Primary School?
Bowmansgreen Primary School is at Telford Road, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 1PH.
Sources: Hertfordshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)