How Wood Primary and Nursery School, St Albans

In its own words: "At How Wood School, we believe that people learn new things every day and that learning should be a gratifying and enjoyable experience for everybody. When we teach pupils, our aim is to equip them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed choices about the things that really matter."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, multi-sports, dance, choir, cooking and cheerleading.

Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at How Wood Primary and Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 70% in reading and 59% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put How Wood Primary and Nursery School as their first choice and 65 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to How Wood Primary and Nursery School are Park Street Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 78% reading, 78% maths); Killigrew Primary and Nursery School (0.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 92% maths); Mandeville Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths); and St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than How Wood Primary and Nursery School.

12.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%) and Mixed (11%).

How Wood Primary and Nursery School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is How Wood (Herts) Rail Station, about 280 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Penn Road (near), 230 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood How Wood Primary and Nursery School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 68 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).

In 2024/25, How Wood Primary and Nursery School issued 13 suspensions, 5.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.