Maple Primary School, St Albans

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Maple Primary School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well across the school, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils attend school regularly, and the school maintains high levels of attendance."

Early years - Strong standard. "In the early years, staff deliver high‑quality interactions that strengthen children's learning."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have consistently high expectations for every pupil and take time to understand their individual needs."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders continually review the work of the school and always look for the next step in improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Staff place a real focus on character development through the ‘Maple MARK'."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school delivers a well‑established curriculum across all subjects and year groups."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should continue to support staff in embedding effective assessment practice so that pupils' understanding is checked precisely and teaching is well informed. This will help pupils secure the most important knowledge and concepts, providing a strong foundation for future learning".

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Maple Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 96% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (91% in reading, 94% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Maple Primary School as their first choice and 150 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 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 Maple Primary School are Alban City School (0.1 miles, Good, 84% reading, 86% maths); Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School (0.3 miles, Good, 83% reading, 86% maths); Bernards Heath Infant and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good); and Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School (0.6 miles, 78% reading, 81% maths).

Maple Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

50 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Maple Primary School (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

6.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 26.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Asian (14%) and Mixed (12%).

In 2026, 20 pupils (9.3%) received SEN support and 18 (8.4%) 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 hearing impairment.

Maple Primary School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is St Albans City Rail Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chime Square (opposite), 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 350 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.

Maple Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Maple Primary School are Loreto College (0.2 miles), Verulam School (0.7 miles), St Albans Girls' School (1 mile) and Townsend Church of England School (1.3 miles).