Samuel Ryder Academy, St Albans
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Samuel Ryder Academy excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where all pupils thrive. With outstanding behaviour, excellent attendance, and a comprehensive curriculum emphasising communication skills, the school prepares pupils exceptionally well for their next stage of education. The school offers an impressive range of clubs, sports, music, and enrichment activities - with three quarters of pupils involved - ensuring every child can find something they're passionate about.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional attendance rates and highly engaged pupils with almost no disruptive behaviour in lessons
- Well-designed curriculum with notable provision for oracy development and specialist teaching across primary and secondary phases
- Comprehensive support for pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils through dedicated inclusion team and pastoral services
- Outstanding personal development programme with approximately 280 clubs and enrichment activities, with over three quarters of pupils participating regularly
- Strong leadership that creates an impressive climate of mutual support and research-informed decision-making
Areas for Improvement
- Handwriting standards in key stage 2 not yet at expected level, though new improvement scheme is having initial impact
- GCSE and A-level results showing room for improvement, though recent initiatives are starting to show positive effects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all legal requirements are fulfilled, ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Approximately 280 clubs, sports academy, music tuition, competitions, work experience placements, university and local employer links, student leadership teams, diversity student leadership committee
Samuel Ryder Academy is a highly inclusive school with a strong climate for learning where staff and pupils feel valued and supported. The school consistently achieves above-average exam results and offers a comprehensive range of educational opportunities from early years through to post-16.
At a Glance
19.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 87% to 93%. Maths has improved from 85% to 95%. Writing has remained stable at around 82%.
Class Sizes
23.2
Avg class size
26.0
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
63
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
1,577 pupils
1,520 capacity
57 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - St Albans
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for St Albans
Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire
Places available
15,354
Applications
13,699
Got 1st preference
75.8%
Got preferred school
94.7%
Secondary admissions across Hertfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(106)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.93205%
Overall absence
21.19013%
Persistent absence
1,378
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Samuel Ryder Academy
Windermere Primary School
Cunningham Hill Junior School
Cunningham Hill Infant School
Camp Primary and Nursery School
St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery
Fleetville Junior School
Fleetville Infant and Nursery School
London Colney Primary & Nursery School
St Peter's School
Bowmansgreen Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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