The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans

The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is performing well overall, with a rating of 'Good' across all areas inspected. The school offers a welcoming and inclusive environment, fostering strong relationships among pupils and a sense of community that enhances the learning experience. Although the quality of education is generally strong, with effective teaching in early reading and a positive curriculum, there are inconsistencies in curriculum planning in subjects like science and art that require attention. This situation could lead to some pupils experiencing work that is not challenging enough for their abilities.

Strengths

• Inclusive and welcoming school environment.
• Strong relationships among pupils and staff.
• Effective teaching of early reading and phonics.
• Broad range of extracurricular activities.
• Strong support for pupils with special educational needs.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum planning in science and art.
• Some subject leaders lack experience in monitoring curriculum implementation.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans had 19.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 5.3% of pupils at The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans received £5,888 and spent £6,671 for each of its 189 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £254,000 (-£1,345 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in St Albans · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans last inspected by Ofsted?

The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans have?

The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans has 189 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans cover?

The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans?

The Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Albans is at Grove Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1DQ.