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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 117235

How Wood Primary and Nursery School

Community school · St Albans · AL2 2HU

Ages 3–11 · 215 pupils · Hertfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

56%

Overall absence

6.9%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-03-02

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)56%
Higher standard (RWM)7%
Avg scaled score — reading
104.0
Avg scaled score — maths
102.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
102.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.9%
Persistent absence (10%+)18.0%
Unauthorised1.0%
Authorised absence
5.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.8%
Enrolments in measure
178

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

30

Places offered

30

1st-preference offers

29

Total preferences (any rank)
84
Preferred offers (top 3)
30
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill98%

215 pupils · 220 places

Pupils on roll
215
Boys / girls
117 / 98
School capacity
220
Capacity fill
215 / 220 (98%)
Free school meals
12.8%
FSM pupils
27
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Mrs CYNTHIA ROWE NAOMI PARKINS

Location

Address
Spooners Drive, Park Street
Postcode
AL2 2HU
Town
St Albans
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Hertfordshire
District
St Albans
Constituency
St Albans
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community school (primary), Ages 3–11, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, 215 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery. Free school meals: 12.8%.

Open schools in St Albans
59
Primary schools in St Albans
39
Academies among open schools in St Albans
37% (22)
Open schools in AL2
7
Primary in AL2
7
Open schools in Hertfordshire LA
591
Primary in Hertfordshire LA
401

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in St AlbansNear AL2

  • Killigrew Primary and Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Community school · Primary

    St Albans · AL2 3HD · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS284%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM7.5%
    • Demand0.94

    0.9 miles away

  • Mandeville Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    St Albans · AL1 2LE · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS269%
    • Absence6.0%
    • FSM29.1%
    • Demand0.94

    1.2 miles away

  • St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    St Albans · AL1 2PB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS286%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM11.7%
    • Demand1.00

    1.2 miles away

  • Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    St Albans · AL2 3XA · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS251%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM16.9%
    • Demand1.00

    1.8 miles away

  • Prae Wood Primary School

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Community school · Primary

    St Albans · AL3 4HZ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM4.4%
    • Demand1.05

    1.8 miles away

  • St Peter's School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    St Albans · AL1 1HL · Hertfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS277%
    • Absence4.1%
    • FSM6.0%
    • Demand1.07

    1.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs CYNTHIA ROWE NAOMI PARKINS
Telephone
01727768885
Website
http://www.howwood.herts.sch.uk/

Official links