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Reviewed

Sandringham School

State school · St Albans, AL4 9NX
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-18
  • 1,817 pupils
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A genuine comprehensive with high expectations, excellent teaching and tons of support and extracurricular. ‘My three children are so different – a sporty one, a science nut and a drama one – and they’ve all shone in their passions and found their tribe.’

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,817 ·
Local authority
Hertfordshire County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Head

Mark Nicholls

Since 2024, Mark Nicholls, previously deputy head for five years. Degree in history and PGCE from Leicester. Arrived here fresh from six years as teacher training co-ordinator at Alban Federation, having previously been vice principal at St Dominic’s

Entrance

Not an area short on great comps – the reason many move here. But with just one small sweet spot of this leafy city boasting overlapping school catchments, only a few families have any real choice. Not that it stops them chancing their luck at

Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Wheatfields Junior Mixed School 31 %
Other 16 %
Where the number of students is less than 10, we cannot say where they've come from or where they are going to due to data protection rules.
Bernards Heath Junior School 13 %
Skyswood Primary & Nursery School 11 %
Sandridge School 6 %
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 6 %
Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School 5 %
Unknown 3 %
Where the school a student attended before or after this school is not known. These might be students who have come from or going to home schooling, independent schools, moving abroad etc.
Maple Primary School 2 %
St Helen's Church of England Primary School 2 %
St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery 2 %
Margaret Wix Primary School 2 %
Alban City School 2 %
Data highlight

Exit

Around 20 per cent leave after year 11 – mostly to college for more vocational subjects (eg film studies, trades). Eighty per cent of sixth formers to university, nearly half to Russell Group – with the floor-to-ceiling map in reception (and

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
87%
LA avg.
70%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.

Latest results

In 2025, 54 per cent 9-7 at GCSE: 43 per cent A*/A at A level (73 per cent A*/B)

GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
81.7%
LA avg.
53.7%
Eng. avg.
45.9%
Data highlight

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

A level - Average points score (2024)

School
42.64
LA avg.
36.38
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

St Albans is awash with excellent state provision, although Sandringham gets the top results by a hair’s breadth. But its reputation as an exam factory ‘couldn’t be further from the truth,’ insist parents – ‘They value the whole person here.’ Parents

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • BTEC
  • EPQ
  • GCSE
  • VRQ
115
Number of teachers
16:1
Pupil to teacher ratio

Learning support & SEN

Good to hear a pupil nominating ‘dyslexia friendly books in the library’ as one of her favourite things about the school. One of many examples we heard of inclusivity around SEN – others include the lunchtime sanctuary club, neurodiversity themed

1.2 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
7.5 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Over 170 clubs and societies launched every September. That’s seriously impressive for a state school and the pupils need no persuading to get stuck in, with year 7s coming away from the annual clubs fair ‘with fistfuls of leaflets and eager to sign

Sport

Two hours a week for the first three years, with PE remaining compulsory during the GCSE years, moving to sixth form games and vocational PE courses. Football, athletics, netball and basketball are the staples, but also tennis, cricket, swimming and

Ethos & heritage

A relative newcomer to the local educational scene, Sandringham was founded in 1988 following the merger of two local schools, Marshalswick and Wheathampstead. The original buildings have since been joined by blocks for science and maths, English,

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Pastoral department is well-staffed, including extensive counselling provision and Mable, the school dog. A pupil premium co-ordinator helps triage the most vulnerable. The wellbeing room is well used, and parents say heads of year ‘always respond

Pupils & parents

Pupils (about 150 more boys than girls across the school) are polite, chatty and have a spring in their step. Most live within a mile and walk or cycle in. St Albans is an affluent city, but there are pockets of deprivation, with eight per cent of

1,817
Number of pupils

The last word

A genuine comprehensive with high expectations, excellent teaching and tons of support and extracurricular. ‘My three children are so different – a sporty one, a science nut and a drama one – and they’ve all shone in their passions and found their

Inspection reports

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection: Outstanding

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Outstanding
Quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth form provision Outstanding

This school has not provided any information yet

If you are from this school, please, get in touch to feature images and useful information for parents.

Contact the school

Address

The Ridgeway
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL4 9NX
Get directions

Telephone: 01727 799560

Email: admin@sandringham.aetrust.uk

Website: http://www.sandringham.herts.sch.uk

Local authority: Hertfordshire County Council

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School data & information Sandringham School The Ridgeway, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9NX
1,817 Pupil numbers
7.6 % % of pupils eligible for free school meals
13 % Pupils whose first language is not English
16:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
115 Number of teachers
19 Number of teaching assistants
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by Sandringham School and is updated annually. See the review

% achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
81.7%
LA avg.
53.7%
Eng. avg.
45.9%

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Average overall GCSE score (attainment 8) (2024)

School
64.60
LA avg.
50.20
Eng. avg.
45.90

What is this?

Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Improvement rates in core subjects (progress 8) (2024)

1.06 Score Well above average
≈ 16% of schools in England

What is a progress score?

This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCSE (9-1) Full Course 32 8
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 14 7
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 97 8
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 81 7
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 12 7
Media/Film/Tv Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 35 7
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 240 7
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 124 8
German GCSE (9-1) Full Course 68 6
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 61 7
French GCSE (9-1) Full Course 100 6
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 236 7
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 238 7
Economics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 24 7
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 28 7
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 27 6
Dance GCSE (9-1) Full Course 12 7
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 13 6
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 50 7
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 97 8
Business Studies:Single GCSE (9-1) Full Course 63 7
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 97 8
Astronomy GCSE (9-1) Full Course 9 7
Art & Design (Textiles) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 12 6
Art & Design (Photography) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 22 6
Art & Design (Fine Art) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 27 7

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
32.1%
LA avg.
19.5%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
42.64
LA avg.
36.38
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCE A level 15 A
Sociology GCE A level 33 A
Religious Studies GCE A level 13 B
Psychology GCE A level 52 A
Physics GCE A level 45 A
Physical Education / Sports Studies GCE A level 17 B
Music Technology GCE A level 6 B
Media/Film/Tv Studies GCE A level 28 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 22 A
Mathematics GCE A level 122 A
History GCE A level 47 A
Government and Politics GCE A level 19 A
German GCE A level 6 A
Geography GCE A level 35 A
English Literature GCE A level 49 A
English Language GCE A level 18 B
Economics GCE A level 61 A
Drama and Theatre Studies GCE A level 8 A
Design and Technology (Product Design) GCE A level 12 A
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 26 A
Chemistry GCE A level 26 A
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 43 A
Biology GCE A level 46 B
Art and Design (Fine Art) GCE A level 14 A
Mathematics (Further) GCE AS level 42 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 12 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 11 exit (average 2020-2022)

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

Sandringham School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

1.2 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
7.5 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

No information available from the school. Find out more.

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection: Outstanding

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Outstanding
Quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth form provision Outstanding
Our data explained
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