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Samuel Ryder Academy

All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–19 · Sponsored academy

Drakes Drive, St Albans AL1 5AR · samuelryderacademy.co.uk · 01727 859382

On the mapSearch near AL1 5AR

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Apr 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
56.5
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Last distance offered
2.89 mi
4.66 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Not Nearest School · Hertfordshire Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,577
57 over 1,520 places · 104%
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
19.8%
First language not English
14.5%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Scholars' Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered under “Not Nearest School” went to a home 2.89 mi (4.66 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 13.73 mi (22.10 km). Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 140 families put the school first and 140 places were offered; 77% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 144 (Places 144)144September 2023: 173 (Places 167)173September 2024: 151 (Places 142)151September 2025: 134 (Places 145)134September 2026: 140 (Places 140)140Places 140
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 2026140140177%
September 2025Sept 20251451340.982%
September 2024Sept 20241421511.1▲78%
September 2023Sept 20231671731▲85%
September 2022Sept 2022144144186%

Last distance offered

ReceptionDistance
September 20262.89 mi4.66 km
September 202513.73 mi22.10 km
September 2024All
Year 7Distance
September 20260.77 mi1.24 km
September 20250.69 mi1.12 km
September 20240.65 mi1.05 km
September 20221.23 mi1.98 km
September 20232.67 mi4.30 km

Every applicant was offered a place (50 allocations for 60 places).

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 56.5, and 69.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.

In 2024/25, 80% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 20% the higher standard. Across Hertfordshire it was 64%, and across England 62%.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.4 points per entry).

Key stage 2 results

Expected standard reading, writing and maths

2019/20 to 2021/22: no school results published18/1922/2323/2424/252018/19: 55% (England 65%)55%2022/23: 73% (England 60%)73%2023/24: 73% (England 61%)73%2024/25: 80% (England 62%)80%England 62%
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
Reading, writing and maths
▲80%62%
▲20%8%
Average scaled score
▲110106
▲110105
▲110105

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 42.8 (England 46.3)42.82017/18: 42.6 (England 46.5)42.62018/19: 48.3 (England 46.7)48.32021/22: 52.7 (England 48.8)52.72022/23: 51.6 (England 46.3)51.62023/24: 50.4 (England 45.9)50.42024/25: 56.5 (England 46.0)56.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲56.546.0
▲69.7%45.4%
▲81.6%64.8%
●40.0%40.5%
▲4.964.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form61.5+5.5
Further education29.7−4
Other education0.5−0.1
Apprenticeship2.1+0.9
Employment1.6−1.4
Not in a lasting destination3.1−0.5
Activity not captured1.6−0.2

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 27.6 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 29.1 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 32.1 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 33.8 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 36.8 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 33.4 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 34.2 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 35.4 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
71 studentsB- (35.4)Average 0.00
72 studentsB- (35.3)Average 0.00
11 studentsDist+ (40.8)Above average +0.53
9.8%AAB or better
98.4%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2470C+ (34.2)-0.25
2022/2360C+ (33.4)—
2021/2234B- (36.8)—
2018/1914C+ (33.8)-0.16
2017/1812C+ (32.1)+0.09
2016/1712C (29.1)+0.19
2015/1625C- (27.6)+0.11

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University80.5+35.8
Further education1.3−5.1
Apprenticeship3.9−2.5
Employment10.4−19.4
Not in a lasting destination1.3−7.2
Activity not captured2.6−1.7

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Samuel Ryder Academy on 21 April 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
21 Apr 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Early yearsStrong standard
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jun 2022Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    Early yearsGood
    Sixth formOutstanding
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • May 2016Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    Early yearsGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • May 2014Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement

What parents said

92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (205 replies, to 2 April 2023).

Recommend
92%
Replies
205
14% · 2 Apr 2023
Child is happy at school▲93% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲93% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲90% agreeEngland 83%
School has high expectations▲92% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▲92% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▲83% agreeEngland 80%
Told how child is doing▲92% agreeEngland 83%
Good range of subjects▲96% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲95% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲90% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲87% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 82% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲64% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 33% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲74% agreeEngland 67%

based on 47 parents (23%) with SEND

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