Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Sandringham School

11–18Ages
1,777Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136609URN

The Ridgeway, St Albans, AL4 9NX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.3per place

1.4 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

1,005 applications for 233 places · 12th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

65.7of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

3rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 7 February 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

4.3applications per place, Year 7

1.4 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 2.1 above England median (2.2)

1,005 applications · 233 places offered · 337 named it first

2026 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 5.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 5.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 5.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 5.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 5.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 6.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.4

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Hertfordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	233	1,005	4.3	337	1.45
Sep 2025	232	948	4.1	311	1.34
Sep 2024	229	1,001	4.4	326	1.42
Sep 2023	238	1,048	4.4	313	1.32
Sep 2022	234	1,015	4.3	288	1.23
Sep 2021	240	999	4.2	307	1.28
Sep 2020	238	1,063	4.5	268	1.13
Sep 2019	237	1,272	5.4	338	1.43
Sep 2018	237	1,231	5.2	281	1.19
Sep 2017	238	1,333	5.6	322	1.35
Sep 2016	210	1,223	5.8	263	1.25
Sep 2015	209	1,195	5.7	287	1.37
Sep 2014	176	1,191	6.8	265	1.51

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

243 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)65.73rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths84%3rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths91%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+1.06

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	243	65.7	84%	91%	–
2024/25	236	65.1	84%	89%	–
2023/24	240	64.6	82%	92%	+1.06
2022/23	240	61.2	75%	88%	+0.83

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Sandringham SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

4.3applications per place 65.7Attainment 8
St Albans Girls' School
1.7 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 60.7Attainment 8
Verulam School
1.8 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

2.4applications per place 54.4Attainment 8
Beaumont School
1.8 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

5.0applications per place 63.0Attainment 8
Townsend Church of England School
2.5 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
Loreto College
2.5 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 56.2Attainment 8
Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
2.9 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 55.0Attainment 8
Samuel Ryder Academy
3.6 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.8applications per place 52.4Attainment 8
The Marlborough Science Academy
4.6 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.6applications per place 42.6Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136609 · 919/4197
Trust: Ambition Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,278 pupils · 1,777 on roll
Free school meals: 7.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2011
Replaced: Sandringham School (URN 117548)
Address: The Ridgeway, St Albans, AL4 9NX
Local authority: Hertfordshire · St Albans

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources