Academy sponsor led · Hertfordshire

Samuel Ryder Academy

4–19Ages
1,577Pupils
All-throughPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
138582URN

Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.8per place

1.8 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

670 applications for 140 places · 7th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

52.4of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

31st of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 21 April 2026Published 9 July 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion	Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching	Strong standard
Achievement		Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour	Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing	Strong standard
Early years	Strong standard
Post-16 provision		Expected standard
Leadership and governance	Strong standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

21 April 2026
Report card · 6 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
29 June 2022
Graded inspection: Good

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

4.8applications per place, Year 7

1.8 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 2.6 above England median (2.2)

670 applications · 140 places offered · 140 named it first

2026 4.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 4.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 5.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 4.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 5.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 6.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 6.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.4

This school
Hertfordshire median

Reception entry, September 2026: 2.6 per place (156 applications for 60 places).

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

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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	140	670	4.8	140	1.00
Sep 2025	145	714	4.9	134	0.92
Sep 2024	142	763	5.4	151	1.06
Sep 2023	167	778	4.7	173	1.04
Sep 2022	144	764	5.3	144	1.00
Sep 2021	152	752	5.0	143	0.94
Sep 2020	127	810	6.4	185	1.46
Sep 2019	137	866	6.3	196	1.43
Sep 2018	179	751	4.2	144	0.80
Sep 2017	180	673	3.7	155	0.86
Sep 2016	177	529	3.0	101	0.57
Sep 2015	175	418	2.4	95	0.54
Sep 2014	172	291	1.7	73	0.42

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

188 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)52.431st of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%42nd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths74%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.35

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	188	52.4	51%	74%	–
2024/25	185	56.5	70%	82%	–
2023/24	192	50.4	54%	73%	+0.35
2022/23	160	51.6	58%	78%	+0.36

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

Samuel Ryder AcademyThis school
This school

2026

4.8applications per place 52.4Attainment 8
Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
1.8 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 55.0Attainment 8
Verulam School
1.9 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

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

Graded · no overall grade2025

5.0applications per place 63.0Attainment 8
Loreto College
2.0 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 56.2Attainment 8
The Marlborough Science Academy
2.6 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.6applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Sandringham School
3.6 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

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

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 60.7Attainment 8
Townsend Church of England School
4.5 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 43.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: All-through
URN · DfE number: 138582 · 919/4003
Trust: Scholars' Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,520 pupils · 1,577 on roll
Free school meals: 19.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2012
Replaced: Francis Bacon School (URN 117574)
Address: Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR
Local authority: Hertfordshire · St Albans

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