Samuel Ryder Academy is an all-through mainstream school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 4 to 19. In January 2026, 215 of its 1,577 pupils (13.6%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–19
- 1,577 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
13.6% get SEN support
215 of 1,577 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
39 of 1,577 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism62
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia60
- Social, emotional and mental health31
- Speech, language and communication24
- Moderate learning difficulty13
- Hearing impairment7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 4 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,577 (places for 1,520)
- Headteacher
- Mr Kyle Barry
- Part of
- Scholars' Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 19.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138582
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Hertfordshire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, April 2026: Strong standard in 6 of 8 areas
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Watling View School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Maple Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.5 miles
- Heathlands School Special school · Ages 3–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.9 miles
- Margaret Wix Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Windermere Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.2%, EHC plans 7.5% 0.4 miles
- Cunningham Hill Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 18.6%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.4 miles
- Cunningham Hill Infant School Primary · Ages 5–7 · SEN support 11.7%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Samuel Ryder Academy
How many pupils at Samuel Ryder Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 215 of the 1,577 pupils (13.6%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Samuel Ryder Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (62 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (60 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Samuel Ryder Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Samuel Ryder Academy?
Through Hertfordshire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Samuel Ryder Academy?
You can ask for Samuel Ryder Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Samuel Ryder Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Maple Primary School, about 1.5 miles away.
Where is Samuel Ryder Academy?
Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR, in Hertfordshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.