Samuel Ryder Academy Catchment Area
Samuel Ryder Academy is an academy sponsor led special school in St Albans, Hertfordshire , serving pupils aged 4-19, with 1577 pupils, and a capacity of 1520 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
4-19
Age range
1,577
Pupils
1,520
Capacity
104%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2022
Samuel Ryder Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Samuel Ryder Academy?
Samuel Ryder Academy is a special school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Hertfordshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Admission to Samuel Ryder Academy follows a different process from mainstream schools. Hertfordshire assesses each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to determine appropriate placement. Catchment area does not apply in the same way as mainstream admissions.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Hertfordshire publishes the 2027 Samuel Ryder Academy numbers →
For more information on how Hertfordshire assesses EHCP placements and which schools are named, contact the council's SEND team directly. The council must publish its Local Offer explaining available provision.
Find Hertfordshire catchment area documents →Samuel Ryder Academy: at or above its 1520 place limit
Samuel Ryder Academy has a published admission number of 1520 places. 1577 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 104%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1520 places. Hertfordshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 18.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of St Albans.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Samuel Ryder Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Special
- Age range
- 4-19 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18.5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138582
Nearest special schools by distance
These are the special schools closest to Samuel Ryder Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Samuel Ryder Academy
What is the catchment area for Samuel Ryder Academy? ▾
Samuel Ryder Academy is a special school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and it does not use a standard catchment area. Hertfordshire allocates places through each child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) rather than home-to-school distance, so placement depends on assessed need rather than a geographic boundary.
Is Samuel Ryder Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Samuel Ryder Academy currently has 1577 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1520 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Samuel Ryder Academy? ▾
Admission to Samuel Ryder Academy is managed by Hertfordshire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Samuel Ryder Academy cover? ▾
Samuel Ryder Academy is a special school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, serving pupils aged 4-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Samuel Ryder Academy? ▾
Samuel Ryder Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.