Verulam School: A Fresh Chapter of Ambition

Located in the historic city of St Albans, Verulam School has entered a new era of stability and success. Following a period of significant change, the school secured a Good rating from Ofsted in May 2024, validating the improvements made under fresh leadership. Now led by Mr Fergal Moane, who was appointed in May 2024, the school combines its traditional grammar-style heritage with a modern, inclusive approach as part of the Ambition Education Trust.

The atmosphere at Verulam is one of renewed purpose. The 2024 Ofsted report highlights a shift in culture, describing behaviour as "sensible" and noting that pupils feel safe and supported. The "Verulam habits"—a framework for conduct and learning—are now embedded in daily life, creating a calm environment that contradicts historical reputation.

The site itself reflects its evolution, with 1930s brick buildings sitting alongside modern science blocks. It retains the feel of a traditional boys' school, with a strong house system (Brampton, Hamilton, Jennings, Park, Romeland, York) that drives healthy competition in sport and charity events. However, the outlook is forward-thinking; the school has recently been appointed as a Google Reference School, signaling a serious commitment to digital learning.

Uniquely for a single-sex school, the Sixth Form offers a co-educational experience through the long-standing "BeauSandVer" consortium. By partnering with nearby Beaumont and Sandringham schools, Verulam offers students access to a vast array of courses and a campus-style independence that prepares them well for university.

Academic outcomes are a clear strength. In 2024, GCSE results placed the school in the "national strong" band, with a Progress 8 score of +0.4. This indicates that pupils make progress significantly above the national average from their starting points.

Ranked 1,134th in England and 9th in St Albans for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), Verulam outperforms three-quarters of schools nationally. The focus on core academic rigor is evident, with high entry rates for the English Baccalaureate.

At A-level, the consortium model provides breadth, though outcomes have historically been more mixed than the highly value-added GCSE phase. The school ranks in the "national lower" band for post-16 progress, though top students continue to secure elite university places.

The quality of education was rated Good in May 2024, with inspectors praising the ambitious curriculum. Teachers have strong subject knowledge, particularly in STEM subjects, and lessons are characterised by clear routines.

The curriculum is designed to be knowledge-rich. Key Stage 3 covers three years, ensuring boys have a broad foundation before making GCSE choices. The school uses "recall" strategies extensively to help students retain long-term knowledge, a method that supports the strong progress scores seen at GCSE.

Sport remains a central pillar of Verulam life. The rugby teams are fixtures on the local circuit, and the school fields competitive teams in football, cricket, and athletics. The extracurricular list is not limited to sport; the Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with high completion rates for Bronze and Silver.

The STEM offering is particularly robust. As a Google Reference School, digital skills are integrated into learning, and clubs for coding and engineering are well-attended. The "Endeavour" programme ensures that students engage with wider societal issues, fostering the "character" aspect of the school's values.

Admission to Year 7 is coordinated by Hertfordshire County Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed.

The published admission number is 186. Places are allocated based on strict criteria:

1. Looked-after children.
2. Medical or social needs.
3. Siblings of current pupils.
4. Children of staff.
5. Children living in the priority area (specific local parishes).

There is no fixed catchment map. Instead, after the first four criteria are met, remaining places are allocated to those living in the priority area. The "last distance offered" varies annually; in 2024, allocation rules included random allocation within the priority area, meaning living nearby increases the chance but does not guarantee a place.

The 2024 inspection noted that pupil support is "excellent". The pastoral system is led by Heads of Year, supported by non-teaching pastoral managers who are available throughout the day. This structure ensures that boys have someone to talk to without waiting for break times.

Mental health support has been strengthened, with workshops on resilience and respectful relationships integrated into the PSHE curriculum. The school actively promotes "modern masculinity", encouraging boys to express emotions constructively.

The majority of Year 11 students stay on for the Sixth Form, taking advantage of the consortium's breadth.

Destinations are varied. In 2024, 59% of leavers progressed to university, with a significant number choosing Russell Group institutions. Apprenticeships are a growing pathway, with 6% of students securing placements in industries such as engineering and finance—double the national average.

Elite pathways remain open; competitive courses like medicine and engineering are well-supported, and students regularly secure places at Oxford or Cambridge.

The school day runs from 8:30am to 3:05pm. Located on Brampton Road, the school is served by public buses, though there is no on-site parking for parents.

Consortium travel. Sixth Form students may need to travel between Verulam, Beaumont, and Sandringham for lessons. While a minibus service is provided at break and lunch, students must manage their own time and movement, which requires maturity.

Boys-only main school. Verulam is a single-sex environment until Year 11. Families seeking co-education will need to look elsewhere for the main school years, though the Sixth Form is mixed.

Priority Area complexity. Admissions are not purely distance-based; the "Priority Area" rule can sometimes involve random allocation, making it harder to predict entry chances than for schools using straight-line distance alone.

Verulam School has successfully turned a corner. With a Good Ofsted rating, stable leadership, and GCSE results that demonstrate exceptional progress, it offers a compelling state education for boys. Best suited to families who value a structured, single-sex environment with the unique bonus of a co-educational, campus-style Sixth Form experience.