How Wood Primary and Nursery School vs St Columba's College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in East of England, England, 2.6 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
How Wood Primary and Nursery School
St Albans · Local authority primary · Ages 3–11
215 students
St Columba's College
St Albans · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
822 students
| Measure | How Wood Primary and Nursery School St Albans, East of England | St Columba's College St Albans, East of England |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 47 Lower 50% | 23 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #1046 of 1,872 | #396 of 460 |
| National rank | #8671 of 15,697 | #3311 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Local authority | Independent |
| Type | Primary | All-through |
| Year range | Ages 3–11 | Ages 4–19 |
| Students | 215 | 822 |
| Pupils on roll | 215 | 822 |
| Free school meals | 12.8% | – |
| Capacity filled | 97.7% | 95% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 62% | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 4% | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | 32.9 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | 0% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | 0% |
| EBacc average points | – | 2.61 |
| A level points per entry | – | 40.7 |
| town | St Albans | St Albans |
| region | East of England | East of England |
| Website | www.howwood.herts.sch.uk/ | stcolumbascollege.org |
The verdict
- •How Wood Primary and Nursery School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (47.0 vs 23.2).
- •St Columba's College is the larger school with 822 students compared with 215.
- •How Wood Primary and Nursery School is a local authority school while St Columba's College is a independent school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is How Wood Primary and Nursery School better than St Columba's College?
On the Success Index (England), How Wood Primary and Nursery School ranks higher (47.0 vs 23.2 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are How Wood Primary and Nursery School and St Columba's College?
About 2.6 km in a straight line, between St Albans and St Albans in East of England.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
How Wood Primary and Nursery School: 215. St Columba's College: 822. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do How Wood Primary and Nursery School and St Columba's College rank in East of England?
How Wood Primary and Nursery School is 1046th of 1,872 and St Columba's College is 396th of 460 among primary schools in East of England on the 2025 Success Index (England).