Cunningham Hill Infant School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 5 to 7
Ofsted: Outstanding

Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, AL1 5QJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Cunningham Hill Infant School is a primary school in St Albans for ages 5 to 7. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 30 January 2024, report published 10 March 2024

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 January 2024

Pupils flourish here. They are happy and kept safe. This is because there are many caring and skilled adults who are there to help them. Adults are highly ambitious for every pupil. They make expectations clear and consistent for pupils, showing kindness. Pupils' excellent attitudes to learning show that they are extremely keen to learn. Pupils achieve very well and produce consistently high-quality work because the curriculum planned by leaders is interesting and challenging. This includes those pupils with special educational needs and or/disabilities (SEND) and/or those who are disadvantaged. Pupils learn the important values of be ready, be respectful, be safe, love learning and be your best. These values are interwoven through every aspect of school life. They are also realised through the carefully thought out development opportunities that the school has planned for pupils, such as being kind to each other and respecting everyone. Pupils have the chance to show their talents, especially in music, where they give an annual performance to the whole-school community and a local care home. Adults encourage pupils to have high aspirations in all areas of learning. Pupils are extremely well prepared for their future lives.

Pupil numbers and mix

180 pupils on roll, with places for 180

Eligible for free school meals10%

10%, 16.5 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language40.6%

40.6%, 19 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support11.7%

11.7%, 3.1 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.7%

1.7%, 4.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Cunningham Hill Infant School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Cunningham Hill Junior School0.1 milesOfsted: Outstanding87% met the expected standard
Camp Primary and Nursery School0.3 milesOfsted: Good71% met the expected standard
Windermere Primary School0.3 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to good48% met the expected standard
St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery0.4 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Fleetville Junior School0.5 milesOfsted: Good78% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
5 to 7
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Ms Justine Elbourne-Cload
Address
Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, AL1 5QJ
Local authority
Hertfordshire
URN
117279

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.