Hello, we live in St Albans and will be applying to St Albans High school for our Y5 DD to start in 2026. We also liked Berkhamsted Girls' school which we'd been planning as a backup. However, both schools use the ISEB common pre-test so we've all our eggs in one basket and could be in difficulties if she has a bad day with it.
So, thinking we need a Plan C, we're wondering about:
- St Columbas. We looked round last year, liked the prep school but thought the senior school was only so-so (though some of the teachers good). Also really not keen on a religious school and despite people telling us it's not that religious, that really wasn't our impression. And having gone co-ed only recently we’re not sure if it’s still too boy-heavy.
- Abbot's Hill - I heard the school went through a rocky patch a few years with a dispute with the teachers about the pensions scheme which led to a number of teachers leaving. Things have hopefully calmed down but I've not found many recent reviews of the school so would welcome honest views on what it is like now.
I also wonder (based on nothing at all - me just speculating!) whether Abbot's Hill might be hit harder by the VAT on school fees, and whether as a smaller school without a 6th form its long term future may be in a bit more doubt.
They're both less academic than we'd really like - we're after somewhere fairly academic but definitely not hot-house.
As for our DD - she is a lovely, confident (but not overconfident) girl who makes friends quite easily and loves getting involved in everything - drama, sport, music, volunteering etc. So in some ways I think she'd be OK in most places, but am keen that she would get a bit of academic stretch, rather than just have a lovely time doing co-curriculars and being left to coast below her potential.
Thanks in advance for any insights!
So, thinking we need a Plan C, we're wondering about:
- St Columbas. We looked round last year, liked the prep school but thought the senior school was only so-so (though some of the teachers good). Also really not keen on a religious school and despite people telling us it's not that religious, that really wasn't our impression. And having gone co-ed only recently we’re not sure if it’s still too boy-heavy.
- Abbot's Hill - I heard the school went through a rocky patch a few years with a dispute with the teachers about the pensions scheme which led to a number of teachers leaving. Things have hopefully calmed down but I've not found many recent reviews of the school so would welcome honest views on what it is like now.
I also wonder (based on nothing at all - me just speculating!) whether Abbot's Hill might be hit harder by the VAT on school fees, and whether as a smaller school without a 6th form its long term future may be in a bit more doubt.
They're both less academic than we'd really like - we're after somewhere fairly academic but definitely not hot-house.
As for our DD - she is a lovely, confident (but not overconfident) girl who makes friends quite easily and loves getting involved in everything - drama, sport, music, volunteering etc. So in some ways I think she'd be OK in most places, but am keen that she would get a bit of academic stretch, rather than just have a lovely time doing co-curriculars and being left to coast below her potential.
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Statistics: Posted by girasol — Sat Oct 19, 2024 7:31 am