Founded in 1889, the school is situated on a pleasant urban site. The buildings are mainly purpose-built with some modern additions. The primary school is in a more rural setting a few miles away in Wheathampstead. It is Christian by tradition and ethos and tries to put this into practice as a caring community. Closely connected with St Albans Abbey, there is regular worship in the Anglican tradition. A broad academic education is provided and examination results are very good. Extra-curricular activities are plentiful and varied; music and drama are particularly strong and there are joint orchestral, choral and dramatic activities with St Albans School. Facilities for PE and games include playing fields, a sports hall and indoor pool. There is keen participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Parents are very much involved in the activities of the school.
Pupils: Total age range 4-18, 950 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 630 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade A (including sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 40+% of senior intake.
Scholarships (some academic, some music): awarded at 11 and 16. Variable fees assistance available, based on financial need. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.
Headmistress: Mrs Rosemary Martin, in post from 2009. Educated at Liverpool University (education) and Institute of Education (London). Previously Headmistress at Combe Bank and Deputy Warden and Head of Girls’ School at Forest School. Also ISI inspector of schools. Teaching staff: 75 full time, 14 part time.
GCSE: On average, 90 pupils in fifth, all gaining at least grade C in 9+ subjects. A-levels: 90 in upper sixth. Average passes in 3+ subjects with final point score of 347.
91% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (15% after a gap year), 9% to Oxbridge. 7% take courses in medicine and dentistry, 9% in science and engineering, 51% in humanities and social sciences, 33% in other vocational subjects eg healthcare professions, business studies.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 21 subjects offered at AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS and A-level. Key skills integrated into curriculum. Special provision: Some special provision in certain circumstances. Languages: French (from age 7), German and Spanish (from 12) all offered at GCSE, AS and A-level; also Mandarin and Japanese as extra-curricular subjects. Regular visits and exchanges; opportunities for work experience in France. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. All pupils expected to take ECDL. Network of over 250 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all with email and internet access.
Music: Some 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams, GCSE and A-level may be taken. Musical groups include: 3 orchestras (1 joint with St Albans), 2 wind bands, brass band, string ensembles, jazz bands, chamber ensembles, and 5 choirs. 30 concerts and recitals annually, including choral concert joint with St Albans School in the Cathedral, orchestral Extravaganza in the Alban Arena, regular lunchtime recitals, performances in eg St John's Smith Square. Instrumentalists and choirs regularly compete in National Chamber Music Competition and National Festival of Music for Youth. Regular overseas tours. Drama and dance: GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies and LAMDA exams may be taken. House drama clubs (run by Year 12); annual school production. Pupils regularly in National Youth Theatre (acting and design). Residential weekends in Stratford upon Avon and overseas tours, including to South Africa.
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, tennis, gymnastics, dance, athletics, swimming, rounders, badminton, volleyball, basketball, hockey, trampolining compulsory. Options at various ages: fencing, aerobics, football, cricket, judo, yoga. Sixth form only: squash, step aerobics, gym/weights, golf. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service strongly encouraged; lot of fund-raising for charities. Clubs include Young Enterprise, art, cookery, debating, drama, ICT, photography, French, technology, gymnastics, maths, various sports (eg judo, dance, fencing), Asian society, Amnesty International, debating.
Uniform: School uniform worn, except sixth form. Houses and prefects: Pastoral care through house system; some house competitions. Head girls, school games captain and house officers elected by the school. School Council. Religion: Church of England school but girls of other faiths welcomed. Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Musical productions and debating competitions with St Albans and other local schools. Exchanges (Lüneberg, Santander), study visit (Antibes), visits (eg Amsterdam, Athens, Iceland, Morocco), drama tours (USA, Spain and South Africa), biennial World Challenge trips (eg Mexico, Tanzania), regular skiing trip. Frequent visits to theatres, museums and exhibitions in London. Sixth form allowed to bring car. Meals self-service.
Pupils failing to produce homework once could expect a reprimand and a requirement to produce it; in the case of more serious misdemeanours, action would be decided by the Headmistress, depending on the circumstances.
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