Haberdashers’ Boys’ School A GSG School Review
What is included in the Haberdashers’ Boys’ School review?
Academic results & facilities
Up to date results for GCSEs, A levels, BTECs and IB; we go to places league tables can’t reach.
Pastoral care and inclusivity
From how the school reacts when something goes wrong to how they tackle thorny issues like substance abuse, consent and mental health. We check they’ve got it all covered.
Fees, scholarships & bursary information
An independent education is a major commitment; our review enables you to compare everything from fees to hidden costs, as well as giving detailed information on scholarships and bursaries.
Information about the head
Our unparalleled access to the head teacher means we can tell you exactly what to expect when you meet them – from leadership style right down to the décor of their study and what they’re currently reading.
Teaching and learning approaches
Entrance & admissions information
Exit information - where do the children go next?
Learning support & SEN information
Arts, sports and extracurricular
What The Good Schools Guide says..
‘Exams aren’t the most important part of education,’ said no Habs boy, or parent of a Habs boy, ever. ‘Exams are the number one priority for parents – they know that top grades will open more doors to their sons,’ says the school, unapologetically. And there are certainly few that aren’t flung wide on the basis of this top-of-the-league school’s consistently high results. Year 7 can be tricky for those not already in training for the school’s intensive regime and those from homework-free primary schools can sometimes feel daunted. They soon learn, however, to take it in their stride. And if they don’t, there’s help on offer from ....
Read more- Haberdashers’ Boys’ School
Butterfly Lane
Elstree
Hertfordshire
WD6 3AF - Head: Mr Robert Sykes
- T 020 8266 1700
- F 020 8266 1800
- E office@habsboys.org.uk
- W www.habsboys.org.uk/
- Haberdashers’ Boys’ School is a mainstream independent school for boys aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school. Interested in reading more? Read our unbiased Haberdashers’ Boys’ School review.
- Read about the best schools in East Hertfordshire and West Hertfordshire
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Hertfordshire
- Pupils: 1408; sixth formers: 319
- Religion: Not Applicable
- Fees: £24,549 pa
- Open days: April and May
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Haberdashers’ Boys’ School (Prep & Pre-Prep)
What the school says...
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School is based on a rural, 100-acre site in leafy Elstree, Hertfordshire, whilst being within easy reach of London and nearby to junctions on the M1 and M25. The School believes it has the largest coach network of any school in the UK, allowing pupils from far and wide to benefit from a Haberdashers’ education. This coach service is shared with our neighbouring Girls’ School. Both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools offer the best of single-sex education in a unique co-educational environment. From September 2021, every Sixth Former will be taught at least one subject in a mixed-gender class.
Haberdashers’ was named The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2017 and prides itself on ‘Nurturing Excellence’. The School, for boys aged between 5 and 18 years old, offers an energetic and enthusiastic learning environment for inquisitive boys in a simply outstanding environment, with truly exceptional facilities.
The School has a rich history of producing confident and self-motivated young men, who are fully prepared for the challenges of the future. The Old Haberdashers’ are testament to this. Pupils leave the School knowing that they have benefited from the very best, well-rounded educational experience, the quality of pastoral care and the opportunity to take part in the most varied of co-curricular programmes. They have the knowledge that this privilege brings with it a duty of ethical leadership and social responsibility. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Since 2023, Robert Sykes, BA (University of Manchester). Joined Habs in 2011 as head of Spanish, later promoted to deputy head academic. He has spent the majority of his career in leading independent schools in and around London.
Main intake is at 11 from a wide range of prep and state schools. School sets its own exams in English, maths and reasoning. About 600 apply for 100 places (in addition to those coming up from the prep school); 300 recalled for interview, which takes place in groups and individually. ‘We don’t mind crooked profiles. If someone is outstanding at maths, we can cope with the fact that they’re less good at English.’ That said, it's a school where a high percentage of successful candidates will already be at, or near, the top of their class. At 13 plus, 70-80 apply for...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
The curriculum provides equality of access and opportunity for all our students to make progress. For those few boys with additional educational needs (e.g.dyslexia, dyspraxia), monitoring and support is co-ordinated by the school's learning support team who work in close collaboration with the House system and academic departments. Two members of the learning support team hold specialist qualifications in specific learning difficulties.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechwood Park School | 2023 | 1 | ||
| Orley Farm School | 2023 | 3 | ||
| St Anthony’s School for Boys | 2023 | 2 | ||
| St John's School | 2023 | 1 | ||
| The Beacon School | 2023 | 1 |
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