St Albans School A GSG School
- St Albans School
Abbey Gateway
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL3 4HB - Head: Mr J Gillespie
- T 01727 855521
- F 01727 843447
- E admissions@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
- W www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/
- An independent school for boys aged from 11 to 19.
- Read about the best schools in East Hertfordshire and West Hertfordshire
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Hertfordshire
- Pupils: 910; sixth formers: 329 (73 girls)
- Religion: Christian Inter-denominational
- Fees: £23,196 pa
- Open days: Three Open Mornings throughout the year. Two Sixth Form Open Evenings in the Autumn Term.
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Of the two summary words buzzing round our heads after our visit, extracurricular was buzziest (the other was pastoral, for the record, more of which later). We routinely visit schools with mind-blowing lists of clubs and societies but rarely have we been somewhere where the energetic engagement with – and participation in – said list is so palpable. ‘The opportunities are amazing!’ one pupil gushed, and we couldn’t disagree. Before we’d even signed in...
What the school says...
St Albans is a day school for academically able boys aged 11-18 and girls aged 16-18. Founded in 948, its atmosphere and ethos derive from its long tradition and its geographical position near the historic centre of St Albans, in close proximity to the Abbey and overlooking the remains of Roman Verulamium.
Whilst maintaining very high standards of academic achievement, it offers wide opportunities for development in other fields: the School's sporting record is exceptional and Drama and Music are strengths, with a distinguished tradition in choral music. Emphasis is laid on the use of individual talents in the service of the community, through the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme and such activities as Community Service; the Partnership Scheme with local primary schools and the flourishing CCF. ...Read more
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Sports
Shooting
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headteacher
Since 2014, Jonathan Gillespie. Previously head of Lancing College for eight years and has also taught at Highgate and Fettes College. Degree in modern and medieval languages plus PGCE, both from Cambridge. Purposeful, traditional of aura and heart clearly still in it despite his retirement having been announced at the time of our visit. His legacy? ‘Wellbeing is our most important priority,’ he says, ‘exam results are a byproduct of what we do’. Parents second this wholeheartedly, describing school’s pastoral system as ‘exceptional’, adding that if the school itself makes a mistake ‘it owns it and apologises’. Parents of pupils who have moved from other schools, especially for sixth form, say the difference in pastoral approach is stark and formerly unhappy or anxious pupils thrive when they land here. Head says school ‘looks after...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
All our pupils are capable of coping with a rigorous academic education carried on at a rapid pace. A pupil with serious dyslexia or dyspraxia would struggle to cope. However, we recognise that even the ablest can experience specific difficulties that could prevent them achieving their fullest potential, and may therefore benefit from some learning support. All new entrants are screened for previously undetected dyslexia and monitoring continues throughout a pupil's career. Where a problem is suspected, a diagnostic assessment is offered, following which, an assessment by an independent Educational Psychologist may be recommended. Sometimes, an able pupil will have developed coping strategies which obscure a problem that comes to light only in later years as the demands of the work become more complex, and staff are trained to spot such emergent difficulties. Various levels of support are available, including one-to-one tuition with a specialist teacher who is freelance but spends all her time at the school. 09-09
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | Y |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | Y |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | Y |
| 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 | Y |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | Y |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment | Y |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldwickbury School | 2023 | 17 | 6 | Scholarships: 3 Academic, 3 Art |
| Beechwood Park School | 2023 | 15 | 6 | Scholarships: 2x Sports, 3x Academic, Music. |
| Keble Prep School | 2023 | 3 | ||
| Lockers Park School | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 Academic Scholarship |
| Orley Farm School | 2023 | 1 | ||
| St Anthony’s School for Boys | 2023 | 1 | ||
| St John's School | 2023 | 1 |
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