Abbot's Hill School

Since April 2024, Sharon Schanschieff BSc QTS. Joined the school in 2015 as a part-time maths teacher, progressing to head of year, director of teaching and learning, then head of senior school. Always wanted to teach (and still teaches now), foll

Into nursery from 6 months, with automatic entry into reception which – together with years 3 and 7 – are the main entry points. Very rare to be turned away, although the school does gently assess all children to check they can access the curricul

Around 20 per cent leave after year 6, mainly to local grammars, to board or go co-ed. ‘It’s not one of those schools where everyone is in it for the long haul,’ said one parent, ‘some come here just for the prep, others just for the senior school

In 2024, 42 per cent 9-7 at GCSE.

Parents like that the school is unpressured, though it’s more academic than when we last visited. ‘Learning objectives are clearer,’ parents tell us, ‘and they’ve got a lot of new teachers in who are really on it.’ Tailoring is a strength – possib

The SENCos (one each for prep and senior) are exceptional and the learning support centre, known as the Rose Garden, a source of great pride in the heart of the school. Seventeen per cent of pupils are on the SEN register in prep, rising to 36 per

Known for performing arts, with terrific facilities including the 200-seat Judi Dench theatre where a group of girls were acting out an unfriendly scene so well that, for a moment, we thought we’d walked in on an almighty row. Ambitious production

There are sportier local schools, but parents say sport is ‘no longer the bugbear it was when we joined’, with ‘more ambition and variety’. Elite end better catered for too – school has current champions in lacrosse, skiing and cross-country, whil

‘Friendly atmosphere’ and ‘sense of community’ are recurring themes from parents and pupils. Small size of school, year groups and classes mean every child is known. Friendships extend to across year groups and girls talked of new pupils becoming

Most families live within a 10-mile radius: Berkhamsted, St Albans, Rickmansworth and beyond. A school coach service covers key routes. Range Rovers and convertibles passed on the way in – ‘but my clapped-out Skoda is not out of place,’ a parent t

Means-tested bursaries in seniors only. Art, drama, music and sport scholarships in year 7, worth up to 10 per cent fee remission.

A school with a friendly, personalised and holistic approach set in beautiful surroundings. One parent told us, ‘We deliberately chose the school because they understand that happy children who have fun learn better – and when we say that now at d