St Albans High School for Girls

Since April 2025, Ann Massey, previously deputy head of Eltham College since 2017. Before that, she spent 16 years at James Allen’s Girls’ School as a history and politics teacher, assistant head of section, SENCo and head of lower school. Grew up in a village in the Welsh valleys near Port Talbot and holds a BA and MA in modern history from St Anne’s College, Oxford and an MEd in leadership and management. Married to John, detective chief superintendent of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, with whom she has two children: Isabel who is studying biomedical sciences at Cardiff University and Matthew who is reading French and Spanish at Exeter College, Oxford.

Since 2025, principal of St Albans Education Group is Amber Waite, previously head of the school and before that, deputy head pastoral at St Dunstan’s College. In the running for prize for The Good Schools Guide’s most unusual route to headship; American by birth, she was educated in Texas and New Jersey and spent 10 years as a biogeochemical oceanographer (yup, we had to google it too) before realising vocation to teach. Having pursued a teaching career in the US she moved to the UK as director of the schools and universities learning programmes for the Civil Service. Thence back into teaching, arriving in current post via stints at Headington, Abingdon and Ashford Schools before St Dunstan’s. Was a somewhat reluctant applicant for STAHS headship as she isn’t a ‘proponent of single sex education’ but was won round when she learned of the strength of school community. Neither, by the way, is she a fan of ‘anything that reinforces gender stereotypes; we never talk about girls’ education here, just good education’. Lives locally and has a teenage son who attends a local independent school.

There are 130 places in year 7 (no year 9 entry for girls coming from co-ed preps). Heavily oversubscribed (around three applicants for every place) and highly academically selective, with number of applications increasing every year and high acceptance rate. External applicants sit ISEB Common Pre-Test, complete creative writing task, experience taster lesson and take part in educational team activities. Results are age-standardised. Around two-thirds are interviewed before final offers made. Since 2020, STAHS prep pupils no longer take entrance exam and scholarship candidates are invited to assessment on recommendation from prep head based on their academic track record.

Around 50 join from prep with half the remainder coming from state primaries and half from prep schools including Beechwood Park, Edge Grove, Manor Lodge, Radlett Prep and St Hilda’s Harpenden. Around 40 per cent travel to school by coach and school is also well served by national rail, used by pupils coming from North London (about 25 per cent).

Majority stay after GCSEs, with those that leave seeking co-ed (steady trickle to St Albans School each year), boarding or just a change of scene. All to higher ed at 18, with ten to Oxbridge in 2024, six medics/dentists/vets and a few to the US. School says focus is on ‘right place, right subject’ for each applicant and notably split of degree choices is equal between science, humanities and social sciences. Other popular destinations in recent years include Imperial, UCL, KCL, Durham, Leeds, Exeter, Bristol and Nottingham. Interest in degree apprenticeships increasing, with law firms and businesses such as GSK, Deloitte and Dyson attending school careers fairs; one pupil recently scooped a law degree apprenticeship. Small handful to creative arts courses each year.

We identified school mantra as ‘challenge for all’ and ambition is found in spades in all departments, underpinned by head leading the charge in ‘encouraging rather than pushing’ pupils. Although the sixth formers we met described a ‘balanced culture’, labelling school ‘a comfortable place’, public exam grades belie pupils’ ease in their environment and remain stellar. Trad curriculum, with 25 subjects on offer at A level: maths, psychology and sciences currently topping the popularity polls. All start with four, with around a third dropping one of these. Ten GCSEs is norm, with one MFL (French, German, Mandarin or Spanish) compulsory and creative options reassuringly popular. Class sizes in year 7 are 24 – halved for creative and technical subjects – shrinking at GCSE to around 15 to 18 and smaller still at A level.

Parents praised school’s rigorous approach to ensuring ‘nobody slips through the gaps’, and we couldn’t find anyone to tell us that academic success was ever left to chance, although school was careful to reinforce message that ‘mistakes are normalised’ and the atmosphere is not pressure cooker. Public exam candidates have two sets of mocks to inch them closer to those top grades and pupils enthused about teachers answering revision questions instantly even in school holidays. Outstanding teaching a recurring theme – head focused on HODs modelling ‘subject knowledge and passion’ to filter through departments.

Director of higher education and careers ensures girls are pushed ‘out of their comfort zone’, with all departments teaching ‘university stretch’ at A level and ‘second to none’ Oxbridge preparation. Girls declare support during the university application process ‘amazing’, with each being allocated a subject mentor in their chosen subject for bespoke guidance throughout and support with their personal statement (ten drafts is not unusual): ‘invaluable’, said one grateful sixth former. Actively engaged alumni and parent body boost the careers offering.

School doesn’t claim to offer outstanding SEN provision and parents we spoke to thought there was definitely ‘work to do’ in this area, although head says assessment is ‘more scientific than it used to be’ and there is now a full time SENCo on staff. Unsurprisingly, ‘very low’ numbers on the SEN register (about 8.5 per cent). School says able to support mild dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia through mix of one-to-one and class-based work. Girls are not screened routinely but concerns are flagged by teaching staff.

Firing on all cylinders across the board. All aspects of school life held together by collective enthusiasm and a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude. We love an inspirational art department – especially one with an artist in residence – and STAHS didn’t disappoint when we visited. Sixth form artists (yes, it is an acceptable third A level), work in a dedicated space, reminiscent of art college, with a superb standard of work on display – we predict A*s all round. Textiles offering is a similarly serious set-up – two full classes at GCSE most years, as well as a good handful taking the A level. Product design and textiles also offered to A level, with a smaller uptake – school says it’s ‘pushing engineering and architecture’ from the word go; facilities include a laser cutter and three 3D printers. Those hoping to pursue careers in the arts well supported; three to art college in 2022 and a further two to study architecture.

Thespians well catered for. Drama on curriculum in years 7 and 8 and offered up to A level, with strong uptake (16 in 2022). School productions alternate between musical theatre – recently Sister Act and Fame (decreed ‘fabulous’ by parents) – and drama (latest performance The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe) with the entire production from tech to music run by pupils. Vibrant house drama competition, scripted by year 12s and performed by year 7s, with one recent production performed at local festival and there are theatre trips and workshops galore – including a trip to New York for GCSE and A level students.

Music taken seriously – well, why wouldn’t you when you have such a smart music block? Girls streamed according to musical aptitude from year 7, with top set taking their GCSE a year early. Half of cohort takes peripatetic music lessons with plethora of choirs (chamber, a capella, gospel and everything in between), bands (swing and pop as well as all the usual suspects) in which to showcase their talents. Vast co-curricular programme made us wonder how on earth they find the time, with girls able to spread their creative, sporting and intellectual wings to their hearts’ content plus CV boosters like DofE, EPQ, medvet society, school magazine, debating society, and Model United Nations. New sixth form diploma starts in year 12, with the aim of equipping girls with skills for life across academia, service and leadership and making the leap to university and adult life. Varied weekly sessions, from self defence classes to careers talks by STAHS alumni build towards a valediction ceremony to celebrate students’ achievements in their final year.

Despite urban location – games pitches are a 10-minute walk from school – there’s plenty on offer and school focused on ‘every student participating’. There’s Competitive (note capital C) netball (with A-E teams so everyone who wants to play, can) and lacrosse, plus fixtures for football, gymnastics, trampolining, athletics, tennis, cricket and badminton. That’s on top of swimming, dance, basketball and ski squad. Unusually, compulsory games all the way through to sixth form. Whilst not nestled amongst vast playing fields, impressive facilities for an urban school include new all-weather Astro pitches, pavilion, dance studio, fitness suite, large, traditionally equipped sports hall, netball courts, lacrosse pitches and 25m swimming pool, also used by prep pupils. Biennial ski trip plus sports tours overseas – football and lacrosse currently planning trip to USA.

Increased focus on placing mental wellbeing and happiness at the heart of the school, but with a thoroughly common-sensical approach under new head and recently appointed mental health and wellness lead: ‘We aim to normalise the ups and downs of being a young person and help girls understand that this is part of becoming an adult’. There's also a new wellbeing hub. House mistresses described by girls and parents as ‘amazing’ in this regard and there are multiple steps between an initial concern being raised and a referral to the school counsellor. A number of staff recently trained in mental health first aid, with more to follow. Trained pupil mentors abound from the raft of school and house officers, plus head girl and deputies and there are signposted youth health champions. Thriving house system creates sense of healthy competition, ‘but not between the girls,’ we were assured by parents. Students ‘celebrate each other,’ they said, and we were told that awards ceremonies take ages due to extended clapping and cheering. ‘No stigma’ attached to LGBTQIA+ (‘so well done,’ according to girls). Chosen pronouns are accepted as a matter of course and calendar events such as Pride and Black History Month are marked sensitively and appropriately. Assemblies are multi-faith. A formerly ‘prudish’ approach to sexual health has been addressed head on by a dedicated school nurse expert in community sexual health to whom students can take their personal worries in strictest confidence.

Students come mainly from dual income, hard-working families, many City workers and from the professions. Despite school moving in the same circles as Habs, NLCS et al, the majority of parents do not, with most still living relatively locally. A fleet of coaches whisks girls to and from school from as far afield as Luton, Hitchin and Potters Bar, with others arriving by overground train from London Boroughs such as Finchley and Totteridge. Lots of brothers at St Albans School, with whom STAHS collaborates for music – and, of course, parties. Girls amongst the most interesting, likeable and grounded of those we have met in any school of this calibre.

Generous bursary pot with means tested support of up to 100 per cent available. Bursaries available in years 7 and 12, with around 10 to 15 per cent of cohort receiving some level of support, majority of these on 75 per cent or more. Academic, drama, sports and music scholarships from year 7. In year 10 further scholarships in academics, art, DT, drama, music and sport are offered to existing and new pupils. In sixth form, academic, art, DT, drama, sport and music. Parents still grumble that coach prices are expensive although school froze them in 2022. Fees still a shade lower than single sex competitors and St Albans School.