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Reviewed

St Hilda's School

Independent school · Harpenden, AL5 2ES
  • Primary/prep
  • Girls
  • Ages 2-11
  • From £16,902 pa
  • 140 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

If good things come in small packages, that’s certainly the case at St Hilda’s. Pupils of all capabilities thrive in this homely environment. One parent summed it up: ‘There’s nothing corporate about it. It sounds cliché, but it really does feel like a happy family.’

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
140 ·
Religion
None
Fees
£16,902 - £19,134 pa
Local authority
Hertfordshire County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Headmaster

Mr Daniel Sayers

Since January 2015, Dan Sayers, previously deputy head and head of English. Originally from Surrey, he trained at the University of Winchester before earning his stripes in state primary schools. In 2004, he transitioned to the independent sector,


Entrance

One form entry, with an average of 18 pupils per class. Most join at pre-nursery (2+), nursery (3+) and reception on a first come, first served basis. From year 2, taster day including numeracy and literacy assessments ‘to identify any areas in which


Exit

At 11+, overwhelming majority to STAHS but some to Berkhamsted, Abbot’s Hill, Queenswood, Habs Girls and North London Collegiate. Local state options include St George’s, Roundwood and Sir John Lawes, but numbers ‘vary depending on the year’. Twelve


Latest results

There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.


Learning support & SEN

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
29.2 %
Students with SEN support

Pupils

140
Number of pupils

Money matters

Fee information
£16,902 - £19,134 pa

Our view

Located a hop, skip and latte away from Harpenden’s swanky high street, St Hilda’s feels like a family home, with its warm red-brick Victorian building, stained-glass front door and grandfather clock chiming in the hall. And with good reason: it was


The last word

If good things come in small packages, that’s certainly the case at St Hilda’s. Pupils of all capabilities thrive in this homely environment. One parent summed it up: ‘There’s nothing corporate about it. It sounds cliché, but it really does feel like

St Hilda's School school badge

What the school says

St Hilda’s is special. We are a family-run, girls’ prep school providing a blend of academic learning and self-development. We really understand what a girls’ education looks like. We encourage our pupils to be ambitious, confident, to think for themselves, trust their voices and be decisive, whilst teaching them the essential qualities of kindness and respect.

We cater for girls from the ages of 2 and a half to 11, also accepting boys in our nursery. Wraparound care is available from 7.30am until 6pm each day, and holiday club provision throughout the year. We have experienced, caring staff who ensure every pupil receives individual care and attention.

Our girls enjoy a holistic curriculum that includes academic rigour alongside music, drama and sport for all pupils. We inspire every child to achieve their potential, nurturing life-long learners through our unique character and range of both challenge and adventure. St Hilda’s is a school with a genuine family atmosphere that radiates happiness, warmth and belonging.

Our banner slogan – caring, curious and confident – summarises our vision. In all we do, St Hilda’s mission is to provide an outstanding education and a holistic, rounded learning experience for all. Only when children feel cared for and secure can they truly realise their potential. Our caring approach is matched by high expectations and ensures that learning is optimised, accessible to everyone and, most importantly, fun.

We are proud of our academic success and our pupils gain first-choice places at a wide range of prestigious secondary schools, with numerous scholarships achieved each year. We nurture each pupil’s individuality, developing talent and ability to the full, equipping them with a wide range of life skills to take them through the years ahead.

In a world where relentless pressure can cause huge anxiety, St Hilda’s is an inclusive and welcoming community with wellbeing at its heart. Our top priority is to ensure our pupils are thriving and happy, enabling them to develop resilience in our fast-changing world, where being positive and developing possibilities is so important. Our school song helps our pupils to appreciate how important our values are, as they really sum up what we stand for:

‘Trade with the gifts that God has given to you, Bend your mind to work each day, Sing from your heart, bringing courage to the soul, Strive to improve, give thanks to those who guide me; Fail, but then determine to succeed - and to inspire.’

As with all good things in life, the only way to experience St Hilda’s is to come and see us. We look forward to welcoming you, whether by private tour or at one of our open events held throughout the year.

Last updated 29 July 2025

Contact the school

Address

28 Douglas Road
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 2ES
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Have you considered?

School data & information St Hilda's School 28 Douglas Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2ES
140 Pupil numbers

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

Entry and exit data

We do not have entry or exit data for pupils at this school. Find out more


SEN overview

St Hilda's School is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Learning Support is integral to our teaching. Our Head of Learning Support is an experienced teacher and practitioner in this area, and leads a dedicated team who provide support for pupils, enabling them to work with confidence, succeed and maximise their full potential.

Our Learning Support team works across all classes to provide support where necessary, including in-class support, small group work, pre-learning groups, booster groups and 1:1 lessons. Lessons have a focus on creativity, collaboration and fun. Using a variety of interactive techniques and state of the art technology, girls learn through practical, multi-sensory activities that convey concepts in an innovative way. Further up the school, two part-time teachers work alongside the specialist English and mathematics teachers to plan and deliver the curriculum in Form V and Form VI.

Our approach is always pupil centred. The specialist teachers will find the right strategy and teaching method for each pupil, understanding how they learn best as individuals.

We work with outside agencies such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and paediatricians for guidance and advice to make sure we fully understand the unique aspects of each pupil’s development and can provide the appropriate support for them

Updated Jun 2024
0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 3%
29.2 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 14.1%

SEN conditons supported

No information available from the school. Find out more.

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