St Albans - which secondary?

[OctoberBirthday]

We are looking to move to St Albans soon.

DD is currently in year 5 and we accept that we'll 'get what we're given' in terms of primary school place following the in year admission process once we have a property. We will probably rent at first and buy a couple of years later.

DD is an only child and we hope to find a friendly and academic secondary.

Which schools would you recommend St Albans? TiA

Hopeful bump - any mumsnetters with knowledge of St Albans schools?

Beaumont, Sandringham and STAGs are all great. As is Loretto College if you're Catholic. Parmiters just outside St Albans is fabulous for the academically gifted! TBH, all the schools are pretty good - it's one of the main reasons people move to St Albans.

Oh thanks shizzy.

We have friends in St Albans who have said that STAGS has issues with bullying and that Sandringham is a bit of a 'hothouse' where the less able and/or more sensitive may suffer from mental health issues because of the pressure and push for results. All this is 100% hearsay, of course, but it unnerved me, which is why it would be helpful to hear other people's experiences.

Houses near Beaumont are almost out of our reach price wise but not sure yet, it depends on whether I'll stay in my current job.

Parmiter's is great I know someone in watford whose dc are happy but near impossible to get in.

I've heard bad (alomg with good) about nearly every school here even though most are good/outstanding from an Ofsted perspective! But everyone's experience is different. My eldest went to Marlborough - a school with VERY mixed reviews - but she thrived there and is now at a great uni doing brilliantly. It most definitely won't be suitable for my youngest though - she's too shy and introverted to manage there so I'm already worrying about where she'll go and she's 7!

If you can, join one of the St Albans Facebook groups such as St Albans Mums or All Things St Albans. You'll get a good insight into schools in the area by searching old posts and posting your query for opinions.

Thanks again Shizzy that's good advice, not sure if I can join St Albans Mums if I don't live there yet but will try.

Hi October. I live in St Albans, work in a St Albans secondary, and have a DC at a (different) St Albans secondary.

Change your facebook profile to say you live in St Albans, then request to join 'St Albans Mums' on fb. You can change it back after. It's a great group.

We're SUPER lucky as most schools are fantastic. Here's my opinion:

-STAGS: my choice if I had a girl. Very happy colleagues there. Bullying much less of an issue in past few years due to the improvement/expansion of the pastoral department.

-Sandringham: for the academic. VERY VERY big and if your DC is quiet may not thrive

-Samuel Ryder: very popular in recent years and had amazing results in last year's Parent Views

-Marlboro; very mixed opinions. Those who love it, LOVE it. Those who don't, HATE it. It's great for those who are sporty and has fantastic facilities.

-Beaumont: amazing school but has the world's smallest catchment area. If you can get in, it's performed better than the local private schools.

-Townsend and Nicholas Breakspear are the two most people avoid.

-Parmiters/Watford Grammar etc- if your DC is academically gifted, then you've got nothing to lose by letting them sit the Herts Consortium test. If they're clever enough they'll get in.

Good luck!

NellieBee thank you for your helpful and detailed post .

Looking at house prices around Beaumont, I don't believe we will ever be in a position to buy there.

Sandringham: for the academic. VERY VERY big and if your DC is quiet may not thrive

Would you be able to say a little more about Sandringham? Is it that it has a much bigger intake? Or is it that the culture of the school are a better fit for very confident children? They seem to have an amazing arts & science department and that's definitely appealing to us.

In terms of Watford girls & Parmiter's I am doubtful dd would get in. I have heard that the competition is steep, it's for the very brightest (dd is bright but not G&T).

STAGS sounds good to us but I wonder what it would be like learning in a single sex school and how that would affect dd's social skills and ability to be assertive in a mixed environment.

So Ididn't have much luck on FB.
my choice if I had a girl. Could I ask what you like about STAGS?

Samuel Ryder. It’s currently very small. A colleague said ‘There are no behaviour problems’ a couple of weeks ago. Because it’s small, I imagine the chances of getting in are high. It’s not far from Beaumont.

Sandringham is huge. The sixth forms are part of a consortium (Beausandver) which offer a very wide variety of subjects, therefore.

Parmiters is frankly very difficult to get into unless your child is very able. It’s not what I’d call within commuting distance of St Albans, but the housing in Watford is much better value. Are you definitely stuck living in St Albans?

My cousins dd goes to STAGS & she's been told that if she doesn't get the required grades then she won't be admitted to the 6th form. I'm sure that's illegal and they can't do that, wasn't there a boys grammar down south that did that & it hit the headlines. Apparently, parents legally challenged the decision, got it over turned & then the head left. It's really sad that schools put on this pressure at such a young age, no wonder there's an explosion of mental health issues.

Yes, STAGs is notorious for its lack of options at 6th form for the less academic.

Beaumont will be severely impacted catchment wise by the new housing developments - one on their ground and one on Oaklands college site.

I know 2 people that have taken their girls out of Sandringham. I think it's a great school for the academic though.

Marlborough is a bit of a 'poor relation' compared to the others, as is Samuel Ryder.

Loreto is excellent but hard to get into.

Nicholas Breakspear is not well thought of.

Great advice above be aware of the criteria for STAGS admissions read their policy as bizarrely c you have more chance of getting in on the outskirts of St Albans than the centre as each parish gets an allocation so central st Albans is only 1 parish with many girls.

I say this as a parent of boys with a son a Verulam which we are happy with but not much use for you.

Good luck and with the house purchase (we are in London Colney which is a bit cheaper but a, drive to the station)

"I know 2 people that have taken their girls out of Sandringham. I think it's a great school for the academic though."

Dd is academic sometimes a little lazy and loves science & art. But she is sensitive and hasn't the thickest skin i'd say. What's the biggest challenge for dc in sandringham?

Maccycheesefries that's shocking. Did this happen fairly recently? I am ambivalent about single sex ed. I can see pros and cons.

I forgot Loreto- I don't know much about it, as it's a catholic school and we're not religious. I don't know anyone with a child there either.

If I had a daughter, it would be STAGS or Samuel Ryder I think. My son is at Verulam which is no use to you!

Stags: great facilities (gorgeous library), really strong extra curricular program, many happy friends with daughters there. Strong pastoral team who are passionate and I personally am all for same sex schools. This is a very individual decision though, so up to you to work out how you feel about same sex.

Sandringham is really lovely but its just so, so big. The biggest in St Albans. The STEM department is where they really shine; however when we went for the open day for DS realised it was just not right for him. I worried about being lost in the shadows there. It's also very very academic.

OctoberBirthday yes she was told recently. I'm surprised that schools can't see how damaging and counterproductive this is. The pupils are more likely not to get the required grades because of the emotional pressure they are subjected to.

@NellieBee are you still active on here? I would love to ask you some school questions if so

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@duchessa I'm not who you asked form, but I live in St A and have a year 6 boy. Can I help?