Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

St Albans High School for Girls

2 replies

scarletthw · 09/04/2018 23:50

Hello!
I wonder if anyone can help me...
DD is currently in year 10 at a local independent school but I don't think she's being challenged enough academically so would like to transfer her for sixth form.
Myself, DH and DD went for a tour round STAHS recently and whilst impressed, I didn't get a very good vibe/ethos from our tour guide. Didn't meet any teachers so can't comment there. Does anyone have any experience with the school (particularly the sixth form), to help affirm my decision?
DD is bright, struggles a little with maths, but very good at humanities and languages. Quite sporty, but not hugely. However she's really shy and lacks confidence. Always does well, but can get immensely stressed about grades.
Is this the right school for her? What will the admission process be like? What's the school like?

Many thanks!!

OP posts:
Jasmina456 · 16/06/2018 23:37

Hello! Just seen your post.

My dd went to Wheathampstead House, the primary of STAHS, before moving to a different private girls school for secondary. They obviously have lots of friends who went on to the High School though, and I have lots of friends who have dds there.

Before deciding, I would advise you to look carefully at the A level results for STAHS this coming summer. Last year's A level results there were very disappointing, and loads of girls missed their university offers and had to go to their insurance or go through clearing.

Basically, STAHS handled the transition from old modular A levels (with AS levels in Year 12) to new, Linear A levels very badly. The headteacher decided to have no proper exams in Year 12, and advised girls to take the 'year off' to "take up a new hobby, get a job, fall in love". When they came to Year 13, the yeargroup hugely underachieved. I'm so glad my daughter changed schools.

This year therefore, they've cracked down on the current year 13 and year 12 - no fun whatsoever, all focused on exams.

So I would look and see what their results are like this year - if they've improved, then that's good, but I worry the school has been so burned by its bad experience that it will feel compelled to load girls with tonnes of homework and holiday work throughout the two years of sixth form.

STAHS cannot afford to have another year like this year.

Jasmina456 · 16/06/2018 23:38

*last year

New posts on this thread. Refresh page