St Albans Secondary Schools - In year transfer

[Slubulino]

Hello! My family is planning to relocate closer to London in the summer. St Albans is one of our first choices. We are moving with our 12y old son.

On the council website Verulam school might have free places for September in year 8. However I found some very harsh comments related to the school. I wonder if I can get some feedback from families having kids there?

Also if you can recommend other secondary schools that might have free spots for September in year 8 we would be happy to get feedback on those also.

Thank you! 🙏

There are indeed some harsh comments around about this school and they are justified. It's the leadership which is lacking, and that effects absolutely everything, from the top downwards, negatively. Poor leadership = a sub optimal experience for all, pupils included. Unfortunately.

Hi we are St Albans and my son went there he's now at another school for 6th form (don't want to identify myself too much). I know some families who were happy there there but we had an awful experience.

It's a really tough environment with a lot of fighting and bullying, out of control classes, drugs are common and my son knew people who were involved in county lines.

St Albans is known as a 'naice' town but Verulam is a pretty rough school and I would stay stay away from it.

Try and place yourself near Beaumont, Sandringham or Samuel Ryder so that you are close to the top of their waiting lists, if you can.

My son is at Verulam, in year 9, it’s a warm welcoming school. I dont recognise other people’s negative comments. The teachers, I feel, really know him and want the best for him. He is a quiet well behaved boy, but he says the behaviour is good around the school. I live nearby and the boys behaviour around the school is polite, they are nice kids! I do think you should go in and have a chat with them before being put off by theses comments. The new head seems very ambitious for the school.

I heard an interview with the new head, and he sounds very focussed on transforming the school in the coming years. He has great ambitions and I think that’s what has been lacking badly.
It sounds as though Verulam has had a terrible reputation, but could be in a change period where things (and the boys) are coming good. and hopefully attracting more food families. It seems like it’s under the best leader possible, so let’s wait and see.