St Albans Primary Schools: Alban City vs. Aboyne Lodge vs. Maple

[Mumofboys189]

Hi there,

We're in the process of trying to decide on a primary school in St A. We've been told it's a low birth year so catchments areas have widened and it's really a buyers market.

So far I've looked around Aboyne Lodge and St Alban's City and I'm already confused, they're so different. Aboyne Lodge felt like a more "traditional" small primary school, perhaps less intimidating but scruffier. City was very impressive in terms of their resources, space and felt very energised but also less of a traditional primary and could be quite intimidating for a little one.

We're also looking at Maple and St Peter's (although the latter might be out of catchment).

ANY opinions from parents who have had kids in any of these schools recently would be MASSIVELY appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I had kids at one of those and honestly they are all good. I’d go with nearest to be sure you get a place as you’d be amazed how many siblings can take up spots. Aboyne has a very good head and long standing staff. City has a great community. Don’t forget to think about your kid when older too - they won’t find it intimidating I’m sure. St. Peter’s is lovely and has the green space.

Thanks that's really reassuring and good point about thinking about him when he's older too, I'm definitely focusing on how he is now and he obviously seems very little and young which skews your perception! We've basically been told whichever we put as our first we'll get a spot because they're almost all undersubscribed (other than St Peter's I think), which is what's making the decision so hard.

If anyone else has any experience of any of the above, plus the Abbey, I'd love to know your thoughts.

We looked at Aboyne, maple and city when we were choosing a few years ago. For us, city school won hands down as we loved the energy, facilities and everything they have to offer on an extra curricular level. I think the new head at Aboyne is meant to be better than the last, but I do know lots of ppl who live close to Aboyne choosing city instead. I would go with your gut - where can you see your child? Our little one settled into city wonderfully - she wasn’t at all overwhelmed - it’s a very welcoming school, with lovely bright classrooms etc - I’d struggle to find anything to fault it to be honest!

Abbey has a very good new head and deputy apparently. You have to be able to walk there as driving and parking is completely impossible. Probably true of all of these. Abbey does have a religious element which you need to embrace if your kids go there.

Only go to the Abbey if you like the faith element, it's noticeable.

Thanks all for your help so far, I think we've narrowed it down to City and Abbey School. City seems full of energy, lots of great facilities and a great headteacher. But Abbey school has such a lovely outside area, the smaller class sizes feels gentler and perhaps more of a community. Does anyone have any experience at Abbey? On the tour we were told that it doesn't necessary matter if you're not religious but is that not the case? I'm also aware Abbey are struggling with funding, has anyone found this to be an issue? Any experience at either would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hello. I have a couple of friends who are at/have been at Abbey but no direct experience I’m afraid - hopefully someone will be able to offer you an insight. I do know quite a lot of people left the school a couple of years ago as they were unhappy, and apparently the lack of funding is becoming more of an issue. Although the smaller class sizes in some schools may sound attractive, it does make it very hard for the school to offer what they’d like to, as funding is received on a per pupil basis, which obviously means one form entry schools receive less funding (albeit have lower costs), and even less if they don’t fill that one class. Good luck with the decision making - I’m sure you’d be happy with any school in St Albans. If you have any specific questions about City school please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer 😊

That's really interesting @MummyinStA thank you! Do you know if your friends who have kids at Abbey have been happy there? That's a good point re the funding per pupil and it is definitely something that has worried me.

In terms of City - I was really won over by the soft start system and being able to go into the classroom in the morning and it sounds like they don't follow traditional rules just for the sake of it which really appeals to me. But I have two main concerns - firstly, because it's big and pulls from a wider catchment I'm worried there won't be a sense of community, how have you found that? And secondly, the limited outside space - do they still manage to do sports days etc and do you feel the kids get enough outside time? My kids has a lot of energy so feel like this could be quite important for him. Thanks again!

Good questions! I too love the soft start system and agree with you re them being forward thinking rather than following rules just because they feel they should.

I wouldn't necessarily think of the school as "big" - I don't think it feels "big". I'd imagine the three form entry schools could feel big, but I have never found it to feel overwhelming. From talking to friends with children at other primary schools, I think we have a really strong "school community", which includes the head, staff, caretaker etc as well as the parents. I get the impression that other local schools may have a lovely parent community, but it's more of an "us versus them" and they don't really get to know/have any interaction with the staff (this may not be the case at every other school in St A but seems to be the case at my friends' schools). Lots of our staff attend the PTA quiz night, help out at the summer/xmas fairs for example, and because you get to go into the school each morning you feel you get to know the staff more. As we're a relatively new school, I have found that everyone takes a real pride in the school, which creates a nice community. Albeit children may sometimes come from a bit further afield, I haven't felt this impact the community - my children's friends are all still very local etc, and being right in the centre of town it makes coffee meet ups with class parents super easy!

Re outside space, I'd say that was my only reservation when choosing the school, but I can honestly say that I don't think my children have been disadvantaged due to the lack of a school field on site. In fact, I think the children at City school may get longer outside than lots of the other schools, as they have longer break times, which is why they have a slightly later finish time of 3.30pm. And whilst they don't have a field at the back of the school, the actual playground area is a really good size - which is what all schools use for the vast majority of the year I imagine, apart from the few weeks of good weather in the summer term when the field isn't off limits! There are also lots of sports clubs/other clubs that children can take part in at lunchtime, which are held in the sports hall. Yes, they have a sports day. They use the field at the end of Normandy Road which is a few minutes walk from school. That's also where they hold their "home" football matches, but hold their "home" netball matches in the playground. They have some after school sports clubs on the playground/football practice at the field. Whilst I'm not saying it wouldn't be "nice" to have a pretty field to look at, my children are all very active and get stuck into lots of sporting activities so I haven't felt hard done by in that regard.

Re Abbey, it's a mixture. A couple are happy, but a couple are not. What I would say is that most people have only had direct experience of one primary school, so don't know if things are done differently/better elsewhere - it's only when they move that they may find failings/improvements. And people tend talk positively of their own school, so I appreciate that I am most likely biased! But having visited other schools and having friends in a lot of other schools I'm confident that I've been very lucky with City School and all that it has to offer.

Hope that helps.

Thanks @MummyinStA that's really reassuring and super helpful, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! I've been thinking the same re having a field - it would be lovely but realistically the weather's so awful most of the time, I don't think it'll be my priority and great to hear they get enough sports/outside time anyway.

I hear what you're saying re most people only having experience of the school they attend but great to hear good things about City, which definitely have reaffirmed the positive vibe we felt when visiting.

Thanks again!

Hello! Abbey School mum here! I've had a quick read of some comments here but thought I'd give a fair perspective on Abbey school.

I currently have three children in yrs 1,4&6. I have seen the school through the old head (of ten years), the acting deputy and now the 'new' head who has just marked her two years since joining.

It is fair to say many families had left the school under the old headship but not all due to that. After covid a good handful of people moved abroad or nearer family in other parts of the country...with rising living costs in the city center when you had to live in certain roads to get into the school, it became very hard for people to stay...so a big factor has honestly been economical.

There were also growing frustrations under the old headship...

However, I, like most, have found the teaching from the staff always to be outstanding and the current staff set up is amazing. The school has just in fact been ranked FIRST in all schools in St Albans for their KS2 SATS and 16th out of 507 schools in Herts....this speaks volumes in terms of the teaching...they are fantastic.

Everyone will have their own opinion on whether a small school or a bigger school is better or detrimental to their child..me personally coming from a teaching background I can only see the benefits of belonging to a smaller school. They have the hugest opportunities, the school work together as a whole. There is a lovely connection between the upper and lower school. The confidence it builds in the students is second to none.

The Abbey school is of course a faith school and they visit the Abbey every Thursday morning for an assembly. This entails them singing hymns, the parents can also join which is lovely and again adds to the community vibe, they have a lovely sermon each week and it lasts no more than 20 minutes. A wonderful opportunity for the children to walk up to this beautiful cathedral on their doorstep. I also think this installs the most amazing confidence in the children, reading, singing, performing in the Abbey to a whole host of people.

The club's on offer at the school are now fantastic. They range from tennis, football, netball and even fencing, as well as athletics gymnastics, drama and whole host of music opportunities as well. Chess club, LEGO club... The list goes on..

One of the biggest draws I think is the grounds. The School is based on the old orchard of the cathedral so is basically a woodland area for them to explore and play in two big playgrounds and a field.. and in the summer after school most of school spill out into the orchard and enjoy that space as well.

With regardless to funding the PTA is very very strong and every year raises over £20,000 to help the support the school.. The school has just built a brand new learning hub which has all been funded by the parents PTA and is now in the process of building a music cabin after securing extra funding for that too.

Numbers of course affect funding but this has not been seen in any areas as the head and govs are very clear that they main focus is the childrens learning from the excellent staff and that then children do not miss out. So they might not have shiny new chairs and desks, but at the heart of the school the children are very happy and do very very well

The school does have ample parking on Hollywell Hill. You are giving a permit when you join the school so no problems there.

Sorry very long post. Happy to answer any other questions!

This is so true... people always think the grass is greener and it can rarely be that way...(depending on your reasons for moving obviously) I think as you have said before you really can't go wrong with any primary schools in St. Albans. It is a hard choice! Alban City was our second choice after Abbey 7 years back.

Thank you @SBW3, it's great to hear from someone with direct experience of Abbey, although you have made my decision harder 😬. The grounds were definitely a real plus for me, and the ability to spill out into the park area in the summer. I'm torn on the cathedral element, it's so beautiful and I think really lovely to have a connection to it, I can imagine it harbours confidence and a sense of belonging but we're also not religious at all.

Would you mind if I asked a couple more quick questions? Firstly, my partner and I both work full-time and with Abbey relying heavily on funding from the PTA, is a lot required from parents in terms of fundraising? I would love to be involved in my child's school as much as possible but I need to be realistic about how much time we have and wouldn't want to feel like we're constantly letting the school down.

Secondly, other than attending the Abbey once a week, are there specific ways religion seeps into their day-to-day learning? Would you know if there are many other family's who attend who are either non-religious or from other religions?

And lastly, have parents been happier under the new head?

Thanks for your time, it's super helpful!

Happy to help...I'd also try to not worry too much... all great schools and try and think logistics on where you live and friends , playdates picking up etc...

In terms of the PTA most parents at the school work and many both full-time... there's no obligation to help and you can be involved in other ways such as just attending events when they happen and your kids will enjoy the movie night and discos and other things put on.

So they visit the Abbey once a week for assembly and have their harvest festival and Easter Eucharist and Christmas carol services there. As with all schools(?) they study a variety of religions and cultures and they will have visits from members of the clergy occasionally too. There are many families who would regard themselves as 'non religious' and many who would...but from all faiths too..I think most would agree that it isn't the study of 'god and jesus' it's the messages they learn, which are great for life...caring for one another, helping those in need, being kind and respectful. It's hard to describe but maybe visit the Cathedral...get a vibe...it's such a welcoming space, very calm and the 'church' element reinforces the strong community at the school..

100% yes...new head has introduced so many new initiatives such as the after school provision which is now much needed and very popular. Loads more extra curricular clubs, the staffing has always been excellent but I'd say from personal experience it's currently as good as it's ever been.

Their SATS for year six they've come out no.1 in St Albans...so speaks for itself with the teaching.

Both schools would be happy for you to have another tour...often if you can go when the school is running as a normal day, then you'll get a true reflection?

Thanks @SBW3 thanks for answering my questions, that's really helpful. And good news about the new head, that's reassuring. Good idea re the tour and I know you're right, I'm sure he'll be happy at either so that takes the pressure. Thanks again for your help!