Recommendations- looking for a private primary school in and around St Albans

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My daughter is currently in year 1 and am looking around for some private school in around St Albans, Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City.
My dd is currently attending a state school and I have watched her academic progress slow down, her confidence going, racial name calling and being teased, losing her self esteem, bullied by all the boys in her class, loneliness etc. She is also in a mixed age class

I am now looking to put her down in a private school and am looking for recommendations for schools that might be best suitable for my dd.

I don't have dds, I have three ds (at a single sex school) and so my knowledge of girls' schools is secondhand - but wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of your experience. Has the school not dealt with these issues at all?

Just some ideas: I've lots of friends with girls at Stormont in Potters Bar, they all seem happy with it. And another friend very pleased with Abbots Hill (though that's out towards Hemel).

Other than that, I guess the usual suspects would be St Albans (up at Wheathamstead at that age though) or Habs Girls. If you're looking at mixed sex, Beechwood Park, though again may be too far for you.

Hope you find a solution.

I couldn't really recommend but here are some more names which I came across in my travels.

Sherrardswood in WGC. There is also St John's Prep which is in the Potters Bar end of Enfield.

There are a few around Radlett - Radlett Prep, Edge Grove in Aldenham. There is also Manor Lodge in Shenley.

Of these I have heard best reports of Manor Lodge and Edge Grove. Habs Girls and St Albans High School also very well thought of.

DD1 joined Stormont in Potters Bar in Year 3 and at 18 still talks about it with great fondness, it is just lovely. Most girls live outside Potters Bar. The junior part of St Albans High School at Wheathampstead has a very good reputation if you don't want to go so far.

Thanks everyone I have requested some school brochures from some of the schools and will soon be visiting some of the schools.

second St Albans High junior school at Wheathampstead (friend's dd goes there and is very happ). Also if you could stretch a bit further North St Hilda's in Harpenden is apparently very good, caring but gets good academic results from what I hear.

I have a long association with St Albans High school, unfortunately it is virtually impossible to get a child into the junior department unless you try at 4+ when 200+ children are assessed for 40 places, 4 more come up in year 1, and again at year 2, these are nearly always filled by people on the waiting list as are places that arise if someone moves out for any reason.

It is a fantastic school, the girls love it, it is the No 1 prep school for obvious reasons.

St Nicolas House, junior dept to Abbots Hill often have places available - a colleague has just moved a child into year 4 for similar reasons to you.

Good reports on St Hilda's. I know some girls who went there, very well rounded, bright and chatty.

I know someone moving her children out of Sherrardswood, as very unhappy for various reasons ( her DD not getting into any other competitive entry school from there, but then her daughter may not be the brightest)

Does anyone know the academic performance at Stormont

Stormont is not strictly speaking a selective prep school (unlike SAHS, Habs etc). It is "first come, first served" for reception places. A number of girls usually leave at the end of Y2 for the selective schools, and their replacements are assessed, so these places only are selective. My DD started at this time and the assessment was done very informally - she spent a day there in the class and all the children did the tests together. When they get to Y6 they are split into 2 classes (ability wise) so you end up with 11 or 12 in each class. You get lots of guidance as to what school would be best for them. The Head says if you take the school's guidance you will not be disappointed with secondary places ie some children are just not habs or NLC material.