Abbots Hill School

[WhiteAmericanoNoSugar]

Can anyone tell me anything about this school? I have two academically able children and am looking for co-ed. I believe the prep has started welcoming boys this year and the senior school will next year. I have a little boy and girl. I'm interested in pastoral and support for ND. Thank you.

We are considering it for our daughter but more as a back-up option (our first choice is walkable which AH isn’t). It’s not the strongest school academically though, so it depends how academic you want. There is an open morning next Weds if you want to see it for yourself.

I know about the open day but wondered if anyone has personal experience. My children are very able but also autistic.

My dd just left. She joined from another prep school on an academic scholarship in year 7 and left with a full set of grade 9s at GCSE and an A in fmsq (additional maths). She has gone on to an academic independent 6th form on an academic scholarship and had an offer of an academic scholarship from another school. So, whilst it probably isn’t the most academic in the area, the girls get very good exam results (really high this year, other schools “ask” children to leave if they’re not likely to make the grade). Pastoral care is good and there are lots of co curricula activities. I can’t speak for SEND provision but classes are small which will be beneficial I’m sure. However, she was in a small year group. I believe the current years 7 and 8 are also small. I suspect the hike in fees since VAT are making a difference and there are other options for private quite nearby as well as Hertfordshire schools being well rated (we were allocated the only sink school near us, it was the nearest). So I think that could become an issue.

It is known locally for being very strong on the pastoral side and bright girls (I say girls as the coed is VERY new) do extremely well there if that’s the sort of environment they thrive in. However, it is going through hard times - it has joined the Mill Hill group and numbers are down significantly.

There were huge problems a few years ago when they changed the teacher pension scheme, staff were striking, and some classes without teachers for a long time - and parents still expected to pay full fees. It weathered the storm and the ship steadied itself but it has struggled to recover. Locally more girls are heading to RMS than ever before.

Westbrook Hay is very close too and whilst they have always been coed have recently converted to a school that goes to 16 (previously only to 13). They have also joined the Mill Hill group and is well known for pastoral. WBH seems to be growing in numbers but with two coed schools pitching towards the same market in close proximity- will they both survive?

Assuming Berkhamsted has been discounted then the others worth a look are St Columba’s and St Margaret’s (Bushey).

My ND DD is there, having moved from another school. She has absolutely thrived since going there-both academically and socially. Pastoral care has been really strong.

Happy for you to DM me if I can help with anything.