Sandringham School versus Verulam School (St Albans)

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So which is the better school??????!!!!!!!!

Verulam is a strange contradiction. We were quite impressed with Verulam when we went to the open day in Year 5. We were still impressed in Year 6. But if you were to look at the league tables and talk to other mums then you would get a less than impressed view of the school. I suspect that it is one of those places that does an excellent job with the boys but it isn't reflected in their exam results. If academic excellence isn't your top priority then you could do a lot worst.

Sandringham's head isn't a drinking buddy of mine :) but I have had some contact with the man and he has done an excellent job of turning the school around. The school has a vibrant drama/dance scene. The first time I had to be dragged along to a public performance of The Sound of Music. Listening to a bunch of school kids murder classic tunes wasn't my cup of tea. However I was pleasantly surprised at how professional the production values were. If your DC is into drama and dance then Sandringham is the school for him.

Both schools get good results, I would think the choice would come down to wether you want a boys or mixed school for your DC. Have you looked at Beaumont its also a very good school.

They are both (imo) excellent schools - boils down to personal preference really. And lots of parents are impressed with both schools.

I'd second looking at Beaumont if you live out that way - another fab school but different in character yet again. Though of course where you get in depends on exactly where you live as all are oversubscribed.

Have a good look at their open evenings in the autumn

thanks folks for your help...not close enough for beaumont, but would have got into verulam or sandringham this year.

so, far i havent heard anything off;putting about either.

not sure about wether to go for mixed sexed or not...i didnt, and i dont know if my results would have been worse with boys around to distract me!!

Not sure where Pusheed is getting her stats from but for what it's worth the % of pupils getting 5 GCSEs A-C inc maths and english was 83% at Verulam and 80% Sandringham in 2011. Both are very good schools, academically and otherwise.