Secondary schools in St Albans

[mofletes]

Dear all, we are currently house hunting in the St Albans area and I'm trying to get some word-of-mouth reviews/opinions about secondary schools there. In particular, I'm interested to know more about Marlborough school, but any info you have on the other secondary schools much appreciated!
Many thanks

Do not know about Marlborough, but if it is a girls school then St. Albans girls, the state one is excellent, for mixed I believe Townsend is not bad either. If you were looking for private both the St. Albans boys and girls school are the best on the area. If you were looking for private there are amazing schools in bedford and the train journey is easy and loads of kids from St. Albans go to them

Marlborough is not a bad school and has a nice feel but suffers from a historically poor reputation and so some of the catchment primaries such as Abbey school see their Y6 reduce in numbers as people go elsewhere. Sam Ryder Academy is a new school, going 3-18, reopened recently under the governance of a very successful Harpenden school. Generally, Beaumont and Sandringham are the best regarded of the mixed comps, with STAGS and Verulam the state single sex also good. St Albans boys and the girls high school are private but v good.

Depending which side of St Albans you're thinking of, it may be useful to note that there is a new school due to open for Y7 intake in Sept 2014 in the Radlett/London Colney/Shenley area. It is called Harperbury Free School.

Good luck with your house hunt.

Dear All,
We are moving from Amsterdam to England, most probably to St Albans or Guidford. Our DD will have to start year 7 and we worry, of course, that we cannot even apply for a place before July or August. So obviously (or not????) we will be offered a place at an undersubscribed school. I read horrible things of Sam Ryder (info is 2 years old, which seems to be the only truly bad secondary school in the neighbourhood. Has there been any changes there? Should we worry?