Queenswood/Abbots Hill

[2girlsandcounting]

My daughter is going in to Yr 6 and we are looking at Queenswood and Abbots Hill for secondary. She is fairly academic and v much in to music and drama. I have another daughter that would follow in 2yrs.

We live in St Albans so I have to say one of the main things that puts me off Q’wood is the lack of a bus route and distance from our home. Are there any Q Mums out there that can give me a steer on how expensive the transport option the school has on their website would be? I have the impression it’s more of a private car arrangement but that you can share with other families?

Are there any others that have considered both options previously and can share their experience with me? Or indeed any parents that have children at either school?

Both seem to have a nurturing and supportive feel about them and tend to be fairly all rounded.

TIA.

Q is excellent for Drama - one of the best in the country, always outstanding results and lots of opportunities to perform. She could apply for Music, Drama or Academic Scholarships
have you been on a tour yet?

The transport system is door-to-door and yes, you share with around 3 other girls in the local area. however a lot of day girls are local so you might be able to find a lift share with another parent. But saying that, most day girls come in on school transport (as it is bespoke and saves you getting DD there and back) the sleepover arrangement really helps out too - so (just say) DD is in a play - and would be due to be collected by you at night, she can sleep over a few nights per term for for free in the boarding house, which makes things much easier. Chat to the Transport Manager about it all

Thank you Piemonster. We are going for a tour at the end of Sept. I’d definitely like her to apply for the drama scholarship though I don’t think it’s available until Yr 9. But I’d definitely keep a keen eye on it as a goal for her. Though she’s good at music, I don’t think she’s good enough to reach grade 4 distinction by the end of next year (she had merit at grade 1 and lined up to do grade 2 in Autumn term so suspect two grades in one year might be a bit of a stretch?).

I’ll definitely speak to the Transport Manager because I suspect if she’s with others and it’s ‘normal’ (ie amongst peers to travel the distance) then not a problem.

Do you find there’s a bit difference between those that board and those that don’t? ie, I suspect she will flexi board/board once a week but do most girls board and therefore is there an ‘us and them’ type issue between the girls?

Op may I ask, why are you not interested in St Albans girls (independent) which is local and would suit your daughter if she is academic?

Sorry- I’ve seen you require for I boarding, so I now know that St Albans girls would not be suitable for your dad. A friends dd attends Queenswood and the mum tells me brilliant things about the school. Her daughter is supported so well by staff and the extra curricular activities on offer are amazing.

*dd not DAD!!
I blame auto spell!!! And I meant flexi boarding not for I

Thanks camcam1. I have thought about the high school but have heard so much about it being a hot house. DD is in top sets for all subjects but I’m not sure she would get through their maths test (her weakest subject and have heard the exam for that in particular is v tough). It’s a shame because it would be mega easy for her to get to!

DD2 isn’t as academic so would mean they’d end up at different schools- or the end of the world but a consideration.

I should probably go and see it and take a view from there?!

Please OP go and see St Albans. Again I have a friend who’s dd is at that schools and she swears it’s amazing. I cannot express how articulate and determined this girl is and her mum says it’s down to the school. Queenswood fees v St Albans, with the travel time for me would make the local school a serious contender. Good luck

Thanks camcam1, will do!

We looked at both Q and Abbots Hill for DD who is now Y3 reading law at Uni. Both schools have a long day (DD was at bus stop at 7.10am for Abbots Hill) but she thoroughly enjoyed her time there: GCSEs, drama club, choir, sports, DofE. Because it's a smaller school she had the opportunity to really get involved in things and get experiences such as deputyship/captaincy etc for her CV when applying for 6th form and Uni.
Abbotts doesn't have a 6th form so DD transferred to local state secondary for A levels (good experiences there also - an opportunity to learn to fit in with new group of people) and made good friends, some of whom she is at Uni with. Many Abbotts girls go to the boys school or girls school in St Albans for Alevels.
Good luck with your DDs schol transfer :)

St George's is a day and boarding school in Harpenden. I think there is a requirement for church attendance at Yr 7 entry (though no for 6th form entry though)

Over half the day girls come to Q on School Transport. They have a fleet of something like 15 cars! Definitely "normal" for Q

Many thanks!!

I believe the transportation service at Q is £10 per journey each way. So £100 a week if you use it every day but it is door to door.

My daughter will be starting at Q in 2020 fingers crossed. We are further away than St Albans but still in the transportation range. We have chosen to flexi board three or four nights a week instead though to minimise the travel but also to really take advantage of everything they have to offer outside school. Boarding works out cheaper than the transportation in Y7 & 8. Of course they are trying to attract more to board by offering a financial incentive, but I think you would really miss out if you are always a day girl there (note that most sixth formers board - they build up nights away over their time there).

To be honest, Abbots Hill is a lovely school, full of lovely girls in lovely grounds. It feels very finishing school in nature though and the fact that it doesn’t have a sixth form puts me off considerably. It is very nurturing and pastoral care is hot but it doesn’t seem to have much oooommmph.

St Albans is a fantastic school for the right girl. You do need to be extremely academic to survive though. Even if you are top sets at your current school, many girls find themselves towards the bottom of the class once there. Pace of learning is high and girls beyond motivated. Head is great. Downsides are the playing fields aren’t on site and it’s drama isn’t particularly stellar.

Which led us to Queenswood where DD can be towards the top of the class, great drama and music, sports out of this world, nurturing and motivating and giving the benefits of boarding but without Saturday school. Nearby for us to attend parent socials and school events. I am sold in every aspect.

Sorry missed your day/boarder question.
They're great at integration of day and boarding.

They are actually now restructuring the school and they are having section bases, and competitive houses, (separate to the Boarding Houses.)

So your Year 7 girl will be part of Lower School (Y7&8) The section is based in the Lower School Boarding House where all y7&y8 will go for meetings, registration, study, events etc.
But she will be part of a House for competitions which will have girls from Y7-UVI (if that makes sense)

They really encourage day and boarding integration with the sleepovers, flexible boarding (anything from 1 night to full boarding) and events as year groups / Sections.

There no distinction between day girls and boarders in the way they are treated or seen in the school. All girls are expected to contribute fully to the School :)

Thanks for info Zodlebud, that’s v useful. £20 each way is only £2 more than the Abbots bus journey which is not door to door!!

Your comments about the High Sch echo what I’ve been told and as ever, it’s v much child dependent and some girls would thrive in that but I’m not sure mine would.

Thanks Piemonster, that’s extremely helpful and I’m grateful for the info.

I must say I do love the idea of the school-I’m taking my daughter to the open day at the end of Sept I suspect she will love it too. Abbots is on the same day so hopefully we will have a better idea after that.

Thanks for all the info x

I wouldn't say the High School is "extremely academic" ... and the entrance maths certainly is not hard if you listen to my DD, who is not good at maths, but walked it from state primary.

Piemonster: The y7 and y8 girls at Q used to be in Trew House for boarding and were allocated a senior House on arrival for sport, house competitions etc. What Zodlebud describes is no change from our experience, although that’s a bit dated now!

Any bright girl can do very well at Q academically. It offers a broad education and the Drama is always first class. So is the sport. The drama scholarships are fiercely competitive though. You have to be good because many girls are there for the drama. They also attract gifted musicians. My DD1 went with grade 3 distinction in 2 instruments but that was way off scholarship level. However there are so many opportunities to progress and the singing opportunities are very good too. My DD still does choral singing as a result of singing at Q and from no formal singing at all before she went, she progressed to grade 8 in two singing exams. The breadth of extra curricular is impressive and girls really throw themselves into house competitions. The school is small enough for talent to be nurtured and rewarded.

A number of parents chose Q over St Albans years ago because they thought St Albans was giving the impression that girls were lucky to be there. I think Q has a reputation of being welcoming.

I think there is an advantage to starting out in a school with a 6th form. No grammar school stops at y11, so no academic independent school should in my view. At Q, some girls do leave, and the numbers vary year on year, but you can progress seemlessly into the 6th form and are not forced to look elsewhere because there is no 6th form. You know the teachers and they know you.

Many girls are ambitious at Q and girls really do make lasting friendships. Do go and have a look.

What happened to Pipers, Zodlebud?

The little one a moved into Stamp a few years ago, they refurbished the building to be just Lower School accommodation.

The change in the boarding house and competitive house systems is starting in September.=)

Pipers is second choice Bubbles if we can’t afford the Q fees!!!!!!!!

Interestingly the head at Pipers came from Queenswood. Very similar vibe.