St Albans girls independent school

[Lovelylva]

Hello

This year 2018 , St Albans GCSE results have dropped ...! Does anyone have a clue , change in principal ?
Any mums here from the school?
Daughter will be starting this year year 7 , I am worried?

You are worried by 96% of all grades being A*-B or numerical equivalent?

I think you need to get a grip.

Hi
Thanks for replying back.
Fast few yrs A* was in range of 68%
This year 53%...
That’s a bit worrying..
Options welcome
Thanks

Grade boundaries have changed and there is now the mixture of numbers and letters.

You also have to allow for some years being better than others in terms of the girls there. An extremely high percentage of girls are getting the very top grades at this school. I honestly don’t see why you are worried. The teaching is superb and the top academic girls fly there. The most able have secured a full set of the highest grades.

You only need worry if your daughter has been heavily tutored to get in. She may struggle to keep up but that’s an ability issue and not anything to do with the school, it’s teaching or the head.

If your daughter is academic then she will fly here and walk away with top grades. You are honestly worrying about nothing.

Plus what do you mean about options? Would you honestly consider not sending her to one of the top academic girls schools in the country and finding somewhere else with a week to go before the start of term?

Hello zoodlebud

Do you know anyone going to St Albans school ?
Thanks

Yes. My friends have three girls in the sixth form, one going into Y10, two into Y8 and one who failed to get in at 11+ but is joining the school at 13+ in Y9.

All their parents are extremely happy with the school. The girls are very academic and thriving apart from one of the girls who has just finished Y7. She is very bright - top of the class at her previous school (not the Wheathampstead Prep), but has struggled. She is a real perfectionist and isn’t coping well with being towards the bottom of the class in some subjects. The school have been supportive but Y8 is going to be a sink or swim year for her and she will be moved to a less academic school for Y9 onwards unless things improve.

She was tutored for the entrance tests (she wanted to be with her sister) and whilst arguably she may well put the same pressures on herself at any other school, it won’t be compounded by being in such an academic and high achieving environment.

It is by far and above the best school in the area for the very clever girl. If your daughter is bright then she will thrive there and you really have absolutely nothing to worry about.

If you are only considering top grades as a measure of success then Haberdasher Aske would be a better fit.

Many many thanks for your input and time
It's very reassuring

Can I just add that a change of Head rarely makes any difference to results. They don’t teach. The only possible difference they could make is be so dire that teachers leave. This would be rare. Bright children can do well in a range of schools and do not have to be taught with the super bright. Many schools can get excellent results from bright pupils and you get a bit less angst in some and even a broader educational experience.