Drug problem at Aldenham school

[Jessica1975]

Hello there. I’m considering swinging my DD to Aldenham senior school in Hertfordshire in 2024. She’s currently in year 5 at primary. However there appears to be many rumours regarding an underlying drug culture there. Whilst I appreciate every school has its challenges, i have heard this from a number of sources. I just wanted to get some feedback if anyone had heard the same. Thanks for your time all.

it’s most probably true. I pulled my child out of this school- the children are not how i want my child to be. They are very monied and generally not nice kids at all.

Hi, I am interested to know more about Aldenham. I have heard the kids are quite spoilt. I'd be interested to hear if you would recommend your new school instead?

The families we know with kids there are very happy with the school, but in fairness they are very wealthy families with multiple kids at private schools.

I feel that the further out in hertfordshire schools - the people are less materialistic and so are their children. The North London kids and around that Elstree area seem very materialistic and more into shopping, designer gear, drugs when their kids have too much money in their hands.

It's not generally known as an academic school that's difficult to get into so it will bring quite monied kids as most people in that situation just go state. Aldenham is also in an area with a lot of footballers and TV people as it's close to Elstree studios and football training grounds etc so there's a lot of new money which explains the flashiness. It's not a old money traditional cohort of kids where that flashiness may be seen as a bit cringe or distasteful.
Saying that, I don't think these two factors necessarily mean it's filled with drugs but all schools with a wealthy demographic have this issue, esp ones with parents who are often absent which is a prolific issue in the old money circles as well. You just need to go see it. If you'd be happy with your teen dressing, talking and behaving like the kids you see on the tour or open morning than go for it. Your input is minimal once they're at that age, esp at a school with days as long as Aldenham.