Abbots Hill/St Columbas - back up options in St Albans

[ICouldBeVioletSky]

Hello, we live in St Albans and will be applying to St Albans High school for our Y5 DD to start in 2026. We also liked Berkhamsted Girls' school which we'd been planning as a backup. However, both schools use the ISEB common pre-test so we've all our eggs in one basket and could be in difficulties if she has a bad day with it.
So, thinking we need a Plan C, we're wondering about:

• St Columbas. We looked round last year, liked the prep school but thought the senior school was only so-so (though some of the teachers good). Also really not keen on a religious school and despite people telling us it's not that religious, that really wasn't our impression.
• Abbot's Hill - I heard the school went through a rocky patch a few years with a dispute with the teachers about the pensions scheme which led to a number of teachers leaving. Things have hopefully calmed down but I've not found many recent reviews of the school so would welcome honest views on what it is like now.

I also wonder (based on nothing at all - me just speculating!) whether Abbot's Hill might be hit harder by the VAT on school fees, and whether as a smaller school without a 6th form its long term future may be in a bit more doubt.

They're both less academic than we'd really like - we're after somewhere fairly academic but definitely not hot-house.

As for our DD - she is a lovely, confident (but not overconfident) girl who makes friends quite easily and loves getting involved in everything - drama, sport, music, volunteering etc. So in some ways I think she'd be OK in most places, but am keen that she would get a bit of academic stretch, rather than just have a lovely time doing co-curriculars and being left to coast below her potential.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Have you had a look at Royal Masonic School for Girls (RMS)? Not pushy but gets great results considering its wide intake with lots on offer.

Thanks, but I don't think the coach service stretches far enough. Ditto St Margaret's in Bushey - while it comes to St Albans the stop is a long way from where we live so not viable.

Yes you would have to get her to Radlett. My friend's son is at Columbus and he is doing well, but there are not that many girls at all in the current year 7 at this point, which would be my concern as it's only recently gone co-ed. I can't comment on Abbots and how it's recovered I'm afraid. Sorry I can't be of more help!

Queenswood would be a perfect match but the fees are expensive. Plenty of girls live in St Albans.

Abbots Hill - please ask the right questions. They used to have about 60 girls in Y7. This year intake they only have 35. Go figure.

Berkhamsted. Everyone I know who wanted a place got one eventually. They have this ridiculous admissions process where the super bright and scholarship kids get offers in December. These are invariably kids using it as a “backup” choice. Everyone else goes on a waiting list. You don’t hear anything until National offers day and the grammar places announced and then there’s big movement. I know of someone offered in May. It’s fine if you’re happy with that but it’s very clear you are filling empty spots as opposed to the school wanting you.

Thank you for this, thats very helpful info re Abbot’s Hill (and rather confirms I was right to be a bit concerned). I can imagine with VAT on fees that more prep girls will depart for state schools at Y7. I can’t see how they can offer proper GCSE choices or co-curricular activities with only 35 in a year.

Berkhamsted - I’d heard much the same about the slightly ridiculous offer system, and lots of people using it as insurance. My only concern is that my DD somehow royally stuffs up the ISEB test and not even get invited to the next stage. If she can get through that I would expect her to sail through the assessment day and get an offer at some point.

I’ll have another look at Queenswood. I’ve heard good and slightly more mixed things but the fees are indeed eye watering even without VAT so I think it would have to be a very last resort.

I wouldn’t be so confident about sailing through the Berkhamsted assessment - last year first round offers raised a lot of eyebrows at our prep last year. Siblings didn’t get offers until 1st March in some instances and these were great all round applicants where the school was their first choice. They are definitely looking for a certain something.

My DD got an offer from STAHS, passed the Bucks 11+ with ease (no formal tutoring, just doing books at home), offers from two other independents (with a scholarship from each) but NO offer from Berkhamsted. Her prep school was flabbergasted as they thought it would be a no brainer.

That said, I know girls who didn’t get into STAHS but did get first round offers from Berkhamsted. Their children are absolutely thriving and are extremely happy there. It’s a great school for a certain child. My DD obviously doesn’t have “it” 😂😂😂

OK, I'll reword that - DD should sail through the assessment day, but I can't account for any erratic approach taken by the school! Sorry they couldn't see what a strong candidate your DD was and that does sound very odd re sibling places - I don't understand why they don't have a better feel for their acceptance rate and offer more places in December knowing that a good few will turn them down come March.

I think we'll focus on St Columba's as our back up plan (though still interested to hear any other views out there...)

@ICouldBeVioletSky We’re not at all sad about not getting a place - my DD is absolutely thriving elsewhere and it’s the perfect place for her. In hindsight Berkhamsted wouldn’t have been such a great fit so it worked out just fine. I honestly think they all end up where they are meant to be.

I think Berkhamsted has several issues with trying to predict admissions:

1. Close proximity to Bucks grammars. 70 children from Herts got out of catchment places for Sep 2024. These numbers vary wildly year on year though and with the VAT on private fees coming in it’s an unknown

2. Number of children staying on from the prep and Heatherton. The great majority stay on but some do leave to go to the grammars

3. Timing of offers from other schools. Grammar places come out on 1st March. Berkhamsted first round offers come out in December. The majority of other local independents come out in February. Nobody is going to give up their Berkhamsted place until they have heard from their first choice school. Heard on the grapevine but not sure it’s true, that only 30% of the first round offer places are taken up.

4. The school then only offers places off the waiting list as and when they arise. There’s huge movement after the grammar places are released but by then the acceptance dates to other independents have closed or are the day after. Nobody is going to risk losing a place elsewhere and just hang around waiting for an offer from Berkhamsted.

It’s all very stressful for parents and creates this false impression that it’s a highly sought after school. It’s important to understand their waiting list process though if it’s a first choice school as I don’t know anyone who wanted a spot but didn’t get in eventually.

Given you are in St Albans I would go for state back up, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t - STAGS or Sandringham in my opinion would be much stronger options than St Colombas or trekking to berkhamsted.

Definitely Queenswood. I have boys so looked round St Columbas but was really put off by the religious aspect. Also not sure it's true about the super bright and scholarships getting first offers from Berkhamsted as my DS got an offer straight away. Haha yes maybe they knew it was our back up school (maybe girls is different) We decided co-ed was the way to go though.

We are very open to STAGS, Beaumont and Sandringham and would chose them over St Columbas, but we are highly unlikely to get Beaumont (our closest) or Sandringham due to catchment/distance.

STAGS places are offered on a lottery basis and where we live we have a worse chance of getting a place than elsewhere (they prioritise people for whom it’s their closest school and it’s not our closest school). I think last year almost everyone I know who wanted a place did get one on continuing interest but I know people who missed out in previous years and also someone who had to appeal this year. So it’s not something we can count on as a dead cert.

Queenswood is now £30k plus VAT and transport and other extras! 🥴 We have a decent school fee war chest but that is too much of a stretch.

It will be interesting to see what happens at Abbot’s Hill I think - they’ve joined the Mill Hill Foundation which will - hopefully for them - bring some stability / financial security - I doubt MH would have taken it on if they didn’t have a long term plan…. My children didn’t go there but I have lots of friends whose children were very happy there. Worth keeping an eye on I’d suggest….

Thanks @HertsMumOf3 I’d not heard that. I do worry about the reduction in pupil numbers mentioned by a pp though - even if it’s stable and sustainable for them I think I’d prefer somewhere bigger, with a wider range of subjects, clubs and teams etc on offer.

We are now thinking Loreto (state girls’ Catholic) might be our back up, not words I ever thought I’d write! The faith aspect is off-putting but it would be walkable, we would get in and I’ve had some good feedback from parents.

I asked St Columbas about how many girls now attend the school and the figures sound pretty low - my daughter has given it a flat “no” saying she’s happy with only a fully co-ed school or all-girls.

@DibbleDooDah Really interesting to read all you found out in your school search. So glad to hear after everything your DD is thriving - what were the key things that made your final decision on choice of school?

@Travel6000 100% gut reaction. It’s hard to ignore league tables, reputation and the thoughts of others, but ultimately it was where my DDs “lit up”. We just couldn’t imagine them anywhere else, and it has proven to be absolutely the right decision.

We also looked very closely at the individual needs of our children. It’s all very well and good choosing a sporty school, but if your child’s main passion is dance or football but the school doesn’t offer it then it’s all irrelevant.

I am a great believer that if your child is happy then they will do their best in that environment.

Thanks - certainly a lot to think about!

My daughter goes to Abbot's Hill and it has been a great school for her - she joined in year 4 after we felt she wasn't coming out of her shell or being recognised at her previous school. She is now doing really well both academically and in sport (swimming, running and netball). She's been doing the LAMDA club and has gone from someone who would shy away in school assemblies to having a major part in the school play.

It has a bit of a reputation for being strong on pastoral support and less focussed on academic excellence but I don't think this is really the case. My daughter is in middle set for most things and still scores well above the national average in her end of year tests. I think they are just good at undertstanding the individual child and getting the best out of them.

I'm not sure about the situation with pupil numbers - they have joined the Mill Hill School's group as @HertsMumOf3 says and are apparently moving to co-ed from September.