ST ALBANS VS HABS (13+ BOY)

[Mumooooof1]

My son has offers from 13+ from John Lyon Habs and St albans. He is quite sporty but quite academic and enjoys extra curriculur activities. What can you tell me about the schools and which is best for an all rounder.

Hi OP, congrats to your DS.

We also have offers for Habs and St Albans, though for 11+ rather than 13+, and are weighing them up. From our limited experience of school interactions, speaking to friends with boys at both schools, looking at stats etc, my read on it is that Habs is more academic (though it's the difference between an academic school and a very academic school - really it's fairly marginal), St Albans is more traditional (slightly narrower options choices, rugby rather than football focus, significant 13+ intake from preps, drama and music are more traditional in approach), Habs facilities are better and on one site but St Albans still has pretty impressive facilities including Woollams, and is less isolated in terms of being part of a small city. Habs has better parking facilities for those driving there! All differences seem quite small to be honest. We know boys who are happy at both. Those particularly talented at sport (not my DS!) seem exceptionally happy at St Albans.

For us the choice is likely to come down to ease of commute.

Good luck in your choice!