St Albans School
St Albans School
Org 1: HMC
Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts AL3 4HB
Telephone: 01727 855521
Age Range: Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only
Gender: Boys + 6th Form Girls
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE, IGCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Music, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Choral
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award
Scholarships and bursaries – further details
For further information please visit: www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
St Albans School is among the most ancient educational foundations in the world and can trace its history back to its foundation in 948AD. The School is a multi-dimensional institution: academic excellence, intellectual development and strong pastoral care lie at the core of an exceptional holistic education, enabling us to identify and nurture each pupil’s potential. Our fundamental and unremitting focus on our pupils’ wellbeing gives them the self-confidence and self-belief to do, and to give of, their best. Inspirational teaching ensures strong intellectual development, while outstanding provision and achievements in the wider curriculum enrich each pupil’s experience. Our pupils develop important values, qualities and skills, as well as learning an awareness and understanding of the wider world as they determine the contribution they intend to make to it in their adult lives. Significant emphasis is placed on wellbeing and pastoral care (organised by section and year group): the warmth and friendliness of the School community is one of its great strengths and most distinctive features. The School’s vision is to help each pupil flourish intellectually and personally, developing self-knowledge and self-confidence in order to find meaning and purpose in life.
Buildings. For 300 years the School flourished in the Lady Chapel of the Abbey, until in 1870 it moved to occupy the Great Gateway of the Abbey and the beautiful adjacent site overlooking the remains of the Roman City of Verulamium. The building is of considerable historic and architectural interest, where teaching of History still continues today. The School's historical links with the Abbey have naturally helped to shape its character. There have been extensive additions made to the campus in recent years including the addition of the superb Art school, Sixth Form Centre and a suite of classrooms, and the impressive Sports Centre with a 25-metre pool and 35-metre sports hall.
The School’s Mathematics and CCF building, the Corfield Building, opened in January 2020 and includes a CCF shooting range and a two-storey Maths Faculty. In 2020 new impressive Computer Science laboratories opened followed by open-plan Science laboratories in 2021.
The Music Department, housed in its own Music School, includes a Chamber Music performing space complete with a Steinway Grand piano, a state-of-the-art recording studio, nine practice rooms and a large ensemble rehearsal room.
The School has close historical and musical ties with the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban. By permission of the Dean, assembly takes place twice weekly in the nave, where the School Choir sings regularly and an annual concert is performed there in collaboration with St Albans High School for Girls.
Admission. The majority of boys enter at the age of 11 (Year 7) or 13 (Year 9). There is a further admission at 16+ into the Sixth Form when girls are also admitted; candidates are accepted occasionally at other ages. For the main entry at age 11, an Assessment Day is held in January, For 13+ entry into Year 9, boys sit either the 12+ or 13+ Assessment. Unconditional offers of places are made at the 12+ Assessment in the May of Year 7, with the remainder of places for Year 9 being offered in the January of Year 8 through the 13+ Assessment.
Fees per term (2024-2025) from January 2025. £9,382 inc VAT at 20%.
Bursaries and scholarships. Assistance with tuition fees may be available in cases of proven need from the School’s own endowments. Such bursaries are conditional upon an annual means test and will be awarded according to a balance of merit and need.
Numerous Academic scholarships are awarded on academic merit at each age of entry. At 11+ entry, Choral, Music and Academic scholarships are available. At 13+ entry, Art, Music, Sport and Academic scholarships are available. At 16+ entry to the Sixth Form, Academic and Music scholarships are available to external candidates only. Sport scholarships are available from September 2025.
Curriculum. In Years 7–9, all pupils study Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Religious Studies, French and Latin. Students choose an additional two languages from German, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. The timetable also includes Art, Drama, Music, Computer Science and Design and Technology. At GCSE Maths, English Language and Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are compulsory subjects and pupils can select four further options. In the Sixth Form, pupils study four subjects at A level from the start of the Lower Sixth Form. Most students will continue with three of these chosen subjects in the Upper Sixth Form, along with an Extended Project.
Co-curricular activities. There are 200 clubs and societies available which cater for all interests. Musical activities are many and varied and include regular concerts and recitals by the School Choir, Choral Society and ensembles and by professional artists. Plays are produced three or four times a year, and there is ample opportunity for creative work in the Art school and the Design Technology Centre. There is a strong contingent of the CCF with sections representing the Army and RAF. Many pupils join the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and do various forms of social service and conservation work in and around St Albans. The School owns a Field Centre in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, which is used for curricular and co-curricular trips during term time and school holidays.
Games. The School competes at a high level in Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Cross-country, Swimming, Tennis, Athletics, Netball and Lacrosse, in addition to a range of other sports including Football, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Basketball, Badminton, Golf, Skiing and Table Tennis. The School’s Sports Centre offers a swimming pool, sports hall, fitness centre and studio and climbing wall. The School also owns the Woollam Playing Fields, comprising an Astroturf all-weather pitch and a superb state-of-the-art pavilion, 6 laser levelled rugby pitches, 7 football pitches and 8 cricket squares (5 grass and 3 all-weather). A video of Woollams’ facilities can be viewed on the School’s website. There are good links with Saracens RUFC, whose training is based at the Woollam playing fields.
Pupils are transported to Woollam’s for Games and Co-Curricular sport daily and the School also utilises local facilities in the adjacent Verulamium Park for athletics, cross country and golf. Within the games programme the school looks to provide competitive sport options alongside more activities focused on engagement and encouraging lifelong leisure participation.
Charitable status. St Albans School is Registered Charity, number 1092932, and a Company Limited by Guarantee, number 4400125.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
Chairman: Mr N Osborn, MA Oxon
Vice Chairs: Miss A Philpott and Mrs C Pomfret, MA Oxon, ACA
Lt Col M W S Cawthorne, RM (retd.)
Mrs F Lightowler
Prof J P Luzio, MA, PhD, FMedSci
Ms C Millington, BSc
Mr N C Moore, LLB, MA, CNAA
Mr C Oglethorpe, BCom
Mr B C Walker, BA, PGCE, CELTA
Mr A Woodgate, BA, MRICS
Advisory Panel:
Mr P G Brown
Mr O King, MRICS
Ms B Mehta-Parmar
Dr F I Osuagwu, MBBS, MRCGP, FRCOG, PGC MedEd
Mrs C Preston, BSocSc
Mr P M Rattle, BA
Mr L Sinclair, BSc, MRICS
Mr M Sutton, BA, FCA, FRSA
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors: Mr R J Hepper, MA Cantab, FCA
Staff:
Headmaster: Mr J T Silvester, BA, MA
Second Master: Ms M Jones, BSc
Deputy Head – Academic: Mr D Sabato, BA
Deputy Head – Staff: Mr G D Nichols, BA, MEd
Head of Sixth Form: Mr G J Walker, MA Cantab, FRSA
Head of Middle School and Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr C C Johnston, MA, FRGS
Assistant Head – Co-Curricular and Head of Third Form: Mr G S Burger, HDip Ed SA, MEd
Head of Lower School: Mrs R C Harris, MA Oxon
Assistant Head – Higher Education and Careers: Dr R G Hacksley, BA, FRSA
Assistant Head – Data and Curriculum: Dr J H Saunders, MA Cantab, PGDip GSMD
Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications: Mrs J L Morrison, BA
A full staff list is available on our website: www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/about-us.