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South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:45 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
I'm pretty sure I've been thorough but in case I'd missed something. Is there an 11-18 or a prep school that has an intake at 11 until 13 in South Herts that has no Saturday school and relatively short days - by 4:30pm at the latest? Oh, and that's not super selective or a hot house! :roll:

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:16 pm
by new2me
Prep to 13 - Beechwood Park, north of St Albans but operates a coach service, Aldwickbury in Harpenden.

St Columba's College in St Albans, not selective but does well considering the intake and has been known to turn around boys who have struggled to settle in more competitive environments.

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:16 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
I really like the look of Aldwickbury but it finishes at 5:30pm which is too late for us. :( Does anyone have an opinion on Westbrook Hay and how small the class sizes become after the girls leave at 11?

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:27 pm
by Daogroupie
Shame about Aldwickbury. It is a great school and major feeder into St Albans. They have a gentlemans agreement apparently. Is 5.30 compulsory for every boy? No leeway for the musicians? Have you looked at Heath Mount near Hertford? Major feeder into Haileybuy and there is also Duncombe also Hertford and Lockinver in Potters Bar. DG

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:36 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
I think all except Lochinver end at 11 and we need an 11+ or 11-13 but I'll recheck.

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:50 pm
by Guest55
Are you looking at Lochinvar? There is a new HT who seems highly regarded.

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:52 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
Guest55 wrote:Are you looking at Lochinvar? There is a new HT who seems highly regarded.
I am looking at it but it feels very academic. It may not be and DS may end up coping but I don't want him to struggle at the bottom of the class.

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:53 pm
by Daogroupie
Heath Mount def goes up to 13. It is also mixed. DG

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:39 pm
by zorro
I looked at Lochinver as a back up in case DS didn't get into Aldenham after we had a knock back from Habs.
I thought it was superb. The headmaster was lovely and gave me a lot of his time reassuring me about many things. If DS hadn't got in at Aldenham
I would not have hesitated in sending him to Lochinver for 2 years. In actual fact if he had gone , I think he would have got in anywhere at 13+ - after 2 years teaching there.
They are very academic but there was a lovely atmosphere and the boys that showed me around who were in Y8 were very confident and cheerful and obviously were very happy at the school. I remember one had got in at Habs and one at St Alban's.

Re: South Herts independent schools.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:07 pm
by Waiting_For_Godot
Thanks Zorro, I'll definitely look more seriously then as its timings would work out better for DS.