St Albans High School for Girls is a selective,

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

day

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

for

girl A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary ...

s aged 4 – 18 years, which is affiliated to the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

and takes girls of all faiths or none. There are approximately 328 pupils in the preparatory school with 900 in the

senior school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

and 186 sixth formers.

History

Founded in 1889, the high school has close links with the Diocese of St Albans through the bishop, who is visitor to the school, and the dean, who is honorary vice-chair of the governing body. The high school moved from its original site on Holywell Hill to its current location on Townsend Avenue in 1908. The preparatory school took up residence at Wheathampstead House in 2003. Founders' Day is the school's annual celebration of its beginnings. Old Girls, governors and other members of the school community are invited to a dedicated service in the cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban to commemorate the founders with current students and staff.

Preparatory school

The preparatory school, St Albans High School Prep, is situated in 18 acres of parkland in the village location of Wheathampstead. The extensive site includes play areas, an adventure playground, woods and an outdoor learning classroom. There is an extensive range of extra-curricular activities.

Senior school

The senior school and sixth form is in St Albans and facilities include an indoor swimming pool and fitness suite, a dedicated music school, Ringwood and a new performing arts centre and design & technology block. The school’s large playing fields include tennis courts, lacrosse pitches and a new sports pavilion. Sixth formers also have exclusive access to the onsite Starbucks style cafe. Pupils are prepared for GCSE and IGCSE examinations at the age of 16, for

A Level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

examinations, for Oxford and Cambridge entrance and for the examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music along with Trinity Guildhall. Girls throughout the school have the opportunity to take speech and drama lessons in small groups in preparation for a variety of LAMDA examinations.

House system

At St Albans High School there are 4

houses A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

: * Julian ** Named after: Lady

Juliana Berners Juliana Berners, O.S.B., (or Barnes or Bernes) (born 1388), was an English writer on heraldry, hawking and hunting, and is said to have been prioress of the Priory of St Mary of Sopwell, near St Albans in Hertfordshire. Life and Work Very lit ...

, a 15th-century prioress of

Sopwell Nunnery Sopwell Priory (also known as Sopwell Nunnery) was a Benedictine nunnery founded around 1140 on the site of an ancient hermitage in Sopwell, Hertfordshire, England. After the Dissolution, the priory was torn down and a Tudor manor house constructe ...

, famous for her learning ** Colour: red ** Mascot: raven * Paris ** Named after:

Matthew Paris Matthew Paris, also known as Matthew of Paris ( la, Matthæus Parisiensis, lit=Matthew the Parisian; c. 1200 – 1259), was an English Benedictine monk, chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey ...

, a monk of St Albans Abbey in the 13th century and well known for his chronicle of local events ** Colour: blue ** Mascot: fleur-de-lis * Mandeville ** Named after: Sir

John Mandeville Sir John Mandeville is the supposed author of ''The Travels of Sir John Mandeville'', a travel memoir which first circulated between 1357 and 1371. The earliest-surviving text is in French. By aid of translations into many other languages, the ...

, associated with a book of travels in the 14th century ** Colour: green ** Mascot: dragon * Verulam ** Named after: Sir

Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), also known as Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon led the advancement of both ...

, first Earl of Verulam, philosopher and writer ** Colour: yellow ** Mascot: lamp

Notable alumni

Rimla Akhtar Rimla Akhtar (born 1982/83) is a British businesswoman and sports administrator, who champions inclusivity in sport. She was the first person who publicly identified themselves as an Asian, Muslim woman on the Football Association Council. She has ...

, businesswoman and champion of inclusivity in sport * Anne Buck (1910–2005), cultural historian and curator of dress *

Helen Ekins Helen Ekins (9 November 1879 – 4 June 1964) was a British horticulturist and educational administrator associated with Studley College which trained women in agriculture, in Warwickshire. Life Ekins was born in St Albans. Her parents were Eliz ...

, horticulturalist *

Tristia Harrison Tristia Adele Harrison (nee Clark, born February 1973) is a British businesswoman, the CEO of TalkTalk Group since May 2017. Early life She was born Tristia Clark, and grew up in Radlett. She was educated at Watford Grammar School for Girls an ...

, CEO TalkTalk *

Jane Hawking Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking Jones (born 29 March 1944) is an English author and teacher. She was married to Stephen Hawking for 30 years. Early life and education Jane was born to George and Beryl Wilde (). She grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire ...

, author and academic * Stephen Hawking was educated at the school between 1950-1953. Then, unlike today, boys were educated at the school until the age of ten. *

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema ...

, stage and film actress *

Claire Horwell Claire Judith Horwell is a professor of Geohealth in the Department of Earth Sciences and Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience at Durham University and the founding Director of the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN). She stu ...

, professor of geohealth

Notes and references

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Albans High School for Girls Girls' schools in Hertfordshire Private schools in Hertfordshire Educational institutions established in 1889 1889 establishments in England Schools in St Albans Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association