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What it's like

Its origins date to the pre-Norman monastic school which, by 1100, occupied buildings near its present site and was controlled by the Abbot of St Albans. In c.1570 Elizabeth I granted it a charter and late in the 19th century it moved into the Abbey Gateway. Girls have been accepted in the sixth form since 1991. The school is now on an urban site, but extensive playing fields and a pavilion recently opened on a 45-acre site on the outskirts of the town. The school comprises a mixture of buildings dating from the late Middle Ages to the 1990s, and is well equipped with modern facilities. Academic standards are high and examination results very good. It has flourishing music, art and drama departments, a good range of sport and games and a thriving CCF. A good deal of use is made of its field study centre in South Wales. A big commitment to local community services, and a good record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 11-18, 780 day pupils (736 boys, 44 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade B (grade A in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. Significant state school entry at 11 and 16, few at 13. Pupils are drawn from a range of schools at all entry ages.

Scholarships & bursaries

16+ pa scholarships, value 10%-50% fees: 12 academic, 2+ music and 2+ art (4 at 11, 8 at 13 and 4+ at 16). Approx 10 pa bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; £25 maximum extras.

Head & staff

Headmaster: Andrew Grant, in post since 1993. Educated at Southend High School and Cambridge University (English). Previously Second Master at Royal Grammar, Guildford, and Head of English at Whitgift. Teaching staff: 70 full time, 6 part time. Annual turnover 10%. Average age 43.

Exam results

GCSE: On average, 135 pupils in fifth, all of whom gain at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 125 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects with an average final point score of 429.

Pupils' destinations

99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (12% after a gap year), 4% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 29% in science and engineering, 7% in law and business management, 51% in humanities and social sciences, 4% in art and design, 4% other subjects (such as sports science, film and TV, business studies). A few typically go into management training in the financial sector.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 27 AS-level subjects, 25 A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, all take AS-level general studies. 45% take science A-levels; 42% arts/humanities; 13% both. Key skills integrated into courses. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision for mild dyslexia. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level (French or German compulsory to GCSE). Regular exchanges; work experience in France. Satellite TV in all classrooms. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 180 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day) all networked and with internet access.

The arts

Music: 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including wind bands, string groups, rock bands, jazz bands, choir, chamber orchestra. Drama: Drama offered; GCSE and A-level drama may be taken. Large number of pupils involved in all productions; main school production each December. Art and design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Photography, printmaking including etching also offered.

Sports & activities

Sport: Compulsory sports (at various stages): rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis, badminton, gymnastics, basketball, football, volleyball, cross-country, softball, health-related fitness, table tennis. Optional: golf, mountaineering, sailing, squash, swimming, karate, aerobics and netball. Regular national representatives in cross-country; regional reps in cricket and rugby; county reps in rugby, football, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis, badminton, golf, swimming, cross-country. Major rugby, cross-country, cricket and hockey tours. Activities: Pupils must choose one of 4 options for 2 years at age 15: Duke of Edinburgh's Award (silver and gold), CCF, community service, conservation. Up to 18 clubs, including orienteering, choral society, bridge, chess, debating, table tennis, skiing, basketball, drama, jazz.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn; smart business clothes in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head of school - appointed by the Headmaster after consultation with staff and sixth form. Religion: Non-denominational. Compulsory services in Abbey, unless parents request otherwise. Social: Joint theatrical productions, oratorios, general studies, community service camp, debates with other local schools. Skiing trips; mountaineering trips; exchanges to France, Germany and the USA; classics trips to Italy and Greece; sports tours to Holland, West Indies, Argentina, New Zealand. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school (no parking on site for students' cars or motorbikes). Meals self-service. School shop.

Discipline

Pupils caught smoking cannabis on the premises could expect expulsion.

Association of former pupils

The Old Albanians, c/o development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk (www.oaconnect.co.uk)

Former pupils

Professor Lord (Colin) Renfrew (archaeologist); Professor Stephen Hawking (physicist); Tim Rice (lyricist); Nicholas Breakspeare (Pope Adrian IV); James Shirley (playwright); Mike Newell (film director, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).