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Aldenham School 埃尔登姆学校, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ
Website: www.aldenham.com
• BOYS, MIXED SIXTH, Boys 11–18, Girls 16–18, Day & Boarding (full & weekly) and Dayboarding
• Pupils 463, Upper sixth 50
• Termly fees £3083–£4484 (Day), £4616–£6499 (Boarding), £3867–£5367 (Dayboard)
• HMC
• Enquiries/application to the Admissions Secretary

What it’s like
The school was founded in 1597 by Richard Platt, a brewer. It occupies its original site, which has since been extended to more than 100 acres of grounds and farm land, in the Hertfordshire green belt 12 miles from London. The school has firm ties with the Worshipful Company of Brewers. The Elizabethan school was demolished in 1825. The buildings that replaced it have been upgraded and added to constantly, most recently a new prep school, a music school and floodlit artificial turf pitch, so as to maintain up-to-date, fully-equipped facilities in an historic framework. It is a Christian foundation and Christian ideals are evident in its structure and life but all denominations are welcome. A small school with a strong house structure for both boarders and day pupils, it enjoys a family atmosphere and has a reputation as a close-knit and supportive community. The school seeks the all-round development of its pupils and sets high standards of achievement and mutual responsibility. Participation in an extensive games and activities programme is encouraged. The staff:pupil ratio is better than 1:9, and no classes larger than 20.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 11–18; 463 pupils; 333 day (324 boys, 9 girls), 130 boarding (114 boys, 16 girls). Senior department 13–18, 369 pupils (344 boys, 25 girls).
Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance (at 13) and own entrance test used (at 11, 13 and 16) plus interview and school reports. 50% of intake at 11 from state schools. Feeder schools include Edge Grove, Hendon Prep, Northwood Prep, St John's Northwood, St Martin's Northwood, York House. Also own prep school.

Scholarships & bursaries Scholarships 20–30 pa – academic, art, music (including organ), sport, design technology.

Parents 80+% live within 30 miles, 10% live overseas.

Head & staff
Headmaster: Richard Harman, in post since 2000. Educated at Kings School, Worcester, and Cambridge University (English). Previously Housemaster, Head of English at Eastbourne College and teacher of English and drama at Marlborough.
Teaching staff: 52 full time. Annual turnover 10%. Average age 37.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 71 pupils in fifth. 66% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects, 30% in 5–7 subjects. Average GCSE score 52 (51 over 5 years).
A-levels: 47 in upper sixth. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 222.

University & college entrance 86% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (21% after a gap year). 6% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 19% in science & engineering, 4% in law, 70% in humanities & social sciences, 4% in art & design. Others typically go on to art, drama or music colleges.

Curriculum GCSE, AS, A-levels and AEA. 19 GCSE subjects offered, 23 at AS/A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, general studies taught but not examined. 20% take science A-levels; 40% arts/humanities; 40% both.
Vocational: European or UK work experience compulsory.
Special provision: Extra help available, often one-to-one, for dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalcula. EFL tuition available.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level. Exchanges to France and Germany and work experience arranged for lower sixth in France, Germany and Spain.
ICT: Taught across the curriculum (eg history and geography) in Years 7–9, then 2 lessons/week. 54 computers for pupil use (12 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access. Most pupils take GCSE short course.

The arts
Music: Over 40% of pupils learn a musical instrument. Some 6 musical groups including orchestra, choir, 2 brass groups, jazz, concert band and string groups.
Drama: Drama is part of curriculum. AS and A-level theatre studies may be taken. All pupils are involved in school and house/other productions.
Art & design: On average, 21 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Design, pottery, graphic design, sculpture also offered. Regular successes to foundation courses and art school.

Sport & activities
Sport: Soccer, hockey, cricket, athletics, tennis compulsory. Optional: fives, squash, cross-country, badminton, basketball, swimming, judo, sailing, climbing, shooting, netball, rounders, trampolining. England representatives at cricket, football, hockey and judo; county and regional representatives in all main sports.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (1–2 golds on average each year). Community service optional at age 16. Up to 15 clubs, eg art, computing, motor, chess, bridge, history, law, philosophy, debating.

School life
Uniform: School uniform (unobtrusive) worn throughout.
Houses & prefects: Houses form pastoral and social structure (3 boarding, 3 day and junior house for 11–12 year olds). School prefects appointed by the Headmaster; house prefects within the house.
Religion: C of E foundation combining Christian worship and academic teaching, supplemented by a strong programme of voluntary worship. Non-Christians supported in the practice of their own religion.
Social: Involvement in local competitions, joint events etc with local schools. Trips abroad and exchange systems eg skiing, mountaineering, sailing, cricket (Barbados, Goa), geography, languages; recent expeditions to eg Kazakhstan, Honduras and USA. Upper sixth day pupils allowed to bring own car. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco allowed; sixth-form bar for over–17s.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect to be placed in detention and reported to tutor/housemaster; any involvement in illegal drugs leads to expulsion.

Boarding Pupils in fifth and sixth forms have studies, some have study bedrooms. Resident qualified nurse. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook some food. Very flexible boarding/weekly boarding arrangements and pupils can return home every weekend or board for part of the week. Dayboarders are members of boarding houses and leave for home at 9 pm each evening.

Alumni association is run by Secretary, W Rouse, c/o the school.

Former pupils The Rt Revd Colin James; The Rt Revd Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson (formerly Bishop of Exeter); The Rt Revd Peter Dawes (formerly Bishop of Derby); Field Marshal Lord Vincent; N Durden-Smith; Sir Denys Roberts; Karen Brady (MD Birmingham City FC); Sir Michael Betts; Brigadier Michael Taylor; Mr Justice Laddie; Peter Lever QC; Professor Sir Martin Sweeting; J Apthorp.