Habs Girls Elstree: a selective day school on a large shared campus

A girls’ school with planned contact across the campus

Habs Girls and Habs Boys remain separate schools, sharing a campus, governing board and transport network. They collaborate on selected activities from the younger years. The Junior pages describe shared play, music, workshops and events; the pattern changes as pupils get older.

In Sixth Form, every student takes at least one A level in a mixed class, potentially at either school. Other teaching may remain within the Girls’ school.

For a family wanting girls’ teaching with regular opportunities to mix, this may be appealing. A family wanting fully coeducational classes from Year 7 should compare a different model. Our St Albans School guide explains its phased move to mixed entry.

Make sure breadth leaves space for the subjects she loves

The live curriculum page describes one modern language in Year 7 with an optional second from Year 8. The Curriculum Policy still linked by the school, reviewed in Autumn 2025, instead describes starting one language in Year 7 and then choosing another to study through Year 9. Ask which arrangement applies to September 2027, which choices are made before entry and whether a language can be changed later.

GCSE core subjects include English Language and Literature, Maths, science, a modern language and a humanity. Options and science routes affect the number of further choices.

Sixth Form offers three or four A levels alongside the Habs Diploma. Its research, electives and service can give a pupil ways to explore beyond exam courses.

Follow the day all the way to the journey home

The Senior timetable begins with registration at 08:35 and finishes lessons at 16:00. Lunch and activities occupy 12:40–13:55. Main coaches depart at 16:15, afternoon activities run until 17:15 and late coaches leave at 17:30.

A long lunch can make room for music or a club without a late return every day. Ask your daughter to sketch a plausible week with two favourite activities, homework and rest. Check which activities are open to beginners, which require selection and whether they clash.

The joint coach network serves Hertfordshire and North London; the school says around 70% use it. Routes, fares and capacity vary, and the late coach may use a different stop. Confirm the real pickup and arrival times before assuming Elstree is an easy journey.

Reception–Year 2 supervised Hub transport has extra conditions. Young pupils cannot use the late service; Reception begins transport in week two, and supervision can occasionally be unavailable at short notice. A working family needs a realistic backup.

Ask how the school would support this particular child

The current SEND policy describes classroom adaptations, screening and some individual or small-group help. Habs is explicit that it is not a specialist provider and does not offer regular specialist SEND teaching. External assessments or additional provision may cost parents extra.

Give full written details of SEND or disability at the point of application, as the policy requires. Entrance-assessment evidence must arrive by the deadline given by the school.

Access arrangements must reflect the pupil’s normal way of working. From Year 9, formal assessment evidence is required alongside school evidence. An exam adjustment alone does not explain classroom provision.

The linked EAL policy remains older, with a Summer 2026 review due date. Most pupils described as EAL are fluent multilingual children. Applicants need English sufficient for the mainstream curriculum; additional or private support may be advised in individual cases.

The pastoral structure includes tutors, year and section leaders, nurses and counsellors. Year 7 newcomers have a Year 8 “amiga” and Sixth Form support.

What the inspection adds to the strong exam results

The February 2025 ISI report found all relevant standards met, effective safeguarding and strong teaching and support. It also asked for more consistent Senior tutoring and better monitoring of older pupils’ participation in activities and leadership.

Those recommendations make useful visit questions. A broad programme is most valuable when pupils can actually find their way into it.

School-published 2026 GCSE results show 45% grade 9 and 73% grades 8–9. The A-level results show 37% A* and 73% A*–A. The announcements lack total candidate and entry counts; they show high attainment, not a forecast for your daughter.

Habs has a Christian foundation alongside a diverse community and multi-faith provision. School labels alone do not describe every child’s daily experience.

What the bill includes—and what to add to it

The 2026–27 tariff includes VAT. These are planning figures; September 2027 fees are not yet published.

Junior lunch is included. Senior and Sixth Form lunch costs £5.50 a day when taken. The device scheme is £168 per term for Years 7–11 and Year 13; Year 12 is unclear on the fee page.

Year 7 tuition plus the device totals £31,797 before lunch, coach travel, uniform, trips and optional activities. Compare that full family pattern with another school. Shared transport does not mean Habs Girls and Habs Boys charge the same tuition.

The fee page contains conflicting music prices, so request the applicable lesson and hire charges. The acceptance deposit is half a term’s fee, normally credited to the final account. A full term’s written withdrawal notice or fees in lieu can apply; read the actual offer and contract before paying.

What a Habs Girls bursary can include

The bursary scheme covers Year 7 and Year 12 entrants. Some awards cover 100% of tuition; other awards cover 50–95%. Assistance with lunches, travel, academic trips and one instrument scales with the award. Full awards usually include uniform help and a device.

The 2027 application dates to put in your diary

The live admissions page publishes the following calendar. Registration is £150 for UK applicants and £200 for applicants residing overseas. Scholarship and bursary deadlines are separate from simply booking an open day.

Year 7 scholarships share the 6 November registration deadline; bursaries close 19 November 2026. Sixth Form scholarships close 19 October and bursaries 29 October 2026. The current policy says the school requests a written reference or report at every entry point.

The 11+ gives your child room to write as well as reason

The September 2026 admissions policy confirms the paper-based QUEST structure shared with Habs Boys. The live page gives four sections: Maths/non-verbal reasoning, 45 minutes; English/verbal reasoning, 40; creative comprehension, 20; and creative writing, 20.

English and Maths draw on Key Stage 2. The relevant multiple-choice elements reward secure understanding, but the creative sections also require ideas and expression. Habs links its own familiarisation material and supplies the permitted writing materials. Check the invitation for what to bring.

Some ordinary preparation might be reading together, discussing the evidence for an answer and writing a short scene with time to revise. For example, ask your daughter to show that a character is nervous without using the word “nervous”. This is our practice suggestion, not a Habs question. See the writing companion for worked examples.

Around half of first-round candidates return for interview. No books, projects or schoolwork need to be brought. Parents meet the Headmistress and a senior colleague separately. Be ready to discuss interests, support needs and why this particular school day appeals to your family.

The number of Year 7 places needs confirmation: the live page gives 80–85, while the current policy says about 60–70. Neither should become a confident statement of 2027 external capacity. Ask which figure applies and whether it includes any internal or preferential pathway places.