As parents, you’ll know that choosing the best private school for your child is rarely a linear decision. It’s no longer just about selecting the school with the strongest academic results, but about finding one whose ethos and personality align with your child’s strengths and learning goals.
Many top private schools across the UK offer this breadth of choice, including those in the county of Hertfordshire. Continue reading this article to learn more about the diverse range of private schools in the area that cater to a wide variety of educational preferences.
| School | Type | Best Features |
|---|---|---|
| Haberdashers' Boys' School | Boys | Top UK rankings, academics |
| St Albans School | Co-ed | Strong exam results, historic |
| St Albans High School for Girls | Girls | Elite girls' performance |
| Haileybury | Co-ed (boarding/day) | Prestigious boarding, sports |
| St Edmund's College | Co-ed | Catholic tradition, facilities |
| The Purcell School | Co-ed | Music specialist excellence |
| St Christopher School | Co-ed | Progressive, holistic education |
| St Francis' College | Girls | Nurturing academics |
| St Margaret's School | Girls | Prep to senior progression |
| Tring Park School | Co-ed | Performing arts focus |
📍Haberdashers' Boys' School
Let's begin our list with the Haberdashers' Boys' School. Founded in 1690, it shares a 100-acre co-educational campus with Haberdashers’ Girls’ School, on the grounds of Aldenham House.
Winner of the Independent School of the Year 2025 Award, this independent boys’ day school in Elstree offers a nurturing and holistic educational experience for pupils aged 4 to 18, encompassing the prep, junior, and senior schools.
Commonly known as Habs Boys, the school’s pupils are renowned for their active participation and outstanding achievements in sports and extracurricular activities. A notable example of this excellence is the school’s selection for The Cricketer Schools Guide 2026. 1
GCSE: 88.67% score 7-9
A-Level: 93.41% score A* to B
£8,413.00 - £10,423.00 (Pre-school to Sixth Form per term)
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📍St Albans School
Next, let's take a look at St Albans School. Established in 948, it is the oldest school in Hertfordshire, and one of the oldest in the world. While it is popularly known as an independent school for boys (except for the Sixth Form), it will become fully co-educational from September 2026.
With 200 clubs and societies available, the school offers an enriching opportunity for pupils to unleash their talents and potential beyond academics and classroom learning.
GCSE: 80% score 7-9
A-Level: 86% score A* to B
£9,757 per term or £29,271 per annum
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📍St Albans High School for Girls (STAHS)
Not to be confused with Stan Albans School earlier, St Albans High School for Girls (STAHS) is a private day school that was founded in 1889.
The school takes pride in its vision, values, and aims to equip female students for their next steps with ambition and curiosity. STAHS offers a vast range of cocurricular offerings from music, creative arts, sport – it's where girls' education can thrive without limitations.
GCSE: 85% score 7-9
A-Level: 72% score A* and A
£7,038 -£9,492 per term (Prep school to Sixth Form)
📍Haileybury
Located in Hertford, Haileybury is a top co-educational day and boarding school with a rich history and amazing reputation.
Founded in 1862, the school is well known for its broad academic curriculum, where pupils are given the choice between A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) for their Sixth Form studies. Haileybury also offers a vibrant and conducive boarding life experience with comprehensive pastoral care to ensure the pupils' health and well-being throughout their studies.
i(GCSE): 62% score 9/8/A*
A-Level: 83% score A*- B
Combination of A-Level and IB: 87% at A*-B
Day: £9,105- £13,700 (Lower to Senior per term)
Boarding: £12,010- £18,932 (Lower to Senior per term)
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📍St Edmund's College and Prep School
Moving on, let's learn more about St Edmund's College. Initially founded as a French seminary in 1528, the school relocated to England after the French Revolution and is the oldest post-Reformation Catholic school in the country.
It's no surprise that the school strongly advocates education for the whole person — covering intellectual, physical, emotional & spiritual aspects. Over the years, St Edmund's has consistently delivered academic strength while ensuring pupils are articulate and confident, while staying grounded in their faith.
GCSE: 85% score Grades 9-5
A-Level: 86% score A* to C
£4,240 -£7,356 (Prep to Year 6)
Day: £8,052; Boarding: 13,398 (Senior)
📍The Purcell School
If your child is talented and passionate in music, you might want to lean in to know more. The Purcell School is a specialist private music school and the oldest of its kind. A recipient of the prestigious UNESCO Mozart Medal, the school is also patronised by His Majesty King Charles III. 2
Located in Bushey, the Purcell School is renowned for its comprehensive musical and scholastic education, offering up to 11 specialisations within the music department and a diverse range of academic subjects. Aspiring young musicians from 11 to 18 (local and international students) will have lots of performing opportunities while studying here to hone their musical artistry.
GCSE & IGCSE Cumulative: 58% score 9-7
A-Level: 54% score A* - B
Day: £40,864; Boarding: £52,175 (Annual fee)
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📍St Christopher School (St Chris)
Located in Letchworth Garden City, St Christopher School is a non-selective independent day and boarding school known for its progressive educational principles, which embrace doing things differently.
Founded in 1915, the school caters to boys and girls from age 3 to 18, boasting a sprawling 25-acre campus. It is also known for its comprehensive pastoral care programs.
Fun Fact: St Chris adopts a unique and informal education ethos where students are not required to wear a school uniform, and everyone is addressed on a first-name basis.
43% of grades were 9 – 7
A-Level: 58% of grades were A* – B
Day: £5,447 - £6,814 (Junior School), £9,069 (Senior School)
Boarding: £12,296 (weekly); £15,710 (full)
📍St Francis' College
Now, let's look at St Francis' College. It is a leading all-girls independent school that is also located in Letchworth Garden City. Established in 1933, the school is academically selective but oversees its admission decisions based on students' character, curiousity and potential.
The school is also known for its state-of-the-art facilities for digital learning integration, such as creating digital classrooms, giving a personal tablet or laptop to every student from Year 5 (1: 1 device programme), and offering specialised Computer Science courses.
GCSE: 70.1% score Grade 9 – 7
A-Level: 78% score A* – B
Day: £4,874 - £8,240 per term (Reception to Year 13)
Boarding: £7,338 per term (Year 6 to Year 13)
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📍St Margaret's School
Moving on, let's talk about St Margaret's School. The school has a smaller class size, which is an ideal place for your child to enjoy more personalised learning and flourish at their own pace under experienced guidance.
St Margaret's is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for students aged 2 to 18, where academic admissions here are a combination of entrance exams, meeting with pupils, interviews, and school reports.
GCSE: 82% score 9-5
A-Level: 65% score A* to B
Day: £5,439 per term (Nursery)
£5,993- £7,404 per term (Reception to Year 6)
£8,874 per term (Year 7 to Year 13)
Full Boarding: £16,877
📍Tring Park School
Finally, we have Tring Park School, a performing arts day and boarding school for 7 to 19-year-olds. It offers a solid academic foundation for pupils who are also pursuing their dreams to become performers one day.
As soon as students reach Year 7, they get to choose their specialisation, either in Dance or Performance Foundation. From there, they can further focus on fields like Dance, Commercial Music, Musical Theatre, or Acting during their Sixth Form studies.
Important note: Admission to Tring Park School is quite competitive (1 out of 7 students), and only applicants who pass their auditions will be accepted. 3
GCSE: 84.2% score Grade 9-4
A-Level: 61% score A*-B
Day: £6,109 - £10,932 per term (Prep to Sixth Form)
Boarding: £10,695- £16,512 per term (Year Sixth to Sixth Form)
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😄 Overview: Choosing The Best Fit For Your Child
To decide which private school is the best for your child, focus on these key elements as a guideline.
📝Academic Excellence
There are different ways to define academic excellence. Here are some common parameters and examples of schools that can be paired, as we've mentioned earlier:
Broad curriculum
- Balance of academics and a specialised field like music, art
- Eg: The Purcell School
Exam Grades
- Consistent good results in GCSE, A-Level, or IB, and uni progression
- Eg: Haileybury
Progressive education
- Doesn't apply traditional teaching, but fosters innovation and creativity
- Eg: St Christopher School
🎻Extracurricular Opportunities
Next, you should look at the range of extracurricular offerings of each school and match it to your child's passions and strengths. Here's a table to show an overview of each school's highlights:
| School | Top Extracurriculars (Highlights) |
|---|---|
| Haberdashers’ Boys’ | Combined Cadet Force, debating, leadership, outdoor adventure |
| St Albans School | Music traditions, sport & ensembles |
| St Albans High Girls | Dance/theatre, sports, DofE, leadership |
| Haileybury | Combined Cadet Force, music/drama, lecture series |
| St Edmund’s College | 100+ enrichment clubs, Combined Cadet Force, arts |
| The Purcell School | Music-linked sports, weekend social activities |
| St Christopher School | Arts clubs, choir/orchestra, outings |
| St Francis’ College | Debate, maths puzzles, language & journalism |
| St Margaret’s School | Sports, arts & crafts, STEM & creative clubs |
| Tring Park School | Intensive performing arts, productions |
👨🎓 Pastoral Care and Student Well-being
Generally, every school is dedicated to offering the best pastoral care for its students' well-being.
One thing you should consider is the differences in how different aspects of pastoral care are executed for both day and boarding environments.
This is relevant if you're deciding between sending your child for a day school experience, a flexi boarding experience, or a full boarding experience in Hertfordshire.
Day Environments
- Pastoral care: Shared between home and school
- Peer support: Mostly formed in classes during schooling hours
- Wellbeing: Monitored by tutors and educators, mostly academic and emotionally related
Boarding Environments
- Pastoral care: Led by the school 24/7 throughout residential life
- Peer support: Formed between boarding mates and the living community
- Wellbeing: More holistically and in-depth by close boarding staff, for physical and emotional health too
💷 Affordability and Financial Assistance
Finally, we can’t overlook the ultimate numbers game when discussing private school enrolment. Beyond tuition fees, families must also consider additional expenses such as meals, boarding, and school trips. To help lighten the financial burden, families can explore the following two alternatives:
⭐Scholarships
- Merit-based rewards for academic, sports, music, drama, or all-around achievements
- Application begins during admission entries
- Becomes a tuition fee waiver (can be up to 20% or more, depending on schools)
⭐Bursaries
- Depending on the family's financial circumstances of the applicants
- Strong competition, especially among charity-based independent schools
- Also translates into a tuition fee waiver or other school-related expenses, like uniforms
☑️ Conclusion
We hope this article has offered you some insights into the best private schools in Hertfordshire. Ultimately, your final decision should revolve around your child's learning needs and goals in the long run. If you're looking for an academic tutor to help your child prepare better for an entrance test, you can always connect with a qualified and experienced tutor on Superprof.
Just head to the Superprof homepage, indicate your desired subject and current location to start browsing a wide selection of tutors' profiles. From there, you can review the tutors' essential information and book your first lesson with ease.
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References
- Thirunathan, T. (2025, November 21). Habs Boys selected for The Cricketer Schools Guide 2026 | Habs Boys. Habs Boys. https://www.habselstree.org.uk/boys/whats-on/our-news/habs-boys-selected-for-the-cricketer-schools-guide-2026/
- Channel, T. V. (2024, January 5). The UK’s Purcell School for Young Musicians announces new patron. World’s Leading Classical Music Platform. https://theviolinchannel.com/the-uks-purcell-school-for-young-musicians-announces-new-patron/
- Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Review. (n.d.). WhichSchoolAdvisor. https://whichschooladvisor.com/uk/school-review/tring-park-school-for-the-performing-arts
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