Welcome to the UpperSchool
Dear Parents, Guardians andYear10students,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your family to Habs Boys.
It is an enormous privilege to be a part of this wonderful school community and we are looking forward to you becoming a part of it.
Students in the Upper School are ambitious and determined to achieve their potential. They are courageous, pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and thriving within a strong community where they develop teamwork and leadership skills, making life-long friendships along the way. Their curiosity is ignited at Habs. They are encouraged to delve into whatever inspires them with sporting, dramatic, musical, cultural or academic interests.
Together with my colleagues, we will work to help you settle into life in the Upper School at Habs. It is an energetic place to learn and grow and I am very excited to play a part in your journey with us.
The expectation is that all students immerse themselves in the rich experiences available to them.
I hope you will be very happy here and proud to call yourself a Haberdasher.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
MR ADAM LAWRENCE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Habs
About the Senior School
There are approximately 1,100students aged 11to 18 in the Senior School.
Whenever children join, there is a broad and challenging curriculum for them to relish.
As a school we believe in lessons that have both pace and rigour as defining characteristics. We believe that academic excellence is a product of our approach to active and independent learning, with practical tasks and problem solving enabling our students to develop their understanding in the deepest sense. Enthusiasm and excitement are key, as is providing the stimulus for discussion and debate.
Students love to be challenged and have an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. Parents are welcomed into the school to support the curriculum.
There are Curriculum Evenings for parents to learn about our approach to particular subject areas and how they can best support their children at home; we firmly believe that children do best when school and home are working in true partnership.
UpperSchool Aims
In the Upper School we want the students to reflect the school values, but we also want them to developintellectually and personally.
We want the students to be kind, inclusive and make good choices and we hope they will develop these skills and more during their time in the Upper School; as such we are delighted to share with you our Upper School Aims.
AN UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT STRIVES TO BE
Upper School students have a strong moral compass and are role models to others. They are energised towards success with an optimistic and enquiring mind. They lead with compassion, self-awareness and have a positive impact on others.
Determined
To stand up for what is right, always growing from their strengths and weaknesses, constantly developing a thirst for knowledge.
Empowered
To make good decisions as a digital leader, within a wider global perspective and always with high standards of personal conduct.
3
Well-read
To develop empathy learning about the lives and journeys of others through the magic of literature and the world around us.
4 5
Committed
To be the best they can be, being present and enjoying the here and now, developing friendships and pursuing their lifelong passions.
Kind
To themselves and others, with their words and their actions and always celebrating the successes of their peers and beyond.
We will make the most of opportunities to develop resilience, teamwork and leadership. To grow, we must embrace challenge, intellectual risk and learn from mistakes. We will become independent learners with integrity.
Our four values of ambition, curiosity, courage and community are what we hold most dear. They arebrought to life in our newHabits Framework.
Habits
Habits defines what we stand for and provides the foundation for everything our students achieve. They enhance academic performance, shape character and enrich life beyond the classroom. By grounding our four core values in 12 practical Habits, we ensure that our students develop the mindset and skills to flourish in all areas of school life and far beyond.
Ambition
Ambition at Habs is about having the drive to pursue excellence in every endeavour. Through the habit of resilience, our students learn to view setbacks as vital steps that help them grow and learn. We encourage a culture of continuous learning, where the pursuit of knowledge is viewed as an exciting, lifelong journey. By taking the initiative, our students learn to grasp every opportunity.
Curiosity
Curiosity is the engine of intellectual discovery at the school. We foster open-mindedness, encouraging our students to seek out new perspectives that can reshape their thinking. Critical thinking is central to our academic approach, as students learn to let reason guide their thinking, inside and outside the classroom. Through creativity, we empower them to use original ideas to solve complex problems.
Courage
Courage at Habs means moral courage as well as boldness. Integrity is the bedrock of this value, ensuring that the personal values of our students shape their actions. We develop leadership by giving students opportunities to make change in our community and beyond our gates. By embracing risk-taking, they learn to step outside their comfort zones, gaining the confidence to push their boundaries.
Community
Community is at the heart of everything we do, whether it is our school community, our local community, or the global community.
Through collaboration, we model community in lessons and in cocurricular activities. We place a high value on care, fostering an environment where everyone can feel that they are known and belong. Finally, by embracing social responsibility, our students take active steps to make a profound impact in the world. This is our purpose.
Habits defines what we stand for and provides the foundation for everything our students achieve. They enhance academic performance, shape character and enrich life beyond the classroom.
By grounding our four core values in 12 practical Habits, we ensure that our students develop the mindset and skills to flourish in all areas of school life and far beyond.
Sections and Houses
The Senior Schoolis formed of three sections.Eachis looked after by a Head andDeputy. These sections are:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
YEARS 7 TO 8
Your child will be allocated a House and they will remain in this House for the duration of their time at Habs. They will receive a House tie that incorporates their House colour, allowing them to easily identify their House peers. These Houses are all named after previous Headmasters.
UPPER SCHOOL
YEARS 9 TO 11
Throughout the year, students will participate in a variety of Inter House competitions. These can range from sport to drama, debating to quizzes and so much more!
Buddies
Your child will be paired with another student in Year 10 who will be their Buddy. This Buddy will help your child settle in and show them around school as they learn more about our campus. They will also attend Buddy socials, where they will meet at breaktime for soft drinks and cookies. These are great ways for your child to meet others in their Houses and their year group.
SIXTH FORM
YEARS 12 TO 13
CALVERTS
HEAD OF HOUSE
MR JAMES TEAGUE (jteague@habselstree.org.uk)
HENDERSONS
HEAD OF HOUSE
MR TOM JONES (tjones@habselstree.org.uk)
JOBLINGS
HEAD OF HOUSE
DR GEORGINA CHAPMAN (gchapman@habselstree org.uk)
MEADOWS
HEAD OF HOUSE
MR DAN TABERNER (dtaberner@habselstree.org.uk)
RUSSELLS
HEAD OF HOUSE
MRS NERYS FIELDEN (nfielden@habselstree.org.uk)
STROUTS
HEAD OF HOUSE
MR ALASTAIR METCALFE (ametcalfe@habselstree.org.uk)
Wellbeing and PSHE
Yourchild will receiveweeklyPSHE education (Personal, Social, Health and EconomicEducation) lessons with their Formtutors during morningtutor time.
This will continue from Year 7 to Year 11 and consists of combining secondary modules and resources for themed weeks or special topics.
Workshops with specialist speakers are organised for all year groups at different times through the year, focusing on age-appropriate issues such as e-safety, physical health, mental health and relationships. Talks and/or workshops are also delivered to parents
Our school is a ‘Tooled Up Education’ school. This means, in addition to all that we do at school to help pupils, we also care about supporting parents and families. Please use the link to register your free account and gain access to the digital hub of evidence-based resources covering: mental health, digital life, aspiration, learning, family life and relationships.
Medical Centre information
The school’sMedical Centre is situated in AldenhamHouseandis openduringterm time from8amto5.30pm,MondaytoFriday.For home sports fixtures on Saturdays, we have external medical cover.
COLLECTION OF UNWELL CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL
It is important that a parent or guardian must always available to collect their unwell/injured child from the Medical Centre. Please let the Medical Centre know as soon as possible if you will be unavailable for collection and provide an alternative contact number for a suitable guardian who can act on your behalf in case of an emergency.
REQUEST FOR SCHOOL TO DISPENSE PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
If your child requires any prescription medicine to be taken at school then please complete the ‘Request for School to Dispense Prescription Medicines’ form on the Habs App. You or your child will need to bring the completed form to the Medical Centre along with the medication to be dispensed. It is your child’s responsibility to attend the Medical Centre to be given their medication.
GENERAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Please keep us updated, via the Habs App, of any changes to your child’s wellbeing such as hospital admissions, illnesses, or new medication. We are always happy to talk about any existing medical conditions that your child might have and how this could influence our care of your child in school, e.g., food allergies/ diabetes/asthma/any severe reactions you have had which require use of an AAI (Adrenaline Auto Injector). Any relevant information will be shared with the appropriate staff members if it is essential to your child’s wellbeing. If your child develops any contagious disease such as chicken pox, measles, etc. then please inform the Medical Centre as soon as possible.
If your child is unwell with a raised temperature, please ensure their temperature has returned to normal before they return to school. If they have episodes ofdiarrhoea or vomiting, please ensure that they
wait 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped before they return to school.
We also ask that you inform us of any significant events such as divorce or bereavement which may affect your child.
MEDICAL CENTRE STAFF
GILL MCGRATH Senior School Nurse
MARTINA MCGRATH School Nurse
EMILIE RICHARDSON School Nurse
SUKI DOSSETT School Counsellor
PHONE NUMBER 020 82661790
EMAIL ADDRESS schoolnurseboys@habselstree.org.uk
Assemblies
Assemblies
Throughout the week, wehavevariousassemblies that last approximately 20 minutes.
We offer a variety of religious assemblies and we actively encourage pupils to attend different ones throughout the year. We also have the Headmaster’s assembly for those not wishing to attend a faith assembly.
Our available religious assemblies are:
BUDDHIST
CHRISTIAN
HINDU
HUMANIST
JAIN
JEWISH
MUSLIM
SIKH
Student Council
TheStudentCouncil is comprisedof one pupilfrom each tutorgroup, elected by theirpeers.
The Council is overseen by Senior School staff and we have eight Sixth Form directors who manage the day-to-day operations. The Student Council plays an important role in life at Habs, providing development opportunities for all pupils.
In the last couple of years, our Student Council has achievedGol d Eco-School status, led small day-to-day changes in the school environment, and has achieved Gold AI Quality Award issued by the Good Futures Foundation.
WE ARE A SMART-PHONE FREE SCHOOL
Ourmobile phone policyis changingfrom September2026.
Academic support
Academic support at Habs is available to all of our Senior School pupils.
Please readthis letter
Communication
Weare
always
happy to answer any questions that you have, big or small.
You can call Reception on 020 8266 1700, who will direct you to the relevant member of staff. The School Nurse can also be contactedthrough Reception.
If you have any pastoral or academic concerns please contact staff in the following order:
- Your child’s Form Tutor via the Parent Portal
- Head ofHouse
- Head ofUpper School – Mr Adam Lawrence (alawrence@habselstree.org.uk)
- Deputy Head ofUpper SchoolMr James Lee (jlee@habselstree.org.uk)
- Deputy Head Pastoral, Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mrs Claire Shooter (cshooter@habselstree.org.uk)
LETTERS
We upload parent information letters to the Habs App every Friday
EMAILS
We encourage an open dialogue but also we politely request that teachers are given time to respond. In an emergency please contact Mr Lawrence and he will respond as quickly as he can.
PARENTS’ EVENING
Parents’ Consultation Evenings are held in the Spring Term. You willhave the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and discuss their progress. There is an evening in the Autumn Term to meet with the pastoral team to discuss general issues.
We send home reports atthe end ofthe Summer Term.If you have any questions during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Form Tutor.
PROGRESS GRADES
Students are given progress grades according to the schedule that will be published at the beginning of the Autumn Term. You can access these via the Habs App. These grades allow Form Tutors to track students’ progress. Progress grades report an ‘Approach to Learning grade’ and an ‘Attainment grade’ so you we can review both effort in the classroom and academic progress. These are given as ‘exceeding’, ‘as expected’, ‘inconsistent’ and ‘unsatisfactory’.
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
The aim ofour Individual Needs Policy is to ensure that every child at Habs enjoys personal and academic success.
We prioritise sustaining a close partnership with parents and providing appropriate support.
The Head of Academic Support co-ordinates a team consisting of specialist teachers, senior academic and senior pastoral staff.
Support is delivered through various staff and programmes e.g. the Form Tutor,Head of House, Deputy Head of House, subject teachers, study support sessions and learning skills programmes. Our Individual Needs policy is available on the school website.
It is important to make us aware if your childhas any identified specific learning needs (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, hypermobility, visual impairments and hearing impairments) so we can provide the best support for them.
HOMEWORK
If you have questions about the time your childspends on homework (either too little or too much),please get in touch with their Form Tutor.We do not want them to spend all evening working, as it is important they should have time to relax.
Important websites
Students will be given an email account whichteachers can email them on.
They will receive login details and further information once they start at Habs.
Students will also have a MicrosoftTeamsaccount.
Habs App:
The Habs App contains a host of important information and is where your parents or guardians can email the school or form tutors regarding absences or any other matter. The portal holds all school reports, progress grades, letters, school timetable, school calendar, school blog, and coach service bookings.
Parent Pay: WWW.PARENTPAY.COM
This website is where you pay for your child’s school lunch. Once you have set up your login, you will be able to view what they eat every day and how much they have spent.
SOCS: SOCSCMS.COM/LOGIN/129
This is the website where students sign up for co-curricular clubs.
Sports fixture website: SPORTS.HABSELSTREE.ORG.UK
This website is where you will find out about upcoming sports fixtures, times and locations.
Evolve: EVENT BOOKINGS
This website is used for all event bookings, for parents to give consent for trips and to pay for events
Tooled Up parentresource TOOLEDUPEDUCATION.COM
Our school is a ‘Tooled Up Education’ school. This means, in addition to all that we do at school to help pupils, we also care about supporting parents and families.
Attendance
The school must be informed of absence for anyreason,eitherplannedor unplanned. Please refer to the ‘Get in Touch’page of the Habs App. If your child is absent for any reason, work will not be provided.
When your child is ill or will be absent from school, please follow this procedure:
- Contact their Form Tutor and Absences (AbsencesBoys@ habselstree.org.uk) on the day your child is ill as soon as possible. You can do this via the Habs App or you can call the Senior School switchboard (020 8266 1700)
- If your child arrives late or leaves early, they must sign in or out of Aldenham House reception
- If you wish to request absence for religious observance please write to us, giving at least seven days’ notice
- If possible, doctor and dental appointments should be made during the holidays. If this is not possible, please write to your child’s Form Tutor, asking permission for them to be absent. This is known as an ‘exeat’
- If the planned absence is for more than half a day, please write to Mr Lawrence at alawrence@habselstree.org. uk. If the planned absence is for more than one day, please write to the Headmaster at hmboys@ habselstree.org.uk
- We request that absences are kept to a minimum
SPORTS FIXTURE ATTENDANCE
If your child is unable to attend a fixture then please let the Sports Centre Administrator (sportsadminboys@habselstree. org.uk) know giving at least seven days’ notice. If your child is ill on the day of the game parents should email the Director of Sport or the team coach directly. You are warmly invited to watch as many fixtures as possible.
The school day
Theschooldayruns from 8amto 4pm each day, withthe groundsopeningfrom 8amandshutting at 5.15pm. Only students attending a supervisedactivity maystay after 4pm.
At the end of the day, coaches depart at 4.15 and 5.30pm. After school activities finish at 5.15pm leaving plenty of time for students to get the last coach of the day.
It is important for you to know that the 4.15pm and 5.30pm coach routes often differ and may not include your usual stop.
,
If you intend to collect your child please pick them up from Pitch 5car park which is next to the Astroturf pitches.
Please ensure your child is ‘car aware’ in all circumstances. This includes not using listening devices when walking on the pavement. During the winter months, we would also recommend putting reflective strips on your child’s bags and coats.
Homework expectations
Homeworkset at Habs is purposeful, with a view to supporting the educational developmentof our students; it is not set to tick a box.
We define purposeful homework as appropriate tasks which consolidate student learning, prepare students for future learning, or extend student learning beyond the specification. This approach enables teachers in departments to set tasks in a flexible and responsive manner, but this flexibility is monitored to ensure students do not become overwhelmed.
Details of homework arrangements will be confirmed atthe start of term.
School timetable
Timetable
REGISTRATION 8.35AM TO 8.45AM
PERIOD 0 8.45AM TO 9.15
PERIOD 1 9.15AM TO 10.15AM
BREAK 10.15AM TO 10.35AM
PERIOD 2 10.35AM TO 11.35AM
TRAVEL TIME 11.35AM TO 11.40AM
PERIOD 3 11.40AM TO 12.40PM
LUNCH 12.40PM TO 1.55PM
PERIOD 4 1.55PM TO 2.55PM
TRAVEL TIME 2.55PM TO 3PM
PERIOD 5 3PM TO 4PM
PERIOD 6 (CO-CURRICULAR) 4.15PM TO 5.15PM
Commendations
Creditsare awardedfor goodpiecesof workor for showing consistent effort.
Students can gain Upper School commendations for outstanding achievements and contributions to the school and for demonstrating commitment to the school’s values: ambition, community,courage and curiosity. They are awarded by Mr Lawrence, Head of Upper School.
Lockers
All students will be allocated a locker at the beginning of the academic year with either a combination padlock or a keypad lock, depending on its location. These will both come with
instructions to set your own code with your Form Tutor. You must write this code down somewhere safe and remember to not pass it on to anyone else.
These lockers should be used to store possessions at the start of the day, so that students carry the few items needed for each lesson. They can return to their locker at break and lunchtime to swap items and so avoid having to carry a heavy bag all day.
On sports afternoons, sports kit can be stored in the Medburn lockers, for which students can sign a key out with Medburn reception staff. They can also use the McGowan changing rooms where lockers require a self-selected key code.
If you have any questions, please email OfficeBoys@
Catering
Our catering services are provided by Holroyd Howe whooffer a wide range of catering options available to students at breakfast, breaktime and lunchtime.
Bates Dining Room is available at breakfast offering a cooked breakfast, continental breakfast, as well as a yoghurt bar and a selection of fruits. During breaktime students can enjoy fruit, a hot snack, cakes, crisps and drinks.
At lunchtime students can enjoy a choice of hot meals along with a wide selection of salads plus a daily soup and desserts.
In addition to Bates, there is a Grab and Go outlet available at breaktime and lunchtime providing an easy grab meal option which includes a hot option allowing students to attend lunchtime co-curricular. A wide range of sandwiches and baguettes are available including kosher sandwiches.
All menu offers include a vegetarian and plantbased option. An experienced team of allergy champions are always on hand to support your child’s dietary and allergen requirements. It is essential that you inform the school of any dietary or allergen requirements for your child to ensure the catering team can accommodate and provide a suitable, nutritious, and balanced meal.
Holroyd Howe encourages students to try new things and enjoy a balanced diet, offering plenty of different ingredients, cuisines and culinary styles.
BREAKFAST BREAK LUNCHTIME
The Bates Dining Roomisopen at the following times: 8AM TO 8.35AM 10.15AM TO 10.35AM 12.40PM TO 1.55PM
Uniform – Year 9
Our suppliers, Uniform4Kids, are a local, family run business and have five stores located nearby and have an online store.
Their warehouse, in Centennial Park, Elstree, is five minutes from the school and used as a ‘Click and Collect’ location. There is also a weekly, complimentary drop off service to the school for pre-paid orders, otherwise, orders are dispatched within 24-hours using Parcel Force or can be collected from store.
Returns and exchanges can be done in store, facilitated via the complimentary weekly delivery to school service or via the post.
Click here to view the uniform price list.
Please may we remind you that school uniform is compulsory. We are seeing far too many students not wearing the correct uniform , in particular wearing their own choice of clothing for PE and games.
No matter your year, you must wear the correct kit.
The following pages have images of the required uniform:
1. MAIN UNIFORM:
White shirt, charcoal trousers, charcoal socks, tie, jumper with crest and blazer with school crest (NB. socks, shirt and trousers can be purchased from ANY high street retailer).
2. SPORTS KIT:
- PE kit: navy top and navy shorts, white socks
- Games kit: reversible navy/light blue games top and shorts (these are thicker material needed for certain sports)
- Stripy socks
- House top, mid-layer top and tracksuitbottoms
- Swimming: swim shorts
If you have any sport uniform questions email: sportsadmin@habselstree.org. 3. ALL OTHER ITEMS
3. ALL OTHER ITEMS All other items shown on the images are OPTIONAL (and clearly marked OPTIONAL. If you participate in cricket you will need to purchase cricket clothing.
All other items shown on the images are OPTIONAL (and clearly marked OPTIONAL. If you participate in cricket you will need to purchase cricket clothing.
If you have any sport uniform questions email: sportsadmin@habselstree.org.
uk
FURTHER INFORMATION
- All uniform must be labelled
- School shoes must be black Trainers are not permitted
- Coats should be a dark colour
- It is recommended that you buy three to five shirts, two trousers, and two pullovers/ jumpers
- For sports, one set of items should be sufficient
- Unless pupils are selecting cricket for their games option or taking part in indoor co-curricular activities they are not required to purchase a cricket kit
- Trainers for sport can be any colour with non-marking soles
- For students taking part in a sport that requires a mouthguard, such as rugby or field hockey, parents can order from Opro. We would recommend a high or pro impact mouthguard. You can choose any design, including a Habs branded version
- Pupils must have a fully stocked pencil case
- You can purchase any bag for school but it must have a padded section for a laptop
Picturesbeloware of our uniform andPE/Games kits.
UNIFORM
Blazer - Navy with self colour lining, embroidered with school logo
Shirt - White
Tie - House colours
V-Neck jumper - Navy, embroidered with school logo
Socks - Charcoal
Trousers - Charcoal
Uniform list (continued)
Pictures below are of our PE/Games kits.
PE KIT
T-shirt with school logo
Shorts with school logo White socks Any colour trainers
GAMES KIT
Reversible games jersey school logo
Games shorts with school logo (these shorts are different tothe PE shorts and compulsory for games)
Socks – navy/blue loops Football/rugby boots.No metal studs.
CRICKET KIT (OPTIONAL)
Cricket
- with school logo
Cricket trousers with school
Tracksuit bottoms with sublimated piping and school logo
shirt
logo
House tee-shirt with school logo
Base layer top with school logo
Midlayer with sublimated piping and school logo
Base layer leggings with school logo
Havasak – Navy, printed with school logo
Waterproof jacket with school logo Holdall
Boot bag – Navy printed with school logo
Swim shorts with school logo
Fees
Academic year2025/26
Fees are required to be paid by Direct Debit, via our Fees in Advance scheme or via School Fee Plan. We publish our fees on our website
In July we will update the following information:
• Fees in Advance Scheme
• Fees in Advance calculator
• School Fee Plan
• Fees Refund Scheme
Studentdevice provision
Students from Year 7 to Year 11 will each receive a digital device. When joining Year 9, your child will receive a device and stylus. The charge for the device rental is approximately £125-135 per term and this charge will be itemised on your termly invoice.
We also recommend you buy a mouse and headphones for your child’s device.
Co-curricular information
At Habs,we offera full andvariedco-curricular programme. Weenjoy seeing pupils explore a range of opportunities and activities.
If there is a club that you want to see, we will support you in every way possible to set it up. These opportunities provide fantastic opportunities for you to continue learning outside of the classroom.
DRAMA
Drama atHabs is an inclusive and thriving community that develops the skills and instincts of our students as performers, storytellers and artists. Working collaboratively, inside and outside the classroom, we develop students as theatre-makers encouraging them to take creative ownership of the work and to take risks and be playful in doing so
As one ofthe most vibrant diverse
drama programmes in the country, process sits atthe heart of everything we do. Studentshave the opportunities to work with a broad range of professional artists both to support the curriculum and to create new and ambitious work that is playful, relevant and socially-conscious and sits alongside other leading Youth Theatre companies.
Our work ranges from adaptations of books, graphic novels and classic texts to new plays devised by the company or created alongside professional writers. Each year there are atleastthree major school productions, as well as participation in the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival
and the National Theatre New Views Programme. Alongside this, there are numerous other opportunities, including house events, masterclasses, improvisation workshops and writing mentorship groups with the aim of engagingas diverse a range of students as possible. We are also excited to be developing our film making provision - giving students the opportunities to train in all aspects of film making and produce their own film projects.
We frequently collaborate with the Girls’ School and the Music department as well as partnership projects with other schools and companies. This is an exciting time for Drama atHabs, as we look to take more work outside of the school and collaboratewith some really exciting partners and there is a place for any student to be involved regardless of experience.
MUSIC
Music is central to life at Habs, exceptional in both its quality and breadth of opportunity. With over 70ensembles rehearsing every week, over 20 major concerts per year, and lunchtime performance opportunities every week, our musicians are part of one of the most vibrant and diverse music programmes in the country.
The Music School brings together students from both Habs Boys’ and the Girls’ School, drawing from a breathtaking pool of talent and diversity. We visit concert halls in London several times a year, curate projects through recording (Abbey Road and AIR Studios), collaborate with drama to produce original new work, run music partnership programmes in the community, host a range of dedicated courses through our Holiday Programme, and much more. Alongside our outstanding orchestral provision, the pinnacle being the Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra, we have an exceptional jazz department, sending students every year to leading conservatoires in London and beyond. Since 2022 we are delighted to offer tuition in Indian Classical Music, on instruments such as Tabla, Dhol, and
Harmonium. We have prodigious young songwriters, rock bands, composers, improvisers, one of the largest guitar orchestras in the country - all genres and styles of music are given equal platform. We want our leading musicians to guide our course of study, allowing them to impact the shape of what we offer with each generation that passes through the school.
For any young musician who wants to discover their potential, whilst experiencing a breadth of styles and opportunity through the process, Habs is the perfect place. Together with our talented young students we are immensely excited about what the future holds for Habs music.
We are proud to have an exceptional team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs)who provide expert tuition on a wide range of instruments. Whether you would like to continue an instrument you have already started with, or whether you’re curious to try something new, click here to find out more.
We offer lessons on the following instruments:
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
BASSOON
CELLO
CLARINET
DHOL
DOUBLE BASS
DRUMS FLUTE
FRENCH HORN
HARMONIUM
JAZZ GUITAR
JAZZ SAXOPHONE
OBOE ORGAN
PERCUSSION
PIANO
SAXOPHONE
TABLA
TROMBONE
TRUMPET
TUBA
VIOLA
VIOLIN
VOICE
Co-curricular information (continued)
SPORT
Sporting is an integral part of school life at Habs and we encourage pupils to engage in a variety of sport and physical activities. We offer all pupils the opportunity to represent the school at any level and they have the chance to get involved in Inter House events, social activities or competitive fixtures with other local schools. We also
encourage a healthy relationship with sport and exercise, helping to develop an understanding of how exercise can positively affect wellbeing as well as cultivate team spirit, positive relationships and pride in both individual and team achievements. Participation rates are exceptionally high with students embracing the opportunity to get involved with such a broad and diverse sporting programme.
HABS DASH
As partof school life at Habs, we have a weekly 3.5km community run. This is HabsDash and it takes place every Tuesday lunchtime with a route that takes students around our school grounds. The run is open to all members ofthe Habs community – pupils and staff, both at the Boys’ Schooland at Haberdashers’ Girls’ School.
Totake part,pupils need to go to the MedburnCentre at 12.40pm on Tuesdays and get changed – the run startsat 12.50pm.
The school produces results sheets each week so students can track their progress and work towards running a half marathon, a marathon or even further.
A selection of some of the sports available to pupils:
ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
ATHLETICS
BADMINTON
BASKETBALL
CLIMBING
CRICKET
CROSS COUNTRY
FITNESS
FOOTBALL
GAMEPLAY
GOLF
GYMNASTICS
HABSDASH
HOCKEY
RUGBY
RUGBY SEVENS
SOFTBALL
SPIKEBALL
SQUASH
SWIMMING
TABLE TENNIS
TCHOUKBALL
TENNIS
TOUCH RUGBY
WATER POLO
Coaches
The coach service is run jointly with the Girls’ School and all coachesarriveandleave from the coach park.
We are pleased to announce that from the start of the new academic year we will be partnering with Vectare to manage our home-to-school transport network. Vectare is a specialist transport management company with an outstanding track record in the sector, managing more than 15 million journeys per year across over 250 UK independent schools.
Parents are responsible for students until you board the school coach. When travelling by coach, all students must have with them a working brick-style mobile phone (see mobile phone policy) There is a Home to School Coach Terms of Service which all parents, guardians and pupils must follow when using the service
Should you lose an item on the coach and it is found by the coach company, it will be placed in the lost property racks in the Coach Park. If it is of high value, such as a musical instrument or a mobile phone, it will be taken to the Coach Park Office and can be retrieved by asking a member of staff on duty in the Coach Park.
Coach tickets are available for regular travel or single journeys subject to availability, for the day in question.
Booking
tickets prior to 1 August
To book your child’s coach seat for September 2026 please read this letter and book here If you have already booked, or have an existing booking, it will be moved over to Vectare over the summer break, so there is no need to rebook an existing route.
Booking tickets after 1 August
By 1 August, you will receive a formal introductory guide from Vectare, which will include full details on how to use the system, make bookings, and ask questions about the transport network.
Contacting Vectare
Vectare will provide out-of-hours support to parents, including at weekends, so help will always be on hand when you need it.
COACH QUERIES
From 1 August, Vectare will be the primary point of contact for all transport-related queries
Telephone: 0115 777 3035
Email: HABS@vectare.co.uk
Travelling to School
DRIVING IN
At drop off, between 8am and 8.30am, and pick up between 4pm and 4.15pm, there will be a one-way system in operation. Marshals will direct you to our drop off zone behind the Aske building, opposite our Astroturf pitches.
PARKING
The security barrier on Butterfly Lane is lowered at 5.30pm Monday to Friday. If you need access after 5.30pm then you can still entervia Butterfly Lane and the security hut. The routine dropoffand pick up point for pupils is the Pitch 5 car park, next to the Astroturf pitches.
FOR EVENTS AFTER 6PM
Such as parents’ evening or concerts, please park in the North Drive Car park
Introducing our Parents’ Guild
HabsBoys’ Parents’Guild (HBPG) is run by both Prep and Senior School parents, HBPGis a strategic partner for the Boys’ School to enhance and enrich the education of pupils across all year groups as well as creating opportunities for engagement with the wider school community.
As a parentor guardianof a pupil at Habs Boys, you are automaticallya member of the Guild.The Guild is a great way to get more involved in school life – enabling you to get to know other parents across the year groups and within your child’s class and House in the Prep and Senior School.
The school have established a committee of 15 parents, representative of the school community. Alongside this, the Guild have established a network of House reps in the Senior School and we also have the existing network of class reps in the Prep School. The reps across both the Prep and Senior School will communicate most of the Guild’s messages via established class/House WhatsApp groups.
Click here to find out the Parents’ Guild objectives and how they work. We look forward to getting you involved!
WWW.HABSELSTREE.ORG.UK/BOYS
FACEBOOK – @HABSBOYS
INSTAGRAM – @HABSBOYSSCHOOL