Welcome to the Sixth Form
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Sixth Form at Habs Girls. These are transformative years –full of challenge, opportunity and growth – and we are delighted to walk alongside our students as they take their first steps into young adulthood. Whether arriving from within our school or joining us anew, every Sixth Former becomes part of a vibrant, ambitious, and supportive community, where each individual is known, encouraged and expected to flourish.
At Habs, we believe the Sixth Form should be more than a stepping-stone to university. It is a place of curiosity and independence, where academic ambition goes hand-in-hand with the development of confidence, resilience, and purpose.
Our students are stretched by expert teaching and inspired by opportunities to lead, explore and contribute beyond the classroom. We are proud of the breadth of co-curricular life, the strength of relationships and the culture of integrity and kindness that underpins all we do.
We are also fortunate to share our campus with Habs Boys. This unique collaboration allows our Sixth Formers to benefit from co-taught lessons, joint activities, and shared leadership, whilst remaining part of two distinct but closely aligned schools. The result is a dynamic and diverse learning environment, rich in perspectives and grounded in mutual respect.
This unique collaboration allows our Sixth Formers to benefit from co-taught lessons, joint activities, and shared leadership, whilst remaining part of two distinct but closely aligned schools. The result is a dynamic and diverse learning environment, rich in perspectives and grounded in mutual respect.
Above all, our Sixth Form is designed to prepare students for life – intellectually, socially and emotionally. We aim to foster not only strong academic outcomes, but also the curiosity, maturity and clarity of purpose that will guide our students long after they leave Habs. We look forward to working in partnership with families over the next two years and to seeing all that our Sixth Formers will achieve.
MR DANIEL FOSTER DEPUTY HEAD OF SIXTH
FORM (YEAR 13)
MRS CAMILLA MILSOM ASSISTANT HEAD (HEAD OF SIXTH FORM)
MRS HOLLY LEVY DEPUTY HEAD OF SIXTH FORM (YEAR
12)
About the Sixth Form
Our values
Ourbrandvalues are what wehold dear as aschool,the core beliefs thatwe stand for. They should drive all decisions and actions. They are brought to life in our Habits Framework.
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 risktaking, 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 co-curricular activities. We place a high value on care, fostering an environment where everyone can feel 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.
Curriculum
Youwill choose three, or in some cases four, A Levels in discussion with the Head of Sixth Form or a senior member of staff.
The following subjects are availableto you:
• Art
• Classical Civilisation
• Classical Greek
• Computer Science
• Drama
• Design and Technology
• Economics
• English Literature
• English Language
• Geography
• History
• Latin
• Maths
• Further Maths
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Music
• PE
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
You willhave at leastone subject taught in a co-educational group. This means that for that subject there willbe students from both the Girls’ School and Boys’ School in your lessons. The lessons for this subject could be based at either school.
For example,you may have Maths in a coeducational group at the Boys’ School which means thatall your Maths lessons wouldbe taught at the Boys’ School, but yourother subjects are in single sex groups and are taught at the Girls’ School.
We also complement ouracademic approach and develop your understanding of the skills that willbe required of you when they enter the workplace.
Habs Diploma
Alongside your A Levels, you will also complete the Habs Diploma. The Habs Diploma is key to our Sixth Form provision.
The purpose of the diploma is to create a wonderment in learning, going beyond the constraints of subject boundaries; providing opportunities to develop skills that are differentiators for study, for the workplace and in adult life more generally.
Students will undertake five compulsory components:
Please click on the image below to read the Habs Diploma booklet
Habs Girls Sixth Form
Habs Diploma
Habs Diploma
Sixth Form Induction Day
Friday 4 September 2026
8.15am to 2.30pm
Induction Day takesplace a day before term officially starts for all pupils. During Induction Day, students will takepart in a series of fun activitiesto helpthemget to know others in their form and yeargroup.
We invite all parents,guardians and studentsto join theSenior Leadership Team, Sixth Form Team and Tutorsforbreakfast and presentationsfrom 8.15am to9.45am.
Staffwill be in the coach and car parkto welcomeand guide you to the DiningRoom.Please arrive between 8.15amand 8.30am.
Induction Day will end at around 2.30pm, students will be shown backto the coach or car park.
WE ASK STUDENTS TO:
- Attend wearing full Sixth Form dresscode
- Bring their school bag, some pens and their device.
- Bring a packedlunch if they arenot usingtheschool dining room
- Studentswill not need any kit on thisday
- Studentscan bringa mobile phonebutit needstobe switchedoff when theyarrive at school
INDUCTION DAY COACH SERVICE FOR ALL
Anystudent can use the coaches on Induction Day,whetheror not you areregisteredas a regularuser forthe service.There is no charge, but you will need tobook a ticket to reserve a seat.
BOOK YOURCOACH SEAT FORINDUCTION DAYHERE
A bespoketimetable will be in operation for Induction Day covering the popular stopson our usual home-to-school service. The timetable for thisservice canbe found on the booking form. The return service will departfrom school at approximately 2.30pm
Weencourage everyone to use theInduction Day coach service togivestudents a taste of the experienceof arriving and departing school from the coach parkand the opportunity to meet some of our experthome to school coach drivers.
From Monday7 Septemberyou will become part of a 1,700 student strong coach community and the orientation provided on Induction Day together with the information in the Hometo School Coach Termsof Service will ensure you areequipped for your journeyon thecoaches.
STUDENTS TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL BY CAR
If you arebeingdriven toschool on Induction Day,please ensure you enter via the main gateon Aldenham Road. The driver will be directed to the school dropoff area justbefore oursecuritybarriers. There will be marshals to direct the driver into one or two lanes, where you can be dropped off
Sections and Houses
The Senior School is formed of three sections which group our school years. Each school year has a dedicated head of year:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
YEAR 7 AND YEAR 8
You are allocated into one of the six Houses, each associated with a different colour. These are namedafter the six previous Headmistresses of the school. Throughout the year, House meetings are held once a month and there are various House competitions, activities and events. This is to encourage you to mix with those from other year groups, fostering an atmosphere ofteam spirit and friendly rivalry.
YEAR 9 TO YEAR 11 SIXTH FORM
SIXTH AND UPPER SIXTH
The emphasis will be on sport, drama, music, dance, charities and having fun!
House points are awarded for a variety of activities and tallied up atthe end ofthe year. The winning House receives a cup.
POWELL SPRULES GILLILAND GILLETT
HAROLD
Buddies for new joiners at 16+
If you are new to Habs Girls, you will be paired with another member of your Form and House who will be your Buddy. They will help to settle you in from September and answer any questions you mayhave.
Buddies for new joiners at 16+
Wellbeing and PSHE
You will receive fortnightly PSHE lessons with your Form tutors during morning tutor time.
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. Talksand/or workshops are also delivered to parents.
TOOLED UP
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 supportingparents and families.Please use the link here 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
Parents and guardians will be contacted if their child requires liquid paracetamol, ibuprofen or antihistamine during the school day, if they haven’t already provided consent.
SICKNESS
If your child is unwell, e.g. has a raised temperature, has episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting, please ensure that you wait 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped beforethey returnto school.
COLLECTION OF UNWELL CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL
It is important that a parent or guardian is always available to collect you should you not be well enough to remain in school. Please let your Form Tutor know as soon as possible if your parents or guardians will be unavailable for collection and have your parents provide an alternative contact number for a suitable guardian who can act on their behalf in case of an emergency.
GENERAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Please keep us updated, via your child’s Form Tutor, of any changes to yourchild’s wellbeingsuch as hospital admissions, illnesses or new medication. We also askthat you inform us of any significantevents such as divorce or bereavement which may affect yourchild emotionally.
We arealways happy to talk about any existing medical conditions that your child mighthave and how this could influence our care ofyour child in school, e.g. food allergies/diabetes/asthma/any severe reactions your child has had which requires 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 they develop any contagious disease such as chicken pox, measles, etc. then please inform the Medical Centre as soon as possible.
PRESCRIBED AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS FROM HOME
You are not permitted to carry any medication (either prescribed or over the counter) on the school site other than an emergency inhaler/AAI as agreed with the School Nurses. If you require 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 will need to bring the completed form to the Medical Centre along with the medication to be dispensed immediately upon arrival at school. It is your responsibility to attend the Medical Centre to be given your medication.
Assemblies
Our school community begins the day with time either as a Form, year group, House or whole school to share our values andexplore ideas.
Several times a half term, we have multi-faith assemblies, allowing a different group of students to share their experiences of their faith.
We encourage you to attend with an open mind and enquiring mind as it is a brilliant way to see other points of view.
We also have a multi-faith room which students can request use of for lunchtime prayers or other such needs.
Student Voice
Students are electedinto the role of Student VoiceRepresentativeswho form the body of our StudentVoiceCommittee alongside our Senior Prefect Team.
The committee is made up of Student Voice Representatives from Year 7 to Lower Sixth in addition to our Senior Prefect Team who represent the whole school. The committee meets once a half term to discuss issues of importance to the students.
During these meetings, the leadership team can feedback to students on previously raised issues, keeping open communication between students and staff. The Student Voice Representatives are currently leading on the school’s sustainability agenda.
Academic support at HabsGirls is available to all our Senior School students.
From Year7 to Upper Sixth, wearehere to help you with all things academic.In the first instance, you should direct all concerns to either your Form Tutoror Class Teacher.
MobilePhone Usage
During the day Sixth Form students are allowedtheir phones in the CommonRoom and Mezzanine Café. Students are not allowedto use mobile phones around the schoolsite.
We aim to teach you how to use your phone safely and we encourage parents to be very firm about your usageathome.The bill payer is responsible for anything on the phone that may be construed as inappropriate.
Please ensure you have read and understood our Mobile phone policy.
Communication
We
are always happy to answer anyquestions thatparentsandguardians have,big
or small.
Parents can call Reception on 020 8266 2300, who will direct them to the relevant member of staff. The School Nurse can also be contacted through Reception. If you or students have any pastoral or academic concerns, pleasecontact your Tutor in the first instance.
LETTERS
We upload parent information letters to the Habs App every Friday.
EMAILS
We encourage an open dialogue but remind you that Tutorsand other members of the pastoral team are teachers and so unable to respond immediately to emails.
We askstaff to endeavour to get back to emailswithintwo working days.In an emergency, please contact Reception who will direct yourquery to someone who can respond more quickly.
PARENTS' EVENING
There will be two parents’ evenings which provide an opportunity for you to meet with your childs teachers and discuss their progress. If you have any concerns during the school year, you must not hesitate to contact their Tutor.
PROGRESS GRADES
Students are given progress grades every half term. You can access these via the Habs App. These grades allow Form Tutors to track their progress.
HOMEWORK
If you have concerns about the time your child is spending on homework (either too little or too much), please get in touch with your child’s Tutor.We do not want them to spend all evening working, as it is important, they should have time to relax.
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Our Individual Needs policy makes sure that every child at Habs enjoys personal and academic success. We believe in the importance of sustaining a close partnership with parents and guardians so we can provide the appropriate support. The Head of Academic Support co-ordinates a team consisting of our specialist teacher, senior academic and senior pastoral staff.
Support can occur at various levelsin school life, e.g. through the child’s form tutor, Head of Year,subject teachers, study support sessions and learning skills programmes. Our Individual Needs policy is available on the school website here
It is important to make us aware if your child has 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.
Important websites
Students will be givenan email account which teachers can email them on. They will receivelogin in details and further information once they start at Habs.Students will also havea Microsoft Teamsaccount.
HabsApp:
The ParentPortal contains a hostof important information and is where you 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.
Ifyou are a new parentwewill send youan email with instructions todownload theapp and log-in after GCSE resultsday.
HOW TO USE THE APP
Parent Pay:
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 pupils in Y1 to U6 sign up for co-curricular clubs.
Evolve: PAYING EVENTS
This website is used for all trip bookings, paid for events and for parents to give consent.
Tooled Up parent resource
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 any reason, either planned or unplanned. If students are absent for any reason, work will not be provided. Werequest that absences are kept to a minimum.
ILLNESS - FIRST DAY OF ABSENCE
An illness should be reported to the school on the first day of absence before 8am using any of the following options:
- Email the absence team absencegirls@habselstree.org.uk
- Call the Absence Line 020 82662300 and selecting option 1
- Completing the Absence Information form on the Habs App
MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
If possible,medical appointments shouldbe made during the holidays. If this is not possible, parents should please email their childs Tutor, asking permission for them to be absent.
ABSENCE REQUEST FOR EXTENUATING FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES
Write to the Headmistress a minimum of two weeks in advance at HMGirls@habselstree.org.uk
SPORTS FIXTURE ATTENDANCE
If students are unable to attend a fixture,then pleaselet the team coach know directly with at least seven days’ notice. If yourchild is ill on the day of the game,parents must email the Director of Sport or the team coach directly.
Parents and guardians are warmly invited to watchas many fixtures as possible.
The school day
The school day runs from 8.35am to 4pm each day, with the grounds opening from 8am.
Only students attending a supervised activity or studying in the Library may stay after 4pm. If you arrive from 8am, you must enter the school through the dining room door and remain there where they will be supervised until 8.20am.
At the end ofthe day, we have coaches that depart at 4.15pm and 5.30pm for those attending after school activities, which finish at 5.15pm leaving plenty of time for students to get the last coach ofthe school 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 your parent or guardian intends to collect you, please ensure you are picked up from the Girls’ School visitor car park. We kindly ask that your parent or guardian does not drive through the Girls’ School to collect them.
Please ensure to be ‘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 bags and coats.
School timetable
Timetable
REGISTRATION
8.35AM TO 8.45AM
PERIOD 0 8.45AM TO 9.15AM
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
Lockers
There is an option to have a locker (situatedin the Sixth Form locker area).Please email Mrs Sundaram, Sixth Form Administrator (asundaram@habselstree.org. uk) if you would like a locker.
Mrs Sundaram has a master keyin case a code or keyis forgotten or lost.
Catering
The Dining Room is open at the following times:
BREAKFAST 8AM TO 8.35AM
BREAK 10.15AM TO 10.30AM
LUNCHTIME 12.40PM TO 1.55PM
You willhave a variety of food options available at lunchtime in our Dining Room, all provided by our catering services, Holroyd Howe. The catering team are experiencedin handling all dietary and allergy needs and students only have to ask a member of the team if they need assistance.
Holroyd Howe encourage you to try new things and enjoy a balanced diet, offering plenty of different ingredients, cuisines and culinary styles.
The school dining room offers three hot options to eat-in as well as a selection of cold take-away sandwiches,baguettes, fruit pots and soft drinks, found in our Grab and Go section of the dining room. We also offer a hot take-away option for those participating in a lunchtime club which is situated at the back of the dining hall.
You will also be allowed to use the Mezzanine café above the dining hall where you can pick up snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Dress code
Sixth Formers should be dressed in a professional manner suitable for an educational environment. As leaders in the school and role models for our younger students, your appearance should reflect a sense of pride in the school.
STUDENTS MUSTWEAR THEFOLLOWINGITEMS:
• Asmarttoporshirt,appropriatelycoveredforthe schoolenvironment.Thisexcludesstrappytops, vesttopsandcroptops
• Asmartjumper/cardigan and/orblazer(ifneeded)
• Smarttrousers,skirt ordress.Skirtsanddressesshouldbe ofanappropriatelengthfortheschoolenvironment
• Apairofleather(orveganleather)shoesorankle boots(no flipflops,ugg-stylebootsortrainers)
There should be no leisure wear such as tracksuit bottoms (except for PE),jeans, cargo
For safeguarding reasons, lanyards must be worn and visible at all times. If you donothaveyour lanyard,you must check in with the Sixth Form administrator, whowill issue you a temporary lanyard for the day.
Guidance on clothing for PE and various other activities will begiven bythe memberof staff responsible.
It is beyondthe scope of the dresscode toprovide guidance for everyoutfit. In the eventof queries, the final decision of whatis appropriate will be taken bythe Head of Sixth Form, Deputy Head of Sixth Forms, or a memberof the school’s SeniorLeadership Team.If a student’s attire is not deemed appropriate, you may besent home to change and return. Youmay also be sanctioned in accordance with the Rewards and Sanctions Policy
Personal devices
In the Sixth Form, students bring their own devices to school.
This provides students with the ownership oflearning which can continue to refine your independent study habits ahead of university.
To support this important transition and provide access the full benefits of our learning environment, we expect all Sixth Form students to bring personal devices to all your lessons.
Students may bring a Windows device, an Apple device (an iPad or MacBook), or a Chromebook. We recommend the device has a reasonable screen size (11 inches or larger), a keyboard and wireless connectivity. We cannot apply filtering to Linux devices so these are not permitted. Beyond that, we encourage choosing a device that will be suitable for the subjects being studied.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE READ THIS LETTER
Co-curricular information
In the SixthForm,you arevery muchseen as leadersofthe school andas such,you canrun clubsand activitiesofyour choosing.These could be for the Sixth Formonly or foryounger agegroups.
Whether you choose to lead a club or just take part, there is something for everyone from Medicine Society, Politics Society, LGBTQ+ Society to a huge range ofmusic, sporting and drama options.
Additionally, you can undertake prestigious qualifications such as the Arts Award or Crest Award. You willalso have the opportunity to take part in numerous trips, both in the UK and globally. It is through taking part in these activities that you will get the most out ofyour time in the Sixth Form.
Drama is about creating an inclusive community and developing a love of the Arts, and that is what we look to inspire within you at Habs with our Drama provision.
Working collaboratively, inside and outside the classroom, we encourage students to develop their skills, confidence and experience. All elements of theatre are explored and you have the opportunity to take leading roles backstage as stage managers, lighting and sound technicians, costume and makeupartists orprop makers.
As part of our provision, we have hosted several professional make-up and theatre design workshops to support our curriculum and organised workshops for examination students with leading theatre companies and practitioners.
School productions feature heavily in our co-curricular programme and students perform in a range of plays and musicals. Recent productions include Brief Encounter (done jointly with the Boys’ School), The Glove Thief and Patch There are popular lunchtime clubs run by the LowerSixth and small-scale workshop performances take place each term. Each academic year, we also participate in the Shakespeare Coram Schools Festival and enter local festivals.
Music
At Habs, there are so many opportunities to get involved with music and, each week, we welcome hundreds of students into the department for music making of all kinds.
We have over 400 students receiving weekly instrumental or vocal tuition and over 20 different ensembles, involving students of all ages and experiences. Our packed concert schedule includes large-scale termly concerts, chamber concerts, performing arts evenings, open mic lunchtime concerts and our annual Carol Service, which takes place at St Martin-in-the Fields, London. Recent highlights have included performances at the Founders Day Service at St Albans Cathedral, joint orchestral projects with the Boys School, taking part in the inaugural Habs Company of Schools’ Music Festival, reaching the Finals of the South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition, and our Summer House Music Festival.
Taking part in activities like these
will form memories that stay with you for life. Whether you are a young musician already playing at a high level, or someone who wants to give it a try for the first time, we look forward to working with you and discovering the incredible potential of music together.
To help you find the best cocurricular ensemble and choirs to join, please complete this form about your music choices.
Learning a musical instrument is the gateway to many wonderful opportunities in the Music School. We are proud to have an exceptional team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs) who provide expert tuition on a broad range of instruments.
We offer lessons on the following
instruments: BASSOON
CELLO
CLARINET
DOUBLE BASS
DRUMS
FRENCH HORN
FLUTE
CLASSICAL GUITAR
ELECTRIC GUITAR
OBOE
ORGAN
PERCUSSION
PIANO
RECORDER
SAXOPHONE
JAZZ SAXOPHONE
TROMBONE
TRUMPET
VOICE
VIOLA
VIOLIN
Sport is an integral part of school life atHabs and we encourage students to engage in a variety of sport and physical activities. We offer all students the opportunity to represent the school at any level and you have the chance to get involved in internal franchise competitions, 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 health and 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.
As part of school life at Habs, we join the Boys’ School on their weekly 3.5km community run. This is HabsDash and it takes place every Tuesday lunchtime, and the routetakingstudents around our school grounds. The run is open to all members ofthe Habs community – students and staff, both atHabs Girls and at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. To take part, you need to go to the Medburn Centre at 12.40pm on
Tuesdays and get changed – the run starts at12.50pm.
The school produces results sheets each week you can track your progress and work towards running a half marathon, a marathon or even further!
MOUTHGUARD INFORMATION
For students taking part in a sport that requires a mouthguard,such as Lacrosse, parents can order from Opro We would recommend a high or pro impact mouthguard. You can choose any design, including a Habs branded version.
NETBALL
LACROSSE
DANCE
GYMNASTICS
TRAMPOLINING
SWIMMING
FITNESS
BADMINTON
FOOTBALL
CROSS COUNTRY
TENNIS
CRICKET
ATHLETICS
A selection of some of the sports available to students:
Joint with the Boy's school: HABSDASH
WATER POLO
SQUASH
Leadership opportunities
There are multipleleadership opportunities thatyoucan undertake during your time in the Sixth Form, furthering your skills andgiving youexamplesforthose all important job interviews and personalstatements.
There are leadership opportunities through whole school initiativessuch as the Student Voice,which is made up of LowerSixth students, or the School Prefect team, who are selected towards the end of the LowerSixth year.
In addition to the whole school roles there are numerous other opportunities to take on the responsibilities of leadership through the broad range of co-curricular activities on offer.
Travelling to school
Driving in STUDENTS
We encourage you to take the school coach, as this is a more reliable option. If you have passed yourdriving test, you may drive to school and park at Aldenham Country Park. However, this is strictly at yourown liability. There is no parking availablefor the Sixth Form on school grounds at any time.
PARENTS
Parents can collect students from the Habs Girls school visitor car park, which is just before the security barriers. There will be marshals to direct parents into one of two lanes where they can then wait for you.
Coaches
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 mobile phone. There is a Home to School Coach Terms ofService 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. Anyone who has already booked, or has an existing bookings will be moved over to Vectare over the summer break so there is no need to rebook an existing route.
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
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.
University and Careers
Dr Richard Silverman is our Head of Futures, he leads a dedicated futures team who will guide you through the university process, whether you want to study in the UK, internationally or consider a degree apprenticeship.
A comprehensive UCAS and higher education programme takes place throughout your time in the Sixth Form.
You can contact Dr Silverman by email for an appointment: rsilverman@habselstree.org.uk
Alumni network
Graduation marks the end of your school days but not your connection to the school. As an alumna, you will remain an important part of the Habs community throughout your life.
Graduates of either school Habs Girls or Habs Boys are known as Old Haberdashers. As an Old Haberdasher(OH,for short) you become part of a career and social network of thousands of alumnae worldwide. The Alumnae Office within the Habs Elstree Schools Foundation is here to help Old Haberdashers’ connect with each other, the school and their former teachers. As Old Haberdashers you will be invited to meet-ups, reunions and special events throughout the year.
There will also be opportunities to come back to Habs and help current students, as you may have been helped yourself during your time at the school. This might include giving advice on choosing a university or course of study or,later,career talks and tips. Questions? Contact the Alumnae Office any time: alumnaegirls@habselstree.org.uk
Introducing our Parents’ Guild
Introducing our Parents’ Guild
Weare excited to introduce to parents and guardians our St CatherineParents’ Guild.
This is the official name of the Parents’ Association at Habs Girls, named after the school’s patron saint, but you will often hear it referred to simply as the Guild.
Run by both Junior and Senior School parents, you will automatically become a member of the Guild when your child joins.
The Guild is a great way for parents and guardians to get more involved in school life – enabling you to get to know other parents across year groups and within your child’s class and House groups.
There are several social and fundraising events throughout the year organised and run by the Guild, including a Fireworks Extravaganza, Quiz Night, Vintage Tea Party, Junior Disco and a Summer Fun Day. These events are fantastic opportunities to socialise with other parents from across both school communities.
Committee meetings are open to all parents every half term, so please do come along to hear the latest news about events and how you can help. You can also share any ideas or hidden talents with us.
If would like any further information, including more details aboutthe half termly meetings,please do not hesitate to contact the Guild by emailing stcatherineparentsguild@gmail.com
