Senior School Guide
Open Day Saturday 6 October 2018
Welcome from the Headmaster On behalf of the boys, staff and governors at The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, I would like to wish you the warmest of welcomes to our 2018 Open Day. We hope your visit will be both enjoyable and informative. By the end of the afternoon, we are confident that you will have picked up on our special atmosphere. Habs is a fantastic place. The warmth of the leafy, 120-acre Elstree site is tremendous, and it truly is a delightful place to be. Simply put, we aim: • to challenge bright boys to achieve high standards • to develop a sense of community and shared values • to support parents in preparing their sons for a fulfilled life The quality of teaching and learning is unrivalled; our pastoral care is superb and we offer a breadth of character-building opportunities in our extensive and inclusive co-curricular programme. We help young men develop into confident, compassionate and responsible leaders. Boys leave
Habs as well-rounded young men, who will play a positive part in the world. Our Old Haberdashers’ are a testament to this. The coach service at Habs is unique. We believe that it is the largest coach network of any school in the country, allowing pupils from far and wide to benefit from a Haberdashers’ education. Do visit the Aske Hall to find out more about travelling to Habs. Please do feel free to ask as many questions as you like throughout the afternoon. Our boys and staff will be more than happy to speak with you. I will be speaking in the Bourne Hall and warmly invite you to attend one of the three sessions, details of which can be found within this Open Day guide.
Gus Lock MA (Oxon) Headmaster
Open Day Highlights Headmaster’s Welcome Bourne Hall - 1.45pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm During each 20-minute address the Head Boy and a Year 8 boy will speak about life at Habs.
Head of the Preparatory School’s Welcome Prep School Hall - 1.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm
Tours Bespoke tours of the Senior School are designed to give you a flavour of what goes on in each department. Boys will act as guides on all routes and teaching staff will be available to answer any questions in each subject area. Senior School tours will commence outside the sign-in area.
Music Highlights - Our national award-winning Big Band will be
performing in the Bourne Hall prior to the Headmaster’s Welcome. Music scholars will also perform in the Seldon Hall and our Year 8 string quartet will play under the Bourne canopy.
Debating - Live debating will take place in the English department.
Drama - Observe National Theatre
puppet workshops with GCSE and A-level classes in the Drama Studio.
English - Shakespeare by Heart
performed by Year 8s on the Quad.
Languages - 10-minute taster sessions for boys and parents in MFL block.
Sports - The full range of our exciting sports programme will be on display throughout the afternoon.
Information Centres Aske Hall The Aske Hall (Ref 3 on the map at the back of this booklet) acts as the focal point for the day for admissions and pastoral care information.
You may register your son online in the Aske Hall to sit the entrance examination. • 11+ entry
Deborah Bardou, Head of Junior School
• 13+ entry
Gavin Hall, Head of Middle School
• Admissions
Carol Allison and Chantal Gilbert The Admissions staff can help with any registration questions.
• Meet the Housemasters - Find out about our excellent pastoral care • Old Haberdashers’ meeting point You can also find information about the following: • Careers and University destinations • Catering • Charities • Coach Service • Co-curricular • Enhancement and Enrichment • Examinations and Results • PSHCEE • Individual Needs
Bourne Foyer Financial information David Thompson, Director of Finance and Operations Parent Ambassadors
Parents of Habs boys will be available to answer questions
A little bit about Habs Life at Habs is varied, challenging and fun. The combination of bright pupils, marvellous facilities, first-class teaching and our commitment to excellence create a stimulating school life bursting with opportunities.
The School Day The day starts with registration at 8.40am, followed by assembly. We have seven lessons, each lasting 45 minutes, finishing at 4.00pm. Boys often stay for after-school activities until 5.30pm.
Lunches Morning lessons finish at 12.35pm and afternoon lessons start at 1.45pm. An extensive daily menu, including vegetarian options and sandwiches, is available from our dining room. We operate an electronic fingertip recognition system for payment.
Languages In Year 7, boys spend half a year studying French, German, Latin and Spanish before choosing two of these for Year 8.
Music Over 600 boys take instrumental lessons using facilities in the purposebuilt Music School. There are also numerous opportunities at all levels for boys to play and sing together in groups. There are 18 evening concerts and some informal lunchtime concerts each year.
Pastoral Care The well-being of our boys is central to everything we do at Haberdashers’. Our pastoral system is designed to offer each individual the support he requires through continuous membership of one of the six houses: Calverts, Hendersons, Joblings, Meadows, Russells and Strouts. Our House system is unique; it allows us to provide a comprehensive support structure to every boy. Each house is staffed by a close-knit team of Housemaster, Deputy Housemaster and over 15 House Tutors. Three section Heads work alongside Housemasters and Tutors. Mrs Deborah Bardou is Head of Junior School (Years 7 and 8), Mr Gavin Hall is Head of Middle School (Years 9,10 and 11) and Mr Richard Amlot is Director of Sixth Form. Contact between School and home may involve any of the pastoral team, including: Form Tutor, Deputy Housemaster, Housemaster or Section Head. They are always happy to respond to enquiries from parents.
Co-Curricular At Habs, we firmly believe that all boys should have the opportunity to find their forte outside the classroom; to have the chance to taste success; to work as part of a team, and have the opportunity to develop new skills and talents which continue to develop throughout his time with us and beyond. The three elements that would best define our co-curricular programme would be quality, inclusivity and variety. The quality of our programme is truly outstanding. From the seven-time national champion Bridge team, through to the ‘MACE’ winning Debating side - if boys at Haberdashers’ have a passion, there will be a forum for them to explore it. The School ‘Big Band’ has twice won national honours competing alongside university opposition, whilst our School productions are more akin to something you see in the West End.
Coaches The coach service offers a comprehensive transport network to and from School, covering before and after School activities every day. There are over 110 pick-up points. Morning pick-up times vary but regular return services operate daily at: 3.30pm for the Preparatory School, 4.15pm for end of the normal School day and 5.30pm for after School activities.
Side by side for excellence
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls are situated alongside each other. Whilst maintaining single-sex education at separate campuses, the Schools work together in a number of areas. The coach service is shared between both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools and there are some opportunities for joint co-curricular activities, including music and drama. Additionally, half of the Sixth Form’s Enhancement and Enrichment programme is run in conjunction with the Girls’ School. This helps pupils at both Schools prepare for the co-educational experience at university and in places of work.
School Shop The School Shop is located in The Medburn Centre, where all our School uniform is available. At the start of term, the Shop operates an appointment system. Stationery and tuck are also available from the School Shop.
Success at Habs Once again, Habs Boys was one of the top schools in the A-level and GCSE tables. The vast majority of our pupils go on to their first choice university, and this year 28 pupils secured Oxbridge places. Over the last few years, we have seen an increased number of students enrolling in American universities, including Harvard, Colombia and Berkeley. We have a long-established partnership with Princeton University. Every year, a graduate from Princeton University comes to work at Habs. The Aske-Princeton Fellow has proven invaluable in guiding and supporting successful applications to American universities.
A-level Results
GCSE Results
Habs Confirmed as Global Leader in Education – PISA report 2018
Popular University Destinations 2018 University
Places
University of Bristol
23
University of Cambridge
19
University of Warwick
12
University of Nottingham
13
University College London
12
London School of Economics
10
University of Oxford
9
Imperial College London
8
Durham University
8
University of Birmingham
7
University of Edinburgh
6
King’s College London
5
Old Haberdashers’ host a reunion at the University of Oxford
Entry Procedure for Senior School 11+ entry - assessment date for 2019 entry is Friday 4 January 2019 There are approximately 100 places available. The entrance exam consists of tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. A number of boys are called forward for interview on the basis of their performance in the written examination.
13+ entry - assessment date for 2019 entry is Thursday 3 January 2019 There are approximately 20 places available. The entrance exam consists of English, Mathematics, Science (Chemistry, Physics and Biology), General Humanities (this is a source-based not syllabus-based paper), two languages taken from French, German, Spanish and Latin. A number of boys are called forward for interview on the basis of their performance in the written examinations.
There are sample papers on our website for entrance tests at 7+, 11+ and 13+. The closing date for 2019 applications is Friday 30 November 2018.
Bursaries and Scholarships (Senior School Only)
Governors’ Bursaries The School governors, in seeking to widen access and reduce the burden of fees for parents on whom it would rest most heavily, make Bursaries available to all new entrants to the Senior School, including those from the Preparatory School. Candidates must qualify for a place at the School as a result of their performance in the Senior School Entrance Examination, and financial need must be established by completion of a confidential statement of income in order to be eligible for an award.
Academic Scholarships The School offers a limited number of Academic Scholarships each year to pupils entering the Senior School in Year 7 and Year 9. Each scholarship, which is awarded irrespective of parental financial circumstances, carries an element of fee remission which is usually between 5% to 20% of the annual fees. ALL candidates will be eligible for these scholarships, which are awarded for academic excellence. No special scholarship application is needed.
Music Scholarships and Exhibitions A limited number of Music Scholarships are also awarded each year to candidates showing special promise in music. Candidates are invited for audition at the discretion of the Director of Music and will reflect the current needs of the music department. Music scholars will also hold a Music Exhibition. Music Exhibitions provide free tuition in one instrument. This free tuition remains throughout a scholar’s time at Habs, although the scholarship itself is subject to annual review. When contemplating applying for a Music Scholarship or Exhibition, candidates are warmly invited to make an appointment to visit the music department, to meet the music staff and to consider the programme which, as a scholar, will be available to them.
For more information on bursaries and scholarships, please visit www.habsboys.org.uk
Entry Procedure for Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory Schools 5+ entry - assessment dates for 2019 entry are between Tuesday 26 February 2019 and Friday 1 March 2019 There are approximately 36 places available. Year 1 and Year 2 are in our Pre-Preparatory School. This is located at: Hazel Road, Park Street, St Albans AL2 2AH.
Our Pre-Preparatory (5+) Open Day will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018. Booking is essential and places are limited. Please call 020 8266 1950 to reserve your place.
7+ entry - assessment date for 2019 entry is Thursday 3 January 2019 There are approximately 20 places available. Candidates take a written entrance examination in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. Some candidates will be asked to return for an interview later in January. Year 3 to Year 6 are based in the purpose-built Preparatory School, which is located on the same Elstree campus as the Senior School.
Stay connected to Habs
www.habsboys.org.uk /habsboys @habsboys
JS - 27.09.18