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Aldwickbury School

Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England AL5 1AD
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 713022

Private School (Fee Paying) Co-Educational 4 - 13 Years Day

Aldwickbury School is an independent Pre-Prep and Prep School for ages 4-13 in Harpenden.

From September 2025, Aldwickbury will begin transitioning to co-education and will welcome girls into the Pre-Prep (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2).

The school provides an outstanding education that encourages children to do their best, embrace challenges, be themselves and most importantly, to be kind. The strong academic curriculum prepares pupils for a range of excellent schools.

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Word From The Head

Head Photo

From Paul Symes, Headmaster


It is a great privilege to lead such an outstanding school alongside a team of highly skilled staff who work together to deliver an education that respects tradition whilst being forward-thinking in its approach. As a school, we place great emphasis on values that prepare children for the wider world.

At the heart of the Aldwickbury community lies our belief that pastoral care should form the bedrock for academic success. Every child is nurtured and encouraged to try their best, embrace challenge and most importantly; be kind.

Through an extensive and varied curriculum we aim to equip all the children with the skills to be happy and confident, build relationships with their peers and staff and develop strategies for coping with the challenges life presents.

The breadth of opportunities on offer at Aldwickbury is something we are incredibly proud of. The pupils are challenged and engaged academically but also benefit from a wide-ranging co-curricular programme making full use of our extensive grounds and facilities. The school offers pupils of all abilities a myriad of exciting opportunities to develop their confidence and unearth their talents in the arts, STEM, on stage, in music and on the sports field.

The journey through the school prepares the children to leave at 13 when we believe they are truly ready for senior school education.

I believe Aldwickbury is unique. I speak on behalf of the school when I invite you and your family to come and visit, allowing you to sense the warm welcome from the pupils, staff and our parent community.

Please do book a visit either for our next open morning or for a private tour.

I very much look forward to welcoming you.

Open Days, Visits & Events

30-04-2025 - Stay and Play

For Reception 2026 – Wednesday 30th April, 9:15am – 10:45am
We welcome children and their parents to join us for a morning of fun and adventure.

During the morning your child will be able to take part in fun activities including craft, music and drama whilst you chat to our friendly Pre-Prep staff to find out more the holistic education we offer and how we instil a love of learning. This is also a good opportunity to meet other families considering Aldwickbury.

You are welcome to drop-in anytime during the session.

There is no charge but we recommend early booking as spaces are limited.

15-05-2025 - Whole School Open Morning

During an Open Morning, you'll have the opportunity to:

See the school in action on an ordinary morning
Tour the school with our senior boys
Meet the Headmaster and members of staff
Chat informally to current Aldwickbury parents and Governors
Meet other families who are considering joining Aldwickbury

What We Offer

  • LAMDA - London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
  • Classics
  • Design Technology
  • Drama/Theatre
  • ICT
  • Philosophy/Ethics
  • Photography
  • French
  • German
  • Latin
  • Spanish
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Cross-Country
  • Fencing
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Rugby
  • Skiiing
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Astronomy
  • Badminton
  • Band
  • Brass
  • Chess
  • Choir
  • Coding
  • Cycling
  • Dance
  • Debating
  • Drama
  • Eco Club
  • Fencing
  • Language Club
  • Lego
  • Music
  • Orchestra
  • Orienteering
  • Public Speaking
  • Robotics
  • Rock Climbing
  • Skiing
  • Trampolining
  • Yoga
    • After School Club
    • Before School Club
    • Breakfast Club
    • Coeliac/Gluten Intolerance
    • Dairy Intolerance
    • Gifted Children
    • Nut Allergies
    • Special Diets
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Wrap Around Care

    Admissions

    • Assessment
    • Interview
    • Bursaries
    • Financial Assistance
    • All denominations welcome
    • Church of England
    • English

      Age Range & Fees

      Age Range4 to 13
      Annual Day Fees *£17886 to £23829
      Annual Weekly Boarding Fees *£0 to £0
      Annual Full Boarding Fees *£0 to £0
      * Currency: GB Pound

      Number Of Pupils

      368Day0
      0Full Boarding0
      48Weekly Boarding0
      416Total0
      Boys Girls

      Number Of Staff

      Full-time: 59
      Part-time: 25

      % Pupils Gaining
      GCSE/IGCSE Passes 5 - 9

      % Pupils Gaining
      A Level Grades A – C

      IB Score
       

      School Reviews

      Current Parent


      Incredible teachers and facilities. Friendly and nurturing atmosphere. It is so good at engaging boys, and the enthusiasm and friendliness of all the staff.  

      Current Parent


      Great school spirit and understanding of boys. Efficient, purposeful, intuitively planned lessons with good pastoral care and great class sizes. Making five football teams for Year 7 & 8.  

      Current Parent


      Mutual respect between teachers and boys. Small class sizes, caring teachers, well led Pre-Prep. The personal touch from the Pre-Prep head and also the form tutor. Excellent all round.  

      Current Parent


      You just get boys - that was very evident during the show rounds and a big reason why we moved out of a mixed school.  

      Current Parent


      The very caring and nurturing environment was the key factor. Our son was seen as an individual and the school engaged in discussing his needs.