PROSPECTUS
Together, boundless
The Early Years 1690 The Haberdashers’ Company receives a royal charter to establish a school for 20 boarders
1695 School opens
1903
1996
Habs moves to Hampstead
Habs tops The Times A Level league table
1946
2004
In recognition of our heritage, The Haberdashers’ Company makes Habs a Direct Grant school under the 1944 Education Act
Habs wins The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year
1959 The Company purchases Aldenham House and 61 acres of land from Lord Aldenham
Rebuilding & Reform 1849 The school takes advice on offering “the most beneficial education for the class admitted”
1873 Four new schools are established: two at Hoxton, and two at Hatcham, New Cross in south-east London
1875 Hoxton and Hatcham schools open
1961 Habs moves to Elstree
1975 Habs returns to the independent school sector after the abolition of the Direct Grant system
1981 Habs tops the school league tables for entrants to Oxford and Cambridge
The Aske Building, with its state-of-the-art science labs, opens
2011 Prep School wins The Sunday Times Independent Prep School of the Year for the second time – the only boys’ school to do so
2015/16 Best A Level results make Habs one of the topranked independent boys’ schools in the UK
2016 Medburn Centre opens, supplementing the school’s already outstanding sports facilities
1997 Habs named “best school in the nation” by both The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail
2006 Habs Foundation is launched to allow parents, alumni, staff and friends of the school to make taxefficient gifts to support the school’s work Prep School wins The Sunday Times Independent Prep School of the Year
2016/17 Habs wins The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year
2017 PISA report (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranks Habs as the highest-achieving education system in all categories tested. It concludes that Habs has surpassed ‘top-performing countries’ including Singapore, Canada and Finland
2018 Opening of new two-storey extension of our multi-award winning Preparatory School Gus Lock becomes Headmaster
Welcome Choosing a school is more than simply you and your child deciding how they will spend their daytime hours. It is choosing their future: the type of adult they will become, the contribution they will make to society and the friends they may keep for a lifetime.
2019 Habs Boys launches an exciting new 10-year strategy together with Habs Haberdashers’ Aske’s School Girls, our sibling school for Girls
Our Strategy 2020-2030
2020 School delivers an outstanding online remote curriculum during the UK lockdown Design and Technology department produces over 3,500 pieces of PPE for NHS and key workers during the pandemic The Habs Foundation, which was originally set up at the Boys’ School, is reconstituted to serve both Habs Boys and Habs Girls
Here at Habs, we pride ourselves on our holistic approach to education and development, with broad horizons and a sincere belief in the value of lifelong learning. We strive not only to support children to maturity but also to make sure that they grow into well-rounded, active, creative, compassionate adults along the way. We prepare them for the challenges of the world they will meet when they leave Habs, so that they can thrive and help others to do the same. Habs is a family which encompasses pupils, teachers, support staff and you. In welcoming your child to our family, we also welcome you, your opinions and values. Together, we can nurture in them passions for learning, diligence and excellence and for a wide variety of co-curricular activities. I speak with enthusiasm for Habs and all of its benefits and I speak from experience, as an Old Haberdasher myself. I hope that you will visit us soon so that you can appreciate the energy and drive our school instils in all of its pupils, old and new.
2021 Work begins on exceptional new teaching blocks with 47 modern classrooms and world-class drama studio Habs opens registration for 4+ Reception classes. As a result, Habs becomes a 4 to 18 through school
Gus Lock Headmaster
Together,
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My favourite lesson is English because, on top of comprehension, we also do theatre, film-making and debating, which is really relevant today, especially in politics. YEAR 7 PUPIL
At Habs, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in education. We aim to provide a dynamic, holistic educational experience for pupils aged 4 to 18. Supported by our extensive co-curricular programme, pupils can explore individual interests and passions both inside and beyond the classroom. We have opportunities to work closely with our sibling school, Habs Girls.
boundless
Pastoral No matter how bright our pupils may be, true success is a joint endeavour. Each pupil is given caring support from our committed pastoral team at every step along their school journey. Our House system provides the pupils with a support structure that also teaches them the merits of co-operation and community, values we trust they will take with them into the world.
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When joining the school, we had a buddy system. If we were stuck or needed any help, our buddies were there. Since we were all new and unsure about where to go and what to do, it was comforting to have someone to turn to. YEAR 7 PUPIL
Academic
Our tradition of academic success stems from our dedicated staff of subject specialists. They instil a passion for learning through the scholarly process and enrich subject learning far beyond the curriculum, encouraging the pupils to develop their personal interests.
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Our pupils are focused, dedicated and brimming with enthusiasm. Above all, they value their teachers’ knowledge and love of their subject. They are keen to learn and to challenge themselves creatively and intellectually, far beyond the requirements of any exam syllabus, and the result is exceptional. ROBERT SYKES DEPUTY HEAD - ACADEMIC
Exceptional Habs is situated in an idyllic, 100-acre campus in Elstree, Hertfordshire, just outside London. From our purpose-built TW Taylor Music School to the professional cricket squares and floodlit astro-turf pitches for hockey, tennis and football from our open, contemporary library to the fully-equipped stage with a 15-foot flytower; from the Willow Dome and Solai Woodland Trail to the Prep’s outdoor classroom, Habs Boys offers the very best teaching and learning facilities. The Medburn Centre, a state-of-the-art sports complex, provides a staggering range of facilities including half-Olympic-size pool, indoor rock walls, fitness suite and squash courts, enabling every pupil to discover their own sporting passion. The Medburn Centre also houses Joe’s, our very own university style cafe.
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I’d never played squash before I came to Habs but now it’s my first-choice sport. I was really proud to be able to play in the Lower School competition this year. YEAR 8 PUPIL
facilities
Discovering
The journey towards success begins with positive participation and consideration for others. From there each pupil progresses along their own path. Our public speakers have been named the best in the world, our musicians have found national success, our sports teams have topped the national leagues. Given excellent support and opportunities, each pupil discovers the skills that will make them successful and able to fulfil their potential.
skills
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Having the opportunity to perform on the Barbican stage was the highlight of my musical career at Habs. I couldn’t believe I was actually on the stage where so many remarkable musicians had performed, and now I was one of them. YEAR 11 PUPIL
Become part of the
Habs family Pre-Prep School
Senior School
The Pre-Prep is the start of the journey through Haberdashers’. We aim for a family environment: a place which is very comfortable for the pupils, where they all know each other and where the staff all know them.
The quality of the relationships here is the key to our success. The pupils who join us do so for life. We see the experience as a journey and whether you join at 4+, 5+, 7+, 11+, 13+ or 16+, you are always part of the Habs community.
Prep School We want your child to feel at ease from their very first day. To help the transition, we have a buddy system and we have found that the friendships forged here last throughout the pupils’ schooldays and into their adult lives.
Old Haberdashers “I didn’t appreciate just how well Habs had prepared me for success – in all areas of my life – until after I left. I really feel empowered to identify my goals and am determined to achieve them. My only limitation is my ambition!” Joshua Navarajasegaran (OH 2015)
Sixth Form Our Sixth Formers are a distinctive part of our school community. They are aspirational role models to the younger pupils, immaculately presented in their suits, as they prepare for their professional lives and the leadership roles they will take in society.
Old Haberdashers “Haberdashers’ has a commitment to academic excellence that is unrivalled. But it also recognises that learning beyond the syllabus matters – that pupils should be able to pursue intellectual curiosities and eccentric pursuits; that what matters is the friends you make, your values and the life you lead.” Jeremy Brier (OH 1998)
Meeting When pupils leave Habs, they will face many challenges in a rapidly changing world. Successfully negotiating life’s challenges, whether personal or professional, requires experiences which develop tenacity, self-belief and resilience. These opportunities are embedded in our curricular and co-curricular activities and ensure our pupils are prepared to meet the future with confidence.
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My favourite place has to be the Drama Studio. Drama has really helped improve my confidence and I feel as if I have been speaking more every day in school! YEAR 10 PUPIL
challenges
Achieving
success We are renowned for our academic success and the depth of our co-curricular provision. A recent PISA report (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranked Habs as the highest-achieving education system in all categories tested. It concluded that Habs has surpassed “top-performing countries” including Singapore, Canada and Finland. However, grades are only a part of the success achieved at Habs. When our pupils graduate to the next stage of their lives, they do so as confident, accomplished and mature young adults, ready to lead purposeful and responsible lives.
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I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have been able to explore all the amazing opportunities that Habs Boys offered me. Being a Habs pupil is special in itself. YEAR 12 PUPIL
University & careers From first-choice universities to globe-spanning careers, our alumni continue to thrive beyond our campus. With internationally-distinguished politicians, lawyers, financiers, medics, creatives, entrepreneurs, engineers and academics, there truly is no typical life post-Habs.
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Between the UCAS conference, my personal staff adviser, mock interviews, careers events, work experience and meeting alumni, I could not have been better prepared to succeed in my life once I have left Habs. YEAR 13 PUPIL
Our global community Developing global awareness is very important in preparing our pupils for the future. Over 25 international trips take place each year and many Old Haberdashers go on to make significant contributions across the world. Both Habs Boys and Habs Girls have partnerships with a number of schools, colleges, universities and charities abroad. The highlighted countries show where Old Haberdashers live and work
Building Students remain part of the Habs community throughout their lives. As Old Haberdashers, they have access to a network of alumni, former teachers and staff from both schools. The lifelong friendships and professional ties they make through the Habs community are facilitated by reunions and special activities organised through the Habs Foundation. Old Haberdashers enjoy giving back to their alma mater. This ranges from providing careers advice to students to supporting Habs philanthropically. Old Haberdashers are particularly generous in supporting bright and capable students who would thrive at Habs, but whose families lack the means to pay school fees.
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I go to the CCF dinner every year. It’s fantastic catching up with all my old friends and hearing what they have all been up to. Put us all in a room together and we’re Habs boys again, through and through. OLD HABERDASHER (2001)
community
Our future
Artist’s impressions of our plans for the new academic hub.
At Habs we are constantly looking for opportunities to reach new heights in providing for our pupils’ changing needs. The school is committed to providing outstanding education. In 2016, the completion of the Medburn Centre enhanced our already excellent sports facilities, helping to ensure that every pupil can pursue their fitness goals. In July 2018, the Prep School stepped into the future with a new two-storey extension, Library, Art and DT studios, and renovations to all existing spaces such as classrooms and administrative areas. We are currently constructing a state-of-the art academic hub in the Senior School. It will offer innovative accommodation for English, Maths, Modern Languages, Economics and Theology and Philosophy, as well as a sensational new Drama Studio. The next exciting phase of development on campus will be bringing our Pre-Prep School, which is currently based in St Albans, to the Elstree site, whilst maintaining its separate private space. Planning permission has been approved to construct a bespoke, eco-friendly Pre-Prep building. The plans seek to respect and respond to the environment and have been developed from the concept of ‘learn, nurture, grow’. We also launched an exciting 10-year strategy together with Habs Girls, our sibling school. This is available to read on our website. Our plans do not stop here. The evolution of Habs is a continuing journey to excellence.
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We provide the best so that our pupils are inspired to be their best. State-of-the-art surroundings nurture their interests and excite new ones, continuing and creating afresh the Habs traditions of achievement and innovation. GUS LOCK HEADMASTER
Our green &
Located in 100-acres of leafy countryside, the Habs campus is set in an idyllic landscape, providing abundant space in which to learn and grow.
pleasant grounds
The Haberdashers’ Family Haberdashers’ Boys’ School Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AF 020 8266 1700 Haberdashers’ Girls’ School Aldenham Road, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3BT 020 8266 2300
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