WHAT? WHERE?

Haileybury is a Co-ed boarding and day school for 920 pupils aged 11-18. Whilst it’s in a rural spot, the school is just 20 miles north of London and handily close to the conveniences of Hertford, Hoddesdon and the A10.

The original 1862 building was once home to the East India College, which later merged with the Imperial Service College. The site is grand, with the kind of impressive architecture that makes you feel tiny when you take in the sheer scale of it all – in fact the main Quad (there are two!) is the largest of any school or university in the UK and the dining hall has the largest unsupported dome structure in Europe – take a minute to absorb that… there are tree lined avenues and a whopping total of 500 acres to explore.

The grounds are so vast that despite the fact that walking on the pristinely manicured Quad lawns (except on very special occasions, such as Prize Giving) is strictly forbidden there’s plenty more space to stretch the legs so noone seems to mind! And, it’s no surprise to find that many of the 140 teachers live in their own house on site – I imagine they barely know they’re on school grounds thanks to the oodles of space around them.

FACILITIES

Haileybury DT — The new Sci Tech DT suite

Where to start? This is a school that feels like it has everything, but I’ll give you the highlights. The most recent and notable addition is the new Science and Technology centre (or SciTech as it’s known), which opened in the Autumn term of 2023. It has doubled the size of the previous facilities, with no fewer than 20 teaching and seminar spaces, new labs, top-notch IT suites and a HUGE DT and robotics studio with all the equipment you can imagine – STEM pupils must have a field day here.

Incidentally, pupils aren’t just encouraged to study Science at Haileybury but to actually become scientists, and they’re working on real life projects to prove it, such as launching a mini satellite (a CubeSat) into space – budding Elon Musk’s will be in their element. The centre is also home to a pioneering research for the Stan-X project – which studies the genetics of fruit flies to help find cures for human diseases from diabetes to pancreatic cancer. The pupils are actually working on this university-level research with real scientists from Stanford University. How’s that for ‘real world’ experience?!

Naturally, the SciTech buildings themselves have been sustainably constructed with solar panels, green roofs, ground-source heat pumps and eco-friendly timber, which all contribute toward’s Haileybury’s goal to become net zero.

As for the rest of the site, English, History, Languages and Classics are taught in what’s known as the Form Rooms – stunning open spaces with high ceilings and period features which have been modernised with tasteful wallpaper, pastel paints and stylish light fittings and seating areas – rather like a boutique hotel lobby. In the classrooms are interactive boards and modern desks which can be configured to suit the style of lesson.

A languages classroom at Haileybury school — A languages classroom

There’s a school chapel, with an organ, which is used regularly. The school welcomes those from all faiths and none but everyone attends 2-3 days a week for readings and singing hymns.

I mentioned the dome of the dining hall – well it’s as grand as it sounds, with wooden refectory style benches and portraits of all the school’s former heads on the wood-panelled walls. One of my Year 10 guides delights in telling me that if you stand at one corner of the hall and speak up to the dome, the sound will travel across to a friend on the other side, even over all the lively lunchtime chatter.

Haileybury school dining hall — The domed dining hall

There’s also a café-style hangout (complete with neon signage!) called The Grubber where pupils can go after school to meet friends or grab a hot drink and a snack. Sixth Formers also have their own private chill out space.

The Sports facilities are phenomenal – a whole complex with a 25 metre pool, Sports Science classrooms, a gym, an all-weather Tennis dome, Hockey Astro, Cricket nets and and 6 Rugby/Football pitches, as well as the revered ‘Terrace’ – a pitch that sits pretty in front of the main school building and is reserved for use by the First teams and a very special House Football night. It’s like the Holy Grail of sports pitches and the students are itching to get their chance at some action on it.

THE ARTS

Girl singing with brass band at Haileybury school

Music is a strong subject here and there’s a brand new Director of Music, as of Sept 2024, Mr Richard Brain. There’s tonnes to get involved with, from Chapel choir to Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Music ensembles to Pop, Rock and Jazz groups. And any aspiring musician would be champing at the bit to get into the Music departement with its 12 grand pianos and a state-of-the-art Music Suite.

Many pupils are also members of national ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Concert Band and National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and those who have the ability are encouraged to attend Junior departments of the Royal College, Royal Academy and Guildhall.

Haileybury school drama performance chicago

Drama and dance is equally strong with many taking up LAMDA, and there’s an opportunity to get involved in the performances and House Drama competitions even for those not studying the subjects. The most recent production was Chicago, and they’re currently working on two couldn’t-be-more-different productions of Richard III and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

SPORT

I mentioned the amazing Sports facilities here. Well it clearly pays off when you look at the results. Hockey is particularly strong at Haileybury and in the 2023/24 academic year the school’s U18 and U14 teams both reached the UK quarter finals, whilst the U15 girls and U16 boys were National Champions and the U16 girls won a bronze medal in the National Champs, too.

All pupils do Sport at least twice a week – more for the scholars who take extra sessions and have use of the school gym, too. Haileybury fields 20 teams for each of its core sports – Hockey, Rugby, Netball and Cricket – with over 1,000 fixtures per year across more than 25 different sports in total, so there really is something for everyone. And on the Summer Sports Day, pupils are all encouraged to have a go and can be picked to take part in any of the events.

The swimmers often see successes in the pool, too – notably, the Senior girls’ medley relay squad won the National Champions title last year.

WHAT ELSE

Haileybury is a selective school and all applicants must sit the school’s own exams in English and Maths, plus a subject paper for 16+ and complete an online cognitive abilities test, as well as take part in an interview and submit a school reference and report.

The biggest intakes are Years 7, 9 and 12. Year 7 joiners start looking around the school from Year 5 and pupils can start testing for Year 9 entry as young as Year 6 – they can have another try in Years 7 and 8 if they aren’t offered a place first time round. Academic, Music and Sport scholarships are also offered at Years 7, with the addition of Art, DT and Drama in Years 9 and 12.

In terms of pupil ratio, you couldn’t get much more even, with 51/49% boys to girls. Average class sizes start at around 20, then go down to 17 at KS4 and around eight per class in Sixth Form.

Saturday school is compulsory for all pupils at Haileybury. In Years 7 and 8 this involves sports fixtures in the morning and a lunchtime finish, whereas pupils in Year 9 and upwards have subject lessons in the mornings and Sport in the afternoons.

There are more than 130 co-curricular clubs and societies at Haileybury (many of which are run by the pupils themselves), including the largest Model United Nations club in the UK, Robotics, Investment Club, Eco Group and Photography Club.

Most Haileybury leavers secured places at their first choice universities last year. This included Russell Group universities in the UK as well as international ones (which are increasingly popular) such as Harvard, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell, Toronto, Hong Kong and MacGill. The world really is their oyster.

THE MASTER

Eugene du Toit, former Master of Wellington School, only joined the school in September 2024, yet already seems comfortably settled in to his role here. He is a man of presence, both physically and in his manner. I get the impression that he could make a big impact with very few carefully chosen and calmly delivered words, and could hold the interest of even the most easily distracted pupils.

South African by heritage – he was born in Zimbabwe – du Toit has lived in the UK for 25 years, and feels like he’s at home in the South East, where he and his wife have lived previously. He was attracted to Haileybury for its sense of ambition, purpose and excitement, and admits to feeling energised by that. His core values are ‘strong relationships’ – ensuring the pupils feel listened to and understood, and ‘aiming high’ – flipping the downward pressure to succeed on its head and encouraging kids to be ambitious and bold, to find their wings and really fly.

Pupil voice is something I think we can expect to hear more of at Haileybury under du Toit, who has launched a ‘conversation’ (not a consultation) with pupils – current and former – teachers and parents to help inform his five-year plan for the school. But for now he has committed to keep Haileybury firmly grounded in the 21st century in terms of staying modern, relevant and always moving forward.

ACADEMIC

Haileybury ranks among the top five IB schools and top 30 UK independent schools for exam results and the 2024 A-level results were the best in the school’s history (Pandemic aside), with 83% of grades awarded at A*- B and more than 32% of the cohort achieving three As or better.

Pupils can also do the International Baccalaureate here (including a one-year IB course for International students). Not only that, Haileybury’s been named the ‘Best fully Co-ed IB Independent school’ in The Times’ Best UK Independent Schools 2024 league table. To give you an idea why, the 2024 Upper Sixth pupils achieved 63% A*/A grades (or the IBDP equivalent) and 89% A*- B grades (or the IBDP equivalent).

The GCSE results make for equally impressive reading with the 2024 cohort achieving just under 90% of grades awarded at 9-6/A*-B.

BOARDING

All pupils – not just boarders – are allocated a House (there are 13 – 6 girls’ houses, 6 boys’ houses and one mixed lower school one) when they join Haileybury and day pupils also use the boarding houses’ communal areas whenever they want as well as their own study space. Most houses are in their own private building, which are a mix of modern and traditional styles, and girls and boys houses are paired up for some events and activities – I liked the idea of the boys cooking and hosting dinner for the girls in their boarding house one evening.

Haileybury school boarding house common room — Kipling House Common Room

Around two-thirds of pupils are boarders which means there are around 60 – 70 pupils per house. Boarding is offered from age 11 and on a weekly basis for Years 7 and 8, then full boarding starts from Year 9.

I had a snoop around boys’ Kipling House, where there was plenty of communal space – three main areas in fact – plus two kitchens and an array of different bedroom set-ups, from multi-bed dorms to smaller shared rooms and doubles, and well-sized private rooms with grounds views for the Heads of House.

Haileybury school boarding dorm — Kipling House Dorm

The House Masters live in the boarding houses and are the main point of contact for the pupils and their families on a pastoral level, and the House Tutor, who deals with any academic queries, lives in their own self-contained flat within the boarding house, too, so there’s plenty of support on hand.

boarding house kitchen Haileybury — One of the kitchens in Kipling House

Flexi and weekly boarding is offered in lower school and there are occasionally opportunities to stay ad hoc for special events, as well as an ‘introduction to boarding’ experience for year 9s, where they can come and try it for three consecutive nights. A good number of these will convert to full boarding for Sixth Form. And, many boarders actually live close enough to come in every day but prefer to board, which is testament to how much they enjoy the experience.

PASTORAL

The school’s Health and Wellbeing Centre is open 24/7 and gives the pupils access to nursing and counselling professionals working closely with the school’s GP team to support them with mental and physical health.

As I mentioned above, the House system plays an integral pastoral role and the majority of teaching staff are trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, enabling them to spot early signs and offer initial support to pupils.

There is also a Learning Support team which provides additional support for pupils with specific learning needs, which are assessed on an individual basis during the application process.

QUIRKS

It’s not uncommon for independent schools to have their own names for year groups, but it might take a bit of getting your head around here. At Haileybury Years 7 – 8 are known as Lower School and Years 12-13 as Sixth Form (nothin unusual there), but Year 9 are referred to as Removes, Year 10 as Middles, and Year 11 as Fifths.

The background noise for the dining hall scenes in Harry Potter was recorded in the Haileybury Dining Hall, chosen for its excellent acoustics thanks to that impressive domed ceiling.

A tree that descended from the one which dropped the apple on Sir Isaac Newton’s head (yes, really!) was gifted to the school as a sapling and will be planted in the Sci Tech courtyard. It’s currently being grown indoors until it’s strong enough to be outside – cue kids sitting under it waiting for their genius moment to strike!

FEES

For Lower School Day pupils it’s £7,670 per term and for Boarding £10,115. Senior Day fees are £11,540 and £15,945 for Boarding per term.

There’s a non-refundable registration fee of £200 and an acceptance deposit of £3,000 (£8,000 for non-UK residents).

WORD ON THE GROUND

Haileybury is considered one of the top dogs by parents from Hertfordshire and beyond, demonstrated by the fact that pupils come from near and far. It’s particularly favoured for its time-honoured traditions, phenomenal grounds and exceptional performance in Sport. Pupils are also happy and confident here and leave feeling prepared, ready and excited to take on the next steps.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Joiner-inners. Those who want to get stuck in, have a go and are open to all of the incredible opportunities available to them. Plus the House system is really inclusive of day pupils so there’s no ‘them and us’ culture here.

NOT FOR: Those who aren’t prepared to embrace the sheer wealth of experience that Haileybury offers won’t make the most of the fantastic education here. Plus, the compulsory Saturday school won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

DARE TO DISAGREE?

Be my guest! There is an 11+ Open Morning on 7 November 2024 and a Sixth Form Open Evening on 19 May 2025. Book here.

Haileybury, Hertford, SG13 7NU; 01992 706200

Haileybury School, Hertford

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