Aldenham School
Aldenham School is a co-ed boarding and day school in Elstree, Hertfordshire, educating pupils aged 3 - 18 and founded in 1597. Boarding fees are £16,500 - £16,500 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 13 - 18
- Ethos
- Anglican
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Aldenham
The story, ethos and character of Aldenham.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Anglican
- Head
- Mrs Alex Hems
School Overview: Aldenham is a warm, welcoming co-educational school with 640 pupils, known for providing an excellent all-round education. Located in 120 acres of Hertfordshire countryside Less than 30 minutes from central London Under an hour from 4 major international airports, including Heathrow Academic Excellence: Consistently achieved the highest outcomes in all inspection categories over the past 12 years.
Strong academic results, with half of all GCSE exam results graded 7 (A*/A) or above, and 52% A*/B at A Level. Individual coaching for pupils aiming for Oxbridge, medicine, or Russell Group universities starts in Year Nine and continues right through the Sixth Form.
Students regularly achieve their first choice university placement both here in the UK, and in the USA and Europe.
A pioneer of holistic education. Excellent facilities and integrated technology for learning. Blends tradition with a contemporary, inclusive, and fresh approach to education. Aldenham stands out for its model of education and its unpressurised vibe.
Sport and Creative Arts: Recognized for excellence in sport, particularly Football, including being ISFA National Champions multiple times in recent years. Strong emphasis on creative arts, including Drama, Art, Music, and Dance with many opportunities to take part in performances.
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Academics at Aldenham
What pupils study at Aldenham — and where it takes them.
of English, Maths and Science we offer the following subjects: At GCSE: History Geography Computer Science French Spanish Latin Classical Civilisation Drama Art Art Textiles Design Technology PE Music Additionally we can facilitate students to sit GCSEs in their native .
At A level we offer all the GCSE subjects and include the following additional subjects: Business Economics Media Psychology Government and Politics Music Technology Extended Project Qualification In addition those students who have ambitions to study at one of the top universities in the UK or overseas are supported by our own Highly Selective Universities Programme which supports super-curricular academic enhancement via lectures, trips, competitions, presentations and individual study.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
Last year 98% of pupils were offered a at their 1st or 2nd choice University with 56% attending Russell Group universities. Destinations of pupils last year include Cambridge (Human, Social and Political Sciences), UCL (Biochemistry), Durham (Natural Sciences; Sociology; Biological Sciences), St Andrews (Medicine), Edinburgh (Architecture), Bristol (English; Chemistry; Spanish; History), Leeds (Fashion Marketing; Film, Photography and Media), Manchester (Psychology; Civil Engineering; Environmental Science), Loughborough (Sports and Exercise Science; Business, Economics and Finance), BIMM (Electronic Music Production), West London (Acting), Nottingham Trent (Criminology; Economics), Liverpool(Mechatronics and Robotic Systems), Southampton (Physics with Nanotechnology) and Reading(International Business and Management).
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Aldenham
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Aldenham.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 1, Boys 3, Mixed 1
- Exeat weekends
- No
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
Aldenham is a diverse mix of boarding, flexi-boarding and day pupils. At heart, Aldenham is a boarding school. This means we focus on educating the whole child and developing all areas of their experience, not just their academic skills. We run a boarding school day, enabling pupils to benefit from opportunities which would not be available in the shorter more time-pressurised environment of a traditional day school.
However, Aldenham is a boarding school which has a large number of day pupils who benefit from this all round education and are able to take advantage of all that is on offer. Unlike some full boarding schools, Aldenham does not have Saturday School.
A genuine home away from home
Each child is placed in a House, with a Housemaster or Housemistress, and a dedicated team of tutors. This is where the real sense of belonging is found. The House team have 'ownership' of the children in their care and look after all their needs, academic and pastoral.
Pastoral Care at Aldenham is at the heart of what we do. The Houses have recreational and study spaces, and a real sense of tradition, as some of them date back to the late 19th Century!There are also two dedicated Day Houses - Riding's (Girls) and Leeman's (Boys), but day pupils also find their homes in all our boarding Houses too, and in all cases they have physical spaces to call their own, with work and recreational facilities, personal tutors, and a Housemaster or Housemistress leading the pastoral team.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Aldenham admissions
How children join Aldenham, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Subject to availability Special notes to agents about entry to the school VAT and Fees We are aware that there is much confusion about how VAT will be applied and what impact this will have on international families. We will update you here so that you are able to provide clear information.
The VAT does apply to all families regardless of where they come from, but Aldenham has absorbed 12% of the VAT from January 2025. This means that the increase in fees will only be 8%. In addition, Aldenham made the decision to freeze the boarding element of the fee, so the 8% rise applies only on the day fee element, rather than being an overall 8% rise.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Aldenham fees & funding
What Aldenham costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Aldenham.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Aldenham against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Aldenham location & travel
Where Aldenham is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Aldenham School, Elstree, Hertfordshire, WD6 3AJ, England Travel time to London by train Less than 1 hour Telephone 01923 858122 Website https://www. aldenham. com/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
London Heathrow 18 30 2. London Luton 19 30 3. London City 25 60 4. London Stansted 40 50 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Radlett 2 8 2. Elstree & Borehamwood 3 10 3. Watford Junction 4 15 4. Stanmore 4 12 Local accommodation Sopwell House (8.5 miles) https://www.
Inside Aldenham
Aldenham — frequently asked questions
Where is Aldenham?
How much are Aldenham boarding fees?
What ages does Aldenham take?
Is Aldenham co-educational?
When was Aldenham founded?
Does Aldenham require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Aldenham?
What qualifications does Aldenham offer?
Does Aldenham support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Aldenham have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Aldenham?
Does Aldenham have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Aldenham?
Does Aldenham accept international students?
How much does Aldenham cost?
What's included in Aldenham's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Aldenham?
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