Age range. 3–13.
Fees per term (2026–2027). Day: Pre-Prep £6,354–£6,880.80, Years 3–8 £7,612.80–£8,691.60. Flexi-Boarding Fee: £66.00 per night. Fees include VAT.
Overview. Aldwickbury is an award-winning independent Nursery and Prep School for ages 3–13, set in 20 acres of expansive grounds on the outskirts of Harpenden in Hertfordshire. In September 2025, the school took an exciting step by beginning a move to co-education and Aldwickbury will be fully co-educational by 2031. This was followed by the opening of the Aldwickbury Nursery in September 2026, for children aged 3–4.
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, to be kind.
We allow them to flourish as individuals in an environment that challenges and stimulates them whatever their interests, passions or talents. Our teaching mixes traditional approaches together with modern ideas and methods. 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.
Academics. At Aldwickbury, we offer a truly holistic education that fosters academic success. From Nursery to Year 8, our broad and engaging curriculum inspires pupils to think independently, ask questions and develop a love of learning. We continually evolve our approach to education, embracing change and innovation to ensure our pupils are equipped not only for the next stage of their education, but also for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
Our unrivalled class sizes have a maximum of 16 pupils per class from Reception to Year 2, and 18 pupils per class from Years 3 to 8. This allows us to provide differentiated teaching that challenges each pupil, while giving them the individual support and encouragement they need to achieve academic success.
Senior School destinations. The journey through the school prepares the children to leave at 13 when we believe they are truly ready for senior school education. We’re proud that 100% of Year 8 pupils secure offers to a wide range of outstanding senior schools every year, with many pupils achieving scholarships across academics, sport, music and the arts.
Over the past six years, pupils have gone on to achieve places at 18 different schools. Our leavers go on to achieve outstanding GCSE and A level results at their senior schools of choice. The recent results at Common Entrance, entry tests and scholarships have been a reflection on the excellent teaching that the pupils receive. In 2026, 100% of Year 8 pupils secured their senior school of choice, with 21 of our pupils having been awarded Academic, Art, Music, Sport, DT and Drama scholarships.
Future Thinking curriculum. Our award-winning Future Thinking curriculum is designed to equip pupils from Nursery through to Year 8 with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world. We believe in empowering pupils with the freedom to find their greatness, preparing them for jobs that have not yet been created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, and to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated. From robotics and programming to mental health training and outdoor learning, pupils at Aldwickbury engage in activities that stimulate critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.
Opportunities. The breadth of opportunities on offer at Aldwickbury is something we are incredibly proud of. The children 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.
Facilities. The school has excellent facilities based around a large Victorian House. Purpose-built teaching blocks, including a modern self-contained Nursery and Pre-Prep department, ensure that the education is of a high standard. Other facilities include an indoor swimming pool, STEM Hub, Sports Hall, Astroturf pitches, Drama Theatre and extensive playing fields.
Over the last 10 years, there has been extensive redevelopment of the school’s facilities, including a new hall complex, a new Music department, refurbishment of the Science labs, total renovation of the Coach House providing a new Art and DT department, and a makeover of the boarding house. A new £4 million sports centre was completed in autumn 2022 and a new building with additional Science labs, an ICT suite and multi-use classroom was completed in September 2023 to further enhance the facilities and demonstrate our curriculum commitment to STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).
Charitable status. Aldwickbury School Trust Ltd is a Registered Charity, number 311059. It exists to provide education for children.