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Fees, Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Basic fees are broadly inclusive of all stationery, lunches, games, dancing lessons (except Ballet) and tuition on the recorder. Optional tuition can be arranged through the school in a variety of musical instruments. Speech and Drama and additional coaching in certain sports, such as skiing, is available. All these activities will be charged in addition to the basic fees.

School Fees are payable on or before the first day of term for which they are due. The Offer Letter and Acceptance Form give rise to a legally binding agreement which takes effect when the Acceptance Form and deposit are received by the school. Parents should note that on accepting a place, they become liable for the first term’s fees if they subsequently do not take it up.

2022 – 2023 Fees

Fees correct as of April 2022. Fees are reviewed annually in Spring for the Autumn Term.

Nursery

Short Day Tiny Toes and Footsteps: £66 per day

Full Day Tiny Toes and Footsteps: £80 per day

Short Day Stepping Up: £74 per day*

Full Day Stepping Up: £90 per day*

A term time option is available in Stepping Up. Please contact the Nursery Administrator for details.

*15 hours’ government funding (up to a maximum of 3 hours per day) for up to 38 weeks per year is available from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday until they leave the Nursery.

Prep
Reception: £4,056 per term
Years 1 and 2: £4,437 per term
Years 3 and 4: £4,654 per term
Years 5 and 6: £5,162 per term

Senior School
Years 7 and 8: £6,984 per term
Years 9-11: £7,026 per term

Senior School fees continue to cover the cost of textbooks and GCSE examination fees other than charges for re-sits, including ECDL modules. LAMDA and music examination charges will remain outside of the fees as before.

Fees are paid via Direct Debit on a termly basis.

Sibling Discount

Applicants with a sibling already at the school receive a sibling discount of 5% until their older sister leaves.

Payment Plans

Fees in Advance Scheme

A scheme is available to pay fees in advance, which offers a flat rate discount applied to the fees of 1% (excluding the first term). Details can be obtained from the Finance Manager.

School Fee Plan

School Fee Plan are a provider of finance for School Fees, and they may be able to offer you a service – www.myschoolfeeplan.com

Additional Charges

Nursery: Late collection charge £1 per minute

Breakfast: £3.30 per day (Years 3 and up); no charge for Reception to Year 2.

After School Care: £9.00 per hour (Reception to Year 6)

Music Tuition:

Fees for 10 x 30 minute individual lessons: £220 per term

Senior Group Music Theory Lessons: £50 per term (£5 per lesson)

LAMDA:

Individual lessons: £14.00 per lesson

Paired lessons: £11.50 per lesson

Group lessons: £9.00 per lesson (Senior); £8.00 per lesson (Prep)

Other: There are a small number of other extra-curricular clubs run by external coaches. Details of these charges can be obtained from the PE department.

Schedule of Bus Fares (2022-23)

Bus faresBuses will run from/to the following areas in the mornings and early afternoons: Watford / Harpenden / Radlett / St Albans / Aston Clinton / Rickmansworth

In addition, a late bus will leave school (Mondays to Thursdays only) at 6.10pm which operates in the Harpenden and St Albans areas. Prices for bus fares for 2023-24 will be released in June/July. This is because we simply cannot predict the current fuel prices for next year at the moment and wish to charge a realistic amount which covers the cost of the service to parents. We will write to you in due course regarding this.

Scholarships

The Abbot’s Hill Scholarship Scheme offers stretch and development opportunities, together with a percentage reduction in fees of usually between 5-10% to a small number of Year 7 entrants each year.

Academic scholarships are by invitation, based on exceptional performance in the Year 7 entrance assessment. Specialist Art, Drama, Music and Sport scholarships are by application, with assessments held in the January preceding September entry.

The deadline to apply for a scholarship for Year 7 September 2023 entry is Thursday 1 December 2022.

Scholarship application forms are issued by our Admissions Office. Please ensure to have registered for Year 7 entry in the first instance.

Click here to register for Year 7 entry.

Scholarships Offered

Academic

Exceptionally-academic candidates, identified from the entrance assessment results, interview and reference from the current school are invited to sit the Academic Scholarship assessments in January/February.

Art

Candidates will:

be given a drawing task to complete to assess technical skills
need to bring a portfolio consisting of a maximum of 5 pieces of their work, preferably created at home rather than at school
have the opportunity to discuss their portfolio with the Head of Art and Design

Drama

Candidates for both Acting and Musical Theatre Scholarships will:

Participate in a drama workshop with the other candidates
Perform a prepared solo monologue of approximately 2 minutes (monologues will be provided to choose from in advance).
Have the opportunity to share their passion for drama or musical theatre.

Musical Theatre candidates only will also be asked to prepare a song/dance of their choice to perform in addition to their monologue piece.

Music

Candidates will:

Audition with the Director of Music, in their chosen instrument(s) or vocally
Instrumentalists should be minimum grade 4 level or equivalent. In exceptional circumstances we will consider candidates who are currently learning two instruments and have reached grade 3, or equivalent, in both.

Sport

Candidates for the specialist sports scholarship should play in their current school’s A netball team. Additional sports such as tennis, dance and gymnastics are welcomed, and must be played to a high standard. Successful candidates will be expected to prioritise School sports clubs and fixtures over external sporting commitments and to attend the Abbot’s Hill co-curricular sporting programme, representing the School in a range of sports.

Candidates will:

Participate in an endurance run, agility test and a timed sprint; they will also be assessed on netball ability and participate in a field lacrosse session.

Financial Assistance

Abbot’s Hill believes that every child should be given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of financial circumstances. We are able to offer a limited number of means-tested bursaries to support pupils joining us in Year 7.

Bursaries provide financial support with tuition fees and are awarded on strong performance in our assessment process. Every award is based on the individual financial needs of the applicant and handled in the strictest confidence. Awards are normally tenable throughout a pupil’s time at the School, although they are subject to good conduct and progress.

Financial hardship bursaries may be considered should parents’ financial circumstances temporarily worsen whilst their child is at school. To provide a guideline: families whose joint net income after tax is in excess of £40,000 may find that they are not eligible for financial assistance. However, if you would like to discuss your individual case with the Bursar, Mrs Caroline Korniczky, please feel free to do so.

The deadline to apply for financial assistance for 2023 – 2024 is Thursday, 1 December 2022.

How to Apply

To be considered for financial assistance, applications for entry to the School should already have been made by completing our registration form.

The application for financial assistance is made separately, directly to the Bursar, by completing and submitting our Bursary Application Form. Parents are also given the opportunity to discuss, in confidence, their situation and individual needs with the School Bursar. A home visit may be required in some circumstances. All bursary information is treated as highly confidential. Members of the teaching staff are unaware of which pupils have been awarded financial assistance. Any bursary offered to a pupil remains strictly confidential between the parents and the School.

To apply for bursary support, please contact the Bursar’s office on 01442 839107 or at pabursar@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk for a Bursary Application Form.