“Where children flourish in confidence, creativity, and care.”
St Hilda’s is unique in character and appeal and a special place to educate your child. I am delighted to welcome you to our website, which offers a broad flavour of all that takes place in our busy and vibrant School.
Hear what people say
Wellbeing
The wellbeing of all children, staff and parents at St Hilda’s is our first priority. Everyone has responsibility for others’ wellbeing, and we endeavour to continue the “family feel” that has run through St Hilda’s for over 100 years.
Extra Curricular
St. Hilda’s offers a wide range of Extra-Curricular Activities which seek to cater for a range of interests and abilities. There is something on offer for everyone.
Safeguarding
At St. Hilda’s School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is a responsibility we all share. We are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive environment where every child can thrive.
Outdoor Learning
At St. Hilda’s, Forest School is a child-centred learning programme that aims to promote holistic development, fostering resilient, confident, independent, and creative learners.
Celebrating girls' education
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The Summer Term has got off to a flying start, with plenty to celebrate across St Hilda’s sport already.
🎿 We may be heading into the warmer months, but snow has dominated our sporting headlines this week. Eight of our girls took to the slopes at the ERSA Schools Skiing Competition in Norwich — and what a fantastic performance the team produced. Our U10 (Cat 0) team skied brilliantly to take 1st place overall in their age category. The U12 (Cat 1) team also raced with determination in a highly competitive field, finishing a very credible 6th.
There was also an outstanding individual performance from Reva (FIV), who secured 3rd place in the U10 category, while Georgia (FV) and Arabella (FII) impressed in their very first race.
We are so proud of the progress the girls have made through their winter training with Alex Reidy and, as always, it was wonderful to see such strong St Hilda’s team spirit on display.
🏐 At the end of last term, the always much-anticipated Staff vs Form VI netball matches brought the St Hilda’s court to life. With the whole school out in force to cheer from the sidelines, the atmosphere was incredible. Playing for the pride of their House, every match was fiercely contested, with Lanc ultimately emerging victorious — but the real highlight was the spirit, camaraderie and joy shared by players and spectators alike.
A truly special way for Form VI to sign off their time on the St Hilda’s court, and a perfect reflection of the community spirit that makes our school so special.
#sthildasharpenden #SHSsportingstars #prepschoolsport #teamspirit #girlsinsport
We were delighted to welcome author Paula Harrison to St Hilda’s School this week.
Girls from Reception through to Form VI took part in her engaging and inspiring workshops, where they learned all about life as an author, her journey to publication, and her much-loved Animagicals and Kitty series.
The sessions were full of creativity, with pupils exploring what it might feel like to transform into an animal. They produced some fantastic, imaginative writing and it was a joy to see their ideas come to life.
Meeting a real-life author was a truly special experience, and we are so proud that many of our girls left feeling inspired to become authors themselves.
A huge thank you to @paulaharrisonauthor for such a memorable visit.
#sthildasharpenden #authorvisit #loveofreading #inspiringyoungminds #primaryeducation
And just like that, it`s the first day of the Summer Term. ☀️
From residentials to rounders, concerts to cricket, author visits to athletics - and a whole lot more! - there’s plenty for the girls to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
This is the best kind of busy, and we are ready for it.
#sthildasharpenden #summerterm #prepschoollife #makingmemories #harpendenparents
National Allocation Day for primary school places is here - a huge moment for preschoolers and their families.
For many, today brings excitement and celebration. For others, it may feel a little different.
If your child hasn’t been offered the place you were hoping for, it’s completely natural to feel disappointed. But it’s also worth remembering that this is just the beginning of their school journey, and there are many wonderful paths still to explore.
At St Hilda`s, we know how important those first steps into Reception are. We create a warm and nurturing environment where every child is known and valued, and where confidence, curiosity and a love of learning can flourish from day one.
If you’re exploring your daughter`s options, we would be delighted to welcome you for a visit, or simply have a conversation about what you’re looking for in a school. Our Admissions Officer, Nicole Fairhead, is only an email away: admissions@sthildasharpenden.co.uk.
Sometimes, the unexpected path leads to something truly special.
#receptionclass #startingschool #sthildasharpenden #harpendenparents #hertsparents
When we speak about the family feel that makes St Hilda’s so special, it’s not simply something we say - it’s something that has been lived across generations.
In this photograph are three members of one family whose story is deeply woven into the fabric of the school. From Mary Piachaud, Headmistress from 1986 to 2002 and daughter of Colonel and Mrs Hutchinson, who purchased St Hilda’s in 1950; to her daughter, Emily Halliday, former pupil, current Head of PE, and now proudly taking on proprietorship; to the next generation, currently making her own memories here as a pupil.
There is something rather special about a place where the same corridors, classrooms and even banisters - once slid down by Mrs Halliday as a child! - hold decades of shared history.
This is what makes St Hilda’s so unique. Not just a sense of community, but a genuine continuity of connection and belonging.
A school that truly feels like home.
#sthildasharpenden #schoolhistory #community #familyfeel #belonging
Just before the Easter break, and as part of their `Future Careers Day`, Form I loved meeting Paramedic Jen, who shared what it’s really like to work on the frontline of emergency care.
Jen - who is in her last year training to be a paramedic - gave a fascinating insight into what her job entails, from answering emergency calls and prioritising patients to carrying out vital checks like heart rate and blood pressure. The girls were full of questions and curiosity as they learned how paramedics help people in urgent situations and make quick, life-saving decisions.
A huge thank you to Jen for such an inspiring insight. We think there may be a few Form I paramedics in the making after your visit!
#careersday #inspiringfutures #paramedic #hertsparents #harpendenparents
