Award-Winning Independent Prep School in Hertfordshire

Free To Find Your Greatness

Aldwickbury is an award-winning independent Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for children aged 3–13, in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

At Aldwickbury, we offer a truly holistic education with a proven track record of outstanding academic success. Pupils are encouraged to embrace challenges, be true to themselves and, above all, show kindness in all they do. 

Situated in the heart of Harpenden, we are a short drive from surrounding Hertfordshire towns including St Albans, Welwyn, Redbourn, Wheathampstead and Hemel Hempstead. Our award-winning education is built on strong values, a deep sense of community and a culture of care that runs through every part of school life. 

In September 2025, we took an exciting step by beginning our transition to co-education, welcoming girls into our Pre-Prep (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2). Girls will progress through the school year by year, and Aldwickbury will be fully co-educational by 2031. 

We encourage every child to be themselves, to try their best, to embrace both challenges and opportunities, and above all, to be kind. 

Our dedicated staff work hard to ensure that every pupil is truly seen, valued and supported to feel confident in being their authentic self. With warmth, expertise and a deep commitment to each child’s development, our teachers spark a passion for learning that extends well beyond the classroom and into every aspect of school life. 

Our core values are woven into the fabric of daily life at Aldwickbury. They shape a nurturing environment where pupils grow not only as learners, but as confident, compassionate and well-rounded individuals, ready to thrive at their senior school of choice and far beyond. 

From the moment a child joins Aldwickbury, their happiness and wellbeing sit at the heart of everything we do. Our nurturing environment and personalised, small-class approach ensures that every pupil is known, valued and supported as an individual. Strengths are celebrated, talents are nurtured and every child is encouraged to shine. 

Our carefully designed prep school curriculum offers rich opportunities for pupils to develop confidence and leadership. As they move into the senior years, pupils are empowered to take on meaningful roles of responsibility, becoming positive role models for others and preparing for the transition to a wide range of outstanding senior schools

Exceptional pastoral care, combined with subject specialist teaching, helps to build the character, resilience and essential life skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. At Aldwickbury, we do not just educate, we inspire future leaders. 

While Aldwickbury is now a thriving day school, our preparatory school curriculum proudly retains many of the traditions of a boarding education, one of which is our ability to offer an extended school day, thoughtfully designed to give pupils the time and space to thrive. 

This longer day allows us to combine a strong academic programme with a rich variety of co-curricular opportunities, including chess, robotics, LAMDA, climbing, music and triathlon. The additional time for teaching and learning also means that sport is a key part of daily life at Aldwickbury, helping children to build confidence, resilience and a lifelong love of physical activity, all while supporting their happiness, wellbeing and academic success. 

We also include dedicated prep time within the school day, ensuring that evenings can be spent enjoying quality family time at home. 

For families who would like their child to experience boarding, our flexi-boarding provision for pupils in Years 5 to 8 offers that opportunity. 

At Aldwickbury, our approach encourages pupils to try new things, discover their talents and grow into well-rounded individuals who are confident, capable and ready to take on the world.

The very best decision

“Choosing Aldwickbury was, without question, the very best decision we could have made for our son, and we are immensely grateful for all that the school has done to help shape him into the confident, capable young person he is today.”

Current Parent

Happy, confident children

“The pastoral care for our children, their wellbeing and happiness. They bounce into school happy, confident children which has been wonderful to see.”

Parent feedback from RSAcademics survey

Aldwickbury has set him up for life

“Our son has thoroughly enjoyed life at Aldwickbury and we are so delighted we moved him here five years ago. He has a great foundation to grow on and we are confident Aldwickbury has set him up for life at St Albans.”

Year 8

Parent

Opportunities to develop skills and interests

“Pupils experience a well-structured, balanced and suitably resourced curriculum. The curriculum provides pupils with opportunities to develop skills and interests in a wide range of subjects, including Latin, design and technology, mathematics, and music.”

ISI Report 2025

Academic support has been excellent

“The academic support has been excellent and we are, of course, delighted with his achievements and his academic scholarship. However, more importantly to us are all the other opportunities the school has given him to try so many extra-curricular activities and gain so many skills.”

Year 8

Parent

Local gem

“With its winning combination of nurture, creativity and robust daily activity we anticipate that local parents will see with fresh eyes the allure of this local gem for their sons (and daughters from 2025).”

Good Schools Guide