Our annual Former Pupils’ and Parents’ Day will take place on Sunday, May 12th starting at 12:00 and finishing by 14:30. We hope you will be able to join us for snacks and soft drinks in the sunken gardens and catch up with old friends.
Don’t forget to update your details!
We don’t want to lose touch, please let us know if any of your details change.
Extending to Year 11
We are excited to announce that Westbrook Hay will be extending and opening a co-educational senior section. Year 9 pupils will start in September 2025, providing an all-through education for girls and boys to age 16.
Extensive research and feedback from parents identified a lack of choice when looking for co-educational senior schools. We have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback received and can announce that we are at capacity in Year 7, September 2024.
Expanding catchment
As our school expands to offer GCSEs so do our catchment area and travel options. Our new all-electric people carrier will operate from Amersham. Our shuttle bus from Hemel Hempstead train station promotes independence for our senior pupils.
Developing excellence
Our leavers have gained 18 scholarships to senior schools in a variety of areas ranging from academics to art, sport, drama and music.
The school continues to focus on developing excellence and diversity across the curriculum. We have introduced a STEM Day, have provided more outdoor classroom time and have enhanced our after-school programme.
Sporting success
Westbrook Hay celebrated another football triumph as the U11 team clinched victory at the IAPS National Finals. They have also qualified for the ISFA finals at St George’s Park in May. Our U13s came close, losing on penalties in the semi-finals of the IAPS National Finals.
Our girls’ football continues to develop and we came 2nd in the County Football finals. In cricket, we remain one of the top 50 Prep Schools. The U12 team won the St Albans tournament and three of our girls represented the county. We have also had success at rugby tournaments, cross country, swimming and golf. Our sport remains diverse, available to all and at the top level very competitive.
Drama productions
Our drama productions are still a key part of life at Westbrook Hay. Year 4, and 3, brought their performing prowess to the forefront in the production of "Splash" last term. Years 5-8 have recently performed “ We Will Rock You!”
which was fabulous with over 130 pupils involved. We now have a house drama competition along with the poetry reading competition. One of our pupils won a gold medal at the World Dance championships, a first for the school!
Investment in facilities
The school facilities are continually being improved. The new outdoor classroom came from WHA donations. The children have timetabled sessions as well as lunchtime optional usage.
We have also invested £250k in renovating the swimming pool as well as resurfacing the two netball courts.
Plans are in place for a new STEAM building. This will provide teaching spaces for science, technology and art.
The Grounds
Despite the constant rain, the grounds are looking incredible. The rose garden has been brought back to its former glory with the planting of 100 rose bushes. Over 200 bluebell bulbs have been planted and we may see them flower this year in time for Former Pupils’ Day.
Design and Technology Challenge winners
Westbrook Hay won the Rotary Design & Technology Tournament this year.
Twelve of our Year 8 pupils attended the annual tournament at Ashlyns School. This year the challenge involved delivering a ‘Shelter Box’ containing emergency supplies to a country facing extreme difficulties.
Our Ethos
Moving to Year 11 will be a major change for the school but we are determined this will not change our ethos. Happiness, confidence, and success remain at the heart of what we want to be. Our House system is a key part of this. We continue to expand the competitions including Strategy Games, Drama, History, Poetry Reading and conker competitions. This is in addition to some of our traditional events such as House Music and House Athletics.
Staff news
It is always a shame to see staff leave and this year saw some highly regarded members of our community move on. Liz Ashfield offered fabulous support to pupils as our Senco & Safeguarding lead. She helped many of our pupils who needed extra support in the classroom. Richard Summerfield has decided to hang up his football boots to retire to Oxford. Both will be missed for their huge contribution to the school.
This summer we lose Monica Espin who is moving to be with her family. In her time at Westbrook Hay, she has introduced Spanish to the curriculum and taught it with passion. Her impact has been huge and she will be missed by us all.
Two other long-serving members of staff have moved on. Sarah Whitehead had many roles in her time at Westbrook Hay and has been a key member of our administration staff. Paula Cook was one of our longest-serving members of staff who you may remember sorting out your sports kit!
We have made two fantastic appointments for September. Our new Deputy Head Pastoral will be Mrs Emilie Loveless. Mrs Loveless will join us from the prestigious Kings Bruton school in Somerset where she is a Housemistress and Modern Foreign Language teacher. Miss Emily Starr will join as Head of Girls’ Sport. Emily is an ex-Northamptonshire County Cricketer and played for Leicester City Football Club before focusing on her cricket.
We are delighted to see the return of Liz Stewart and Charlotte Doyle on a part-time basis.
We have seen a Westbrook Hay baby boom over the last 18 months. More than ten babies have been born to members of staff including twin girls. Many of the children have already been registered to join Westbrook Hay!
Sadly, one of the former governors, Stephen James, passed away in October 2023. Stephen was a long-serving servant of the school having been a member of the board of governors for many years. He was instrumental in the building of the Sports Hall. He himself was a former parent and his son, John is now a member of staff and Stephen’s grandchildren are pupils at the school.
Former pupil news
- Alice Ripper was chosen to represent Great Britain in the World Lacrosse Super Sixes tournament in Hong Kong. The GB team beat China, Hong Kong, Czechia and then Germany in the final to lift the trophy.
- Malachi Hardy played for the England Under 16s football team. He has also been offered a contract with Tottenham Hotspurs.
- Joe, Amy, Sophie and Kallisti all had roles in Haileybury’s well-received production of Chicago at the Spotlight Hoddesdon.
- Harry Fox has been offered an apprenticeship with Luton FC
- Grace Milnes is competing nationally in cross country and athletics.
- Luke O’Nien remains in regular contact with the school and feels honoured to captain Sunderland FC..
- Imogen Cochran is playing lacrosse for Scotland.