- Location
- Hertfordshire
- Age range
- 4–18
- Attendance
- Day school
About Haberdashers' Boys' School
Schoolscout directory record ·
Haberdashers' Boys' School stands as a beacon of academic excellence and personal development, welcoming boys from a diverse range of backgrounds. With a r...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Haberdashers' Boys' School — historically known as Haberdashers' Aske's School and informally as "Habs" — was founded in 1690 under the will of Robert Aske, a wealthy member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the City of London's twelve great livery companies. Aske's endowment funded a hospital and a free school for twenty boys in Hoxton; over three centuries the school grew, moved, and refounded itself as one of the leading north-London independent day schools. Since 1961 it has occupied a 100-acre campus on Aldenham Road in Elstree, Hertfordshire, with the sister Haberdashers' Girls' School on an adjacent site. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers remains the school's trustee.
The school today is HMC-affiliated, boys-only, and educates around 1,095 pupils aged 4-18 across an integrated Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior School. It is consistently in the top tier of London independent schools for academic outcomes — A-Level results typically place around 75-80% of grades at A* and A, and Oxbridge offers run to 25-30% of each sixth-form cohort. The Executive Principal is Gus Lock; the Headmaster of the senior school is Robert Sykes. The chairman of governors is Simon Cartmell.
Habs is unusually famous for its concentration of British comedic and creative alumni. Sacha Baron Cohen, the BAFTA-winning creator and performer of Borat, Ali G and Brüno, was a pupil, as was the comedian and Little Britain co-creator Matt Lucas. The writer and presenter David Baddiel attended around the same time, as did the broadcaster Nick Hancock. The playwright Sir David Hare (Plenty, Skylight) is also an old Aldenham Haberdashers' pupil.
Outside the arts, the alumni list runs through public life and exploration: the former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe; Paul, Baron Boateng, the first black UK Cabinet minister; Andrew, Baron Adonis, the architect of the academies programme and former Transport Secretary; the art critic Brian Sewell; and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the polar explorer described by the Guinness Book of Records as "the world's greatest living explorer."
Additional source record ·
Haberdashersʼ Boysʼ School (formerly Haberdashersʼ Askeʼs Boysʼ School) is a private school for boys aged 4–18 in Elstree, Hertfordshire, England. It is a member of the Headmastersʼ and Headmistressesʼ Conference.
The school was founded in 1690 by a Royal Charter granted to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers to establish a hospital for 20 boarders with £32,000 from the legacy of Robert Aske (equivalent to approximately £5m in 2019).
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1690 by Robert Aske — 336-year history
- Trusteed by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers — a City of London livery company
- Moved to its 100-acre Elstree campus in 1961 from inner London
- Boys-only ages 4-18 with sister school Haberdashers' Girls' on an adjacent site
- HMC member; consistently in the top tier of London independent schools by A-Level and Oxbridge outcomes
- Famous for comedy and creative alumni: Sacha Baron Cohen, Matt Lucas, David Baddiel, Nick Hancock
- Notable cross-disciplinary alumni: explorer Ranulph Fiennes, playwright David Hare, Labour peer Andrew Adonis
- Substantial bursary programme via the Haberdashers' Aske Foundation
- Founded 1690 — 336 year tradition
- 1,457-pupil community
- Multi-faith foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 68% achieve AAB+
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 4–18
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Boys
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Mr Robert Sykes
- Religious ethos
- Multi-faith
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Mathematics & physics (top-tier UKMT / Physics Olympiad)
- Music (chamber + symphony orchestra)
- Drama (multiple recent stage and screen actor alumni)
- Cricket, rugby, hockey
- Modern languages
- Classics
- Drama
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
- Worshipful Company of Haberdashers (livery-company trustees)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Imperial, UCL, LSE
- US Ivy League
- International universities
Alumni notes
- Sacha Baron Cohen (BAFTA-winning actor and writer — Borat, Ali G, Brüno)
- David Baddiel (comedian, author and broadcaster)
- Matt Lucas (comedian — Little Britain, Bake Off)
- Nick Hancock (broadcaster — They Think It's All Over)
- Lord Adonis (former Labour Transport Secretary)
- Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt (explorer; "the world's greatest living explorer" per Guinness Book)
- Brian Sewell (art critic — Evening Standard)
- Paul Boateng, Baron Boateng (first black Cabinet minister)
- Geoffrey Howe (former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary)
- Sir David Hare (playwright and director)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Robert Sykes (Headmaster); Gus Lock (Executive Principal)
- Founded
- 1690
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Campus setting
- Rural
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Campus setting
- Mountain
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,457
- Boys
- 1,457 · 100%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 245 · 16.82%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 1 · 0.07%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.37 (Above Average)
- Average grade
- A
- AAB percentage
- 68.10%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £8,413.2 – £10,423.2 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Haberdashers' Boys' School?
Haberdashers' Boys' School is a boys' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 4 to 18, located in Hertfordshire. The school offers education from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Haberdashers' Boys' School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Most families apply to Haberdashers' Boys' School 1–2 years before entry, with a process that can include tests, interviews and school reports. See the private school admissions timeline for when to apply and what to expect.
What are the fees at Haberdashers' Boys' School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees at Haberdashers' Boys' School are approximately £8,413–£10,423 per term, depending on the year group and whether pupils board. Families can learn more about UK private school fees and what is typically included.
Is Haberdashers' Boys' School a day or boarding school?
Pupils at Haberdashers' Boys' School can attend as day.
Is Haberdashers' Boys' School a single-sex or co-educational school?
Haberdashers' Boys' School is a boys' independent school.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire
- County
- Hertfordshire
- Region
- East of England
- Postcode
- WD6 3AF
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationButterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, East of England, WD6 3AFSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.
Photo credits
Source: Wikipedia
- img-01.jpg: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - img-02.jpg: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - img-03.jpg: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons