Meet The Member - St. Hilda's School
We caught up with St Hilda’s School, a valued member of We Are Harpenden, to explore its rich history and nurturing ethos. Founded in 1891, the school combines academic ambition with strong pastoral care, helping girls grow in confidence, resilience and kindness.
We are happy to have St Hilda’s as part of the We Are Harpenden community. Could you share a little about the school’s journey — how did St Hilda’s begin, and how has it evolved into the school it is today?
The early years of St Hilda’s School remain something of a mystery. Founded in 1891, at 2 Rothamsted Avenue, by Miss Craig, St Hilda’s moved to its present home in Douglas Road sometime around the turn of the century. The school was purchased by Colonel and Mrs Hutchinson in 1950 and has remained in the Hutchinson family ever since, with Mary Piachaud, elder daughter of Colonel and Mrs Hutchinson, taking over as headmistress in 1986. Under her leadership, the school gained an outstanding reputation for its ambitious and forward-thinking yet family-oriented offering. This atmosphere remains in evidence today, with St Hilda’s girls thriving both academically and holistically thanks to our nurturing and inclusive approach.
Every school has a distinct ethos. What values and principles guide St Hilda’s approach to education, pastoral care and community involvement?
At a time when relentless pressure can cause huge anxiety, St Hilda’s School is an inclusive and welcoming community that values and encourages every child. Our top priority is to ensure our girls are thriving and happy, enabling them to develop resilience in our fast-changing world, where being positive and developing possibilities is so important.
At St. Hilda’s School, we welcome all children irrespective of race, religion, culture or disability. Christian values, and an appreciation of British values, are essential to the life of the School, and our core foundations are those of tolerance, respect for others, integrity, industry and achievement.
We encourage our girls to be ambitious, confident, to think for themselves, to trust their voices and be decisive, whilst also teaching them the essential qualities of kindness and respect. We inspire every pupil to achieve her potential, nurturing life-long learners through our unique character and range of both challenge and adventure.
As a result, St. Hilda’s girls are well-rounded, curious and confident. They’re encouraged to dream big, aim high and be true to themselves. Because we care, they thrive.
St. Hilda’s offers a broad curriculum alongside enrichment and extra-curricular activities. How does the school balance academic development with creativity, confidence and well-being?
Our girls thrive both academically and holistically thanks to our nurturing and inclusive approach. Our blend of academic rigour and high aspiration, alongside our genuine family atmosphere, ensures every girl feels valued and supported, giving her the freedom to flourish - in the classroom, on the sports pitch, on the stage, and beyond. Our extensive programme of co-curricular activities has something for everyone, whether an aspiring scientist, budding artist or the next superleague netball star. St Hilda’s is a school that radiates happiness, warmth and belonging and, as a result, our girls achieve amazing things both academically and beyond the classroom.
Each pupil is unique. How does St Hilda’s support individual learning journeys and ensure that every child feels valued and encouraged?
The wellbeing of all children, staff and parents within the St Hilda’s community is our foremost priority. We are proud of our excellent pastoral care, creating a nurturing, inclusive and warm atmosphere where all children are valued and can positively strive to succeed. Whilst we are unashamedly ambitious for our girls, we also endeavour to continue the “family feel” that has run through St Hilda’s School for over 130 years.
All our staff actively promote our school values - positivity, independence, courage, respect, kindness and resilience - fostering a positive learning environment where achievements are recognised and celebrated. Our mentor system is an important feature of our pastoral care and allows close collaboration between pupils and staff.
Our community supports each other at every step, and kindness is at the heart of everything we do.
Education continues to evolve. How does St Hilda’s adapt its teaching methods, facilities and pastoral care to meet the changing needs of pupils?
St Hilda’s School adapts to pupils’ changing needs through a flexible curriculum, well-designed facilities and strong pastoral care. Teaching is delivered in intentionally small classes, allowing lessons to be differentiated and supported by specialist staff. The core curriculum is supported by outdoor learning and a broad co-curricular programme, which helps to develop confidence, creativity and independence. Pastoral care is central to school life, with form teachers overseeing wellbeing programmes, structured PSHCE, peer mentoring and a strong values-based ethos, ensuring our girls feel supported emotionally, socially and academically as they grow.
Looking ahead, are there any upcoming developments, initiatives or plans that the school is particularly excited to introduce?
We are working closely with our community to develop and strengthen our Alumni network through the launch of a new Alumni portal. This initiative will help former pupils and families stay connected with the school, share experiences and celebrate achievements beyond St Hilda’s. The launch will be marked by the first Alumni event in the Summer Term, providing an opportunity to bring our community together and begin building lasting alumni relationships.
For families considering St Hilda’s for their child, what would the school say sets it apart and makes it a special place to learn and grow?
St Hilda’s School is special. Situated in the heart of Harpenden, our charming Victorian setting might be compact, but the opportunities we offer are vast. Central to our offering is the fact that we really understand what a girl’s education looks like. We encourage our pupils to be ambitious, confident, to think for themselves, trust their voices and be decisive, whilst teaching them the essential qualities of kindness and respect. Ours is a perfect blend of academic ambition and self-development; an exceptional, individualised education that places each girl at the centre of her own story.
Finally, as an active part of the Harpenden community, how does St Hilda’s enjoy engaging with the local area beyond the school gates?
“Located a hop, skip and latte away from Harpenden’s swanky high street” (The Good Schools Guide), St Hilda’s enjoys meaningful links with local organisations and residents beyond our red front door. Pupils take part in community events such as selling poppies for Remembrance Day, visiting local businesses and facilities (e.g. the library, dental practices, the Eric Morecambe Centre, woodland areas) to support their learning, and attending local churches for services and celebrations. We also invite local residents to special events at school, such as our annual summer concert. These experiences help our girls develop a strong sense of community, responsibility and respect, while strengthening St Hilda’s close connection with the wider Harpenden area.