St Martin's to join Haberdashers' Elstree Schools
From April 2026, St Martin's School will join the Haberdashers' Elstree family. 
We offer all the advantages of a superb single-sex education, along with all the benefits of a happy community and a fabulous co-educational campus.
As students progress through our Senior School, we increasingly prepare them for Sixth Form, university and their future careers.
Students join us from a diverse array of state and independent schools, as well as our own Prep School.
Our students are part of a happy community and enjoy a fabulous campus, strong pastoral care and a fantastic array of co-curricular activities.
Bursaries are available for students who would not otherwise be able to attend or continue at Habs Boys. We also award a range of scholarships every year.
Our students are bright and ambitious, bringing a sense of excitement and awe to learning. Yet we also want them to develop personally and emotionally as well as intellectually.
That is why we offer a broad programme of co-curricular activities, helping students become well-rounded individuals with plenty to offer society.
During their time in Senior School, we help students develop a strong moral compass, resilience, empathy, the ability to create solutions and to lead. We want them to be kind, inclusive, and to know how to make good choices. This is the mark of a Habs education.
We are very proud of the wide range of cultures, backgrounds and beliefs our students represent. This is important preparation for life and work in a diverse, globalised world.
We help our students to know and understand themselves, and to be themselves. We celebrate the contribution of everyone, across all races, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, cultures, social strata and disabilities.
Our inclusive community creates a positive environment for learning and making friends, all in a familiar, safe and supportive setting.
Find out more about our diversity and inclusion
| Time | Lesson |
|---|---|
| 8.00am | School grounds open |
| 8.35am - 8.45am | Registration |
| 8.45am - 9.15am | Period 0 (Tutor time, assemblies or PSHE) |
| 9.15am - 10.15am | Period 1 |
| 10.15am - 10.35am | Break |
| 10.35am - 11.35am | Period 2 |
| 11.40am - 12.40pm | Period 3 |
| 12.40pm - 1.55pm | Lunch and co-curricular activities |
| 1.55pm -2.55pm | Period 4 |
| 3.00pm - 4.00pm | Period 5 Lessons end and after-school activities begin |
| 4.15pm | Coaches depart for students not involved in after-school activities |
| 5.30pm | Late coaches depart |
As part of our pastoral care, we make sure there is plenty of time for your child to interact with their tutor. Form time runs from 8.35 to 9.15am and we also have an extended lunchtime so that students can take a break and enjoy a nutritious meal.
Most students travel to and from school using our extensive coach service, run jointly with Habs Girls. The late coach service serves many different areas at the end of after-school activities.
The hallmark of a Habs student is to look ahead, not behind. We help to prepare students for the future, whether preparing for Sixth Form, university or their career.
Student voice is integral to the school improvement in partnership with staff. For our students to flourish beyond school, they will need to develop their leadership skills and experience and so we create opportunities for all students to grow in this area from Reception through to Year 13.
Through the development of leadership, students:
Many students will have the opportunity to participate in activities within the classroom that are designed to build and develop their leadership skills. For example, working collaboratively on a project with a ‘Project Manager’, presenting to the rest of their class, or in debating.
There are also lots of opportunities for students to lead assemblies within both whole-school and in Section/ Year Group assemblies, make presentations to their peers and opportunities for students to present at Open Day and Parent Workshop sessions.
When students join us in Year 7, they are each allocated a Buddy who is in the same House. They act as a support and help the new students to settle into life at the Senior School. We do fun tasks in Form time so they can get to know each other, but they can also meet up informally at breaks and lunchtimes.
A single student for each form, from Year 7 to Year 13 will be elected by their peers and staff members to be the Student Council Representative. These Representatives will be responsible for communicating with the Student Council Director for their year group regularly, and raising key points brought to their attention at Student Council Rep Meetings and supporting positive change in the school.
Students from Year 12 are asked to volunteer to become House mentors. House Mentors are assigned to either a Year 7 or Year 8 form. Mentors receive training from experienced pastoral staff including the School Counsellor. Mentors will meet with their form twice a half term and will be available for 1:1 mentoring, both pastoral and academic.
The House system provides many different opportunities for students to take on leadership responsibilities from Year 7 through to Year 13.
Each House has a House Captain in Year 13 and three Vice Captains. They liaise closely with the Head of House. They act as mentors and role models to the students within their House, supporting House and School events.
Academic and Religious Societies have leadership committees to help to run and promote the society
The Senior Prefect Team is made up of a Head Prefect, three Deputy Head Prefects, Middle School Prefect, Upper School Prefect and Sixth Form Prefect. They meet with the Headmaster on a weekly basis and are responsible for representing the student body to the Senior Leadership Team. They attend and organise events on behalf of and to support the student body, and mentor younger students in leadership roles.
Student leadership training is adapted to be relevant to the age range of children involved and the specific roles they hold. By the end of Year 13, all students should have some experience of/ training in:
Senior Prefects, Partnerships, Academic Societies Training is likely to include:
Coach Stewards also have safeguarding training.
Our Principles of Selection for All Roles
Our students are encouraged to get involved in the huge range of activities outside the classroom. There are opportunities to gain qualifications such as the Duke of Edinburgh awards, to go on trips, plus get involved in sport and performance music and drama. They can also join or start clubs and activities, which is great preparation for university societies. These include our Model United Nations, Poetry Club, Chess Squad, Classics Society, VEX robotics and many more.
Certain times of the week are dedicated to particular activities:
