A SCHOOL which has been described as “Harpenden’s best-kept secret” has been praised as excellent in all areas following a recent inspection.

St Hilda’s School in Harpenden takes girls from three to 11 from all over the St Albans district, Luton and Dunstable.

It was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in February and the inspectors concluded: “Pupils of all abilities are highly successful in their learning and personal development and St Hilda’s School effectively meets its aim to provide a first-class education for girls.”

The school in Douglas Road will also have a new extension to the main building opening shortly. It will offer six large new classrooms, an enlarged kitchen and dining room, a separate art room and science lab, extra rooms for IT and group work and improvements to the original building.

Headteacher, Mrs Carolyn Godlee, says: “We are delighted with the new building. The extra space makes a tremendous difference – we are all very excited by the realisation of our vision for the school.”

Head teacher Carolyn Godlee is pictured with deputy head Dan Sayers and St Hilda’s pupils