Garden Fields School, St Albans or The Lea, Harpenden

[sylvm]

Does anyone have kids who go to either of these? Do you have any comments on them - good or bad? Thanks a lot

[alibubbles]

Message withdrawn

[sylvm]

Hi alibubbles - I not talking about from a league table point of view but from the point of view of supporting a SEN child. Could be very different!

[alibubbles]

Message withdrawn

[williamsmummy]

From what i know about the Lea , is that they do have a solid base for supporting special needs.

As a whole the school always has places free, as most harpenden people do prefer crabtree or the other top schools.
I have met mothers who have been happy with the lea , and others who are not and have removed them from the school.
But that happens at odd times for most schools.

I have two children at manland at present and two at St Georges.
If anything I am singing the praises of St Georges to anyone that listens.

With primary schools you are spoilt for choice in harpenden.
I chose manland over Crabtree ( this was some time ago as eldest is a teenager now) because I wasnt happy with the 'open plan' classroom with mixed age groups.
The lea had the same situtation.
In theory it works well, in practice from observing I think it has the potenital to not work very well if poorly planned.
The children are grouped according to ability not age, and sometimes this results in a couple of large groups of children crowded elbow to elbow around a table.
Depending on funding , often books are shared, as there are not enough to go around each child.
Concentration is difficult for the children when in such a crunched grouping.

For my children I prefered the indivudual classes and the option for the above for certain lessons if needed. But in the main to have own class room children in ability groups so that resources and concentration levels are mantained.

I still like the idea of having a teacher standing in front of a classroom and keeping eye contact with all her class.
Teaching assistants do a vital job esp as teaching is stressfull profession these days.

Just my two pennyworth!!

[sylvm]

Thanks for these comments - everything has now gone pearshaped with our house move - so doesn't look as if we'll be moving DD just yet.

I have heard good things about St Georges Williamsmummy but I don't think it's very easy to get into unless both you and the child are regular Church goers (or that's what I've heard)

[sylvm]

Thanks for these comments - everything has now gone pearshaped with our house move - so doesn't look as if we'll be moving DD just yet.

I have heard good things about St Georges Williamsmummy but I don't think it's very easy to get into unless both you and the child are regular Church goers (or that's what I've heard)