Watford primary schools

[Tweetypie100]

Hi all

DH and I are currently looking to buy a house in north Watford and of course school catchment areas are an integral part of the search. We know nascot wood school is good but oversubscribed - aren't they all - but the house we are looking at falls just outside the catchment area - despite being literally a foot away (not even joking...). How good is cassiobury school? Any other primary schools I should know about?

As you can prob tell first time looking into this and just looking for some advice...really appreciate it!

[Fleurdelise]

Cassiobury school is very good and sought after, i believe it is ofsted 1. You also have Knutsford (ofsted 1 but last inspected long time ago so I am not convinced however it is a very good school), Orchard Primary also ofsted 1 and really good results Alban Wood very good results if you look at the school league tables and Cherry Tree. These last 2 are ofsted 2 but Alban wood deserves better if you look at the school league tables.

[Gazelda]

OP, do you already have children? I only ask because twice in the past few years the schools in Watford and surrounding area have had to have 'bulge' intakes because there are simply too few places for the local population. And the population continues to grow. Catchment areas change every academic year.

There are more schools being built, so you'll need to factor in that you might be expected to take a place at a new school.

[Tweetypie100]

Fleurdelise, thanks so much! That's massively useful. I'd heard different things about cassiobury. Is nascot wood better and should we take that into account when buying?

Gazelda, no I don't - hoping to start trying in a year to 18 months and while I know it definitely may not happen straight away, we need to plan in case it does happen in the short term as we don't want to keep moving - we want to just get a place and settle there for the next 7-10 years and would rather not have this be an afterthought. Definitely hear from other families that the schools are oversubscribed - one reason I'm already getting a bit worried...

[Gazelda]

Oh I didn't mean to add to your worries, sorry!

I was just trying to point out that catchment areas change so frequently, so be aware that what suits now will not necessarily when the time comes for you to apply.

There are some lovely schools in the area, and some may not be Ofsted 1 but have excellent reputations for their pastoral care, after school activities or community involvement.

Good luck in finding a wonderful family home.

[Fleurdelise]

Nascot Wood is the Holy Grail of Watford but personally I wouldn't pay the housing prices in the catchment area of it just because of that. There are a lot of other good schools and I also believe that a child's success in life doesn't always rest on their primary school. In fact I would rather look at secondary catchment areas than primary given that there is the 11+ system to get into a good secondary.

Parmiters secondary is in North Watford, Queens in Bushey and then the Grammar schools, but as you haven't got kids yet it would be difficult to move in their catchment as there is a boys one and a girls one.

School league tables below

www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

[Tweetypie100]

Thing is we live in nascot wood right now, but as you know that doesn't guarantee much. I ask because my MIL who drops my nephew to school there has been talking to other parents about how they feel it's gone downhill but cassiobury is no better. I don't want to base a whole house search on this but at the same time I don't want to neglect it :(. Agree that secondary is much more important - we may consider private for hat but let's see how we get on...I went to a private school in Northwood but my husband went to Parmiters and it was good for him!

[Tweetypie100]

By the way thanks both of you! It's just good to get some perspectives from mum's in the area - none of my friends live close enough to send their kids here! And no worries Gazelda, you didn't worry me!

[howaboutthatthen]

The nascot wood schools are excellent and I would highly recommend (based on personal experience) - but the catchment area has shrunk over the last few years as the new housing built nearby has meant most get in from there after siblings and there are no spaces for others further away. They are opening a new church school in the city centre and the new free school on the Hempstead road is worth considering if you are keen to stay in the area. Cassiobury is also good.

[user1475504778]

Hi,
Is anyone aware about how the park gate junior school is ? we are thinking of moving to an area near the school, but have no knowledge about the area.