Moving near to Stevenage. Hitchin, Baldock , Letchworth, maybe even Biggleswade…

[redgirl1]

Hello wise mums of MN,
We are in need of some good advice. DH has new job in Stevenage. Our house is about to go on the market and we need to move… somewhere.
Hitchin is probably out of our price range unless we down size , so what does everyone think of Baldock, Letchworth and villages around. I need to find a year 6 and year place for the DC and secondary school is fast approaching. So any advice on schools is very gratefully appreciated.
DH thinks we ought to consider Biggleswade for the cheaper housing too. There is not a lot on the market at the mo. We don’t need to be near a station for work.
We don’t know this area at all and we don’t want to make a bad choice!

575 will give you a bigger house in Letchworth than Hitchin. I love Letchworth but schools don’t have the best rep - saying that I think they are improving and know kids happy at them both.

There's a reason Biggleswade is cheaper...

Arlesey is quite nice.

I used to live in Ware which is lovely. Great schools. Train station.
We moved further up the A10 to Buntingford as you get a bit more for your money. It's a lovely tiny town, great community feel. Very safe. 3 tier system for schools. Not much for older kids and you'd have to drive them everywhere. No train station, buses to civilisation hourly. Bloody brilliant cheese shop though 😁
Stevenage has some nice areas on the outskirts. Baldock lovely, as is Letchworth and also maybe look at Royston?

[quote redgirl1]@Saintsofsaint £575k budget maybe could afford it at a push. we drove through a little bit of it and I didn’t think it looked that nice. Probably unlucky with the road we chose.[/quote]
Stotfold you mean? I know what you mean - there's not much to it. But you have big houses and facilities nearby!

Stofold I thought maybe no character, just new build estates, but it was an assumption, maybe e should take a look.

Beds parent here whose dc went all through the 3-tier, actually the 3-tier system is pretty good.
Little kids up to Y4
Big kids Y5-8
Teenagers Y9+
Which although it doesn't fit into the key stages, is a far more natural age group split IMO. But, as others say, the system is going to 2-tier in the relatively near future. (Although it too is also 3-tier when you think about it, being infants, juniors and seniors).

There are a lot of new housing estates springing up in all the Beds villages in the area you are looking at. Stotfold, Stondon, Henlow, Clifton, Shefford in particular. Country Properties is one of the bigger estate agents in the area so it might be worth contacting them.

I assume the chances of getting into knights Templar if you live Letchworth are zero?
I saw a house online and it was the closest school as the crow flies, but not in catchment.
I’m trying not to obsess about schools too much, as it can get a bit silly, but my eldest really lacks confidence and I want to choose the right secondary for her.

I like new builds but not when it’s the only thing in a town, there can be too many IMO.

@redgirl1

Stofold I thought maybe no character, just new build estates, but it was an assumption, maybe e should take a look.

There's nice greenery on the outskirts - Stotfold Mill, Etonbury Woods.

It's a families town/village and has expanded massively. There's lots of clubs and activities for kids but you wouldn't necessarily see that on a drive through.

It was actually in the doomsday book so not quite just new build!

@barskits thanks, there seems to be a real lack of info about beds online

Letchworth has an awesome outdoor pool.

The 'maybe even biggleswade'' made me laugh made it sound like it was Beverly hills or something :D

I like Welwyn.
Hertford is vv expensive.

That's all I have to add sorry!

I had a quick look at Hertford and Ware but there was nothing in our price range

You can get into KT from Letchworth - I know one who did this year. All depends on amount of students in the year and which edge of town you are on. My son got into Hitchin Boys from Letchworth and Hitchin girls is an option too (but takes fewer students from Letchworth than the boys school - and they both allocate on a lottery basis).

@InaccurateDream blimey a lottery basis, that is a gamble then. I don’t think we have the budget to plonk ourselves next to the best school. There is such a lack of housing to buy too.

@NiceGerbil I think I may be disappointed if I expect Biggleswade to Beverley hillsesque

Sorry, but I think Biggleswade is dire.

How about St Neots?

A friend lives in sawbrigeworth seems to like it. Never been there think is a bit further north maybe.

If you will be commuting to Oxford how about looking slightly further west. Lovely villages near Ampthill and still easy commute for your DH.

I live in Stotfold and do really like it here. There are a lot of new builds but my house is more than a century old. I think lockdown created more of a community spirit.

Hitchin is lovely but pricey, the town centre is all cobblestones and pretty.

I really like Baldock too or Ashwell is beautiful if a train isn't a priority, it's in the Knights template catchment but can also be pricey.

Letchworth is fine but wouldn't be my first choice out of the three.

Ampthill is lovely. .but very pricey

You can get a three bed in Hitchin for £575k. Four bed is probably pushing it though. There are villages that are walking distance from the town. Ickleford is nice and close to the Priory School.

Ampthill is very nice but expensive, also three tier and not changing in the near future unlike Shefford. Mind you, considering there are currently no published plans from Central Beds LA, your kids could be at uni by the time Shefford changes.

You should look at Shefford, OP. You would get your four bed house there and whatever happens with the schools, your kids will be walking distance from them.

@AnnPerkins thanks I will take a look at both of those.

@meow1989 we went through ashwell , I thought it looked beautiful.

All of this is really helpful and though I haven’t made any final decisions it’s good to know that no where is awful (verdict still out on Biggleswade ). And we would likely have positives in all these places. I’ll certainly check out the new suggestions. I must say I’m feeling a leaning towards Baldock for the schools, but not ruling anything out.

Just checked Rightmove and there’s nothing much in the 500-600 range at the moment in Letchworth, Hitchin or Baldock - a few, but not much in terms of choice. They do exist, but go quickly.

@InaccurateDream I know it’s dire. A real lack of houses on the market, our house will go up for sale next week. I’m told it will likely sell quickly but finding something to move into will be a challenge.
I’m hoping it might pick up in the next few weeks