Primary school St Albans

[EllaEsports]

Sorry to post in AIBU but I am in need for quick relies to make some choices asap and there is little traffic on the HERTS local section of MN.

DD will start reception in September 2019. We are moving from London to St Albans, where I have just been offered a job. We will be renting and looking to buy in couple of years. I'd love to know more about the local primary schools before deciding where to rent. We have only one dc.

I have heard good things about Aboyne Lodge, Maple, Fleetville and Cunningham Hill. I have read scanned their OFSTED reports.

Which schools would people recommend?

I am also looking at Abbey school. We are CofE and active in our local church.

We considered Abbey for ours, but ended up moving to Harpenden.

I have very positive impressions of Abbey and Maple - I know one child who went to the former, and two who went to the latter, who flourished, got into super-selective private secondaries, and are now at Oxbridge.

Aboyne Lodge was my first school

I've no help on the schools as I don't live in St Albans. But I work here and its a lovely City.

I'll have an ask around the office to see if anyone has any recommendations for you.

Thank you Mia1415 and bryheresse.

I have heard that Cunningham Hill is very academic and the pastoral care not as good as at say Maple or Garden Field.

also does anyone know what the new CH infant school head mistress is like, has she made some positive changes?

Making the right choice feels daunting but I'm probably overthinking it.

I'd probably place more value on a nurturing school with excellent pastoral care over an academic 'hothouse'.

Thanks again.

Maple seems impossible to get into. I am also looking at Garden Fields, Wheatefield and quite interested in the new city school.

In my opinion, Cunningham hill hasn't had an Ofsted in ages and is living off it's last Ofsted report. Pastoral not great not is SEN provision

Hopeful bumping. If there are any St Albans mums on here, I'd be really grateful for your opinions!

isittooearlyforgin Do you think CH is not as good as its reputation at the moment? How would you describe the ethos of the school? Thank you!!

Well the good news is that there are loads of lovely schools in SA and I dont think you can go far wrong wherever you live. (So I am dodging your direct question!). But I think you need to visit the schools first, get a feel for what the schools are like - do you want one form intake or 3? Will you need after school care and breakfast club?

As you rightly suspect OFSTED doesnt provide the whole story. You need to get a feel for a school.

However, there are a lot of children in SA and no fixed catchments so unless you are going to live VERY close to a particular school you will probably need a few choices close to where you will be living. Don't take the estate agents word for it - check where children came from in previous years. Ask schools for approx sibling numbers.

All of the schools you mention are lovely schools as far as I know (my children don't attend any of those!). I add Samuel Ryder to your list as all the parents I know there rave about their school. Same with GardenFields.

Hi guys,

I’m hoping someone can help me with some advice , we’ve recently moved to St Albans and our primary school for our daughter will be St. Peter’s as it’s the closet and then I believe second would be Alban city! Is St. Peter’s a good school, I know it’s very oversubscribed but I can’t get a good feel of the ethos of the schools. I’ve asked around at groups etc but I’m still unsure? Again, similar with st alban city? I’d appreciate and advice - thank you

I used to. Visit quite a few of the schools in a professional capacity. I always found Maple a little uptight but likely had a good ofsted. I always liked the atmosphere at Bernard's Heath and Aboyne Lodge.. Really friendly and happy.