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Original poster

St Albans Secondary Schools Advice

39 replies

chocaholic73 · 02/09/2007 10:10

Not sure if this should be posted here or on SEN Education. My daughter is about to go into Year 6 and so we will be applying for secondary schools for her soon. She has learning and coordination difficulties and has problems with social interaction. I have done loads of research already and visited all the schools on my own last year but what I am lacking is comments from other people because we moved into the area fairly recently and I don't know anyone who has kids her age. So anyone with "inside" information on any of the St Albans secondaries, especially with regards to SEN, please help!

OP posts:
alibubbles · 02/09/2007 14:04

I have lived in St Albans for 21 years and been a governor of several schools, experience of state and private as well, if you want to email me [email protected]

Reallytired · 02/09/2007 16:25

Does your daughter have a statement. How severe are her difficulties?

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 04/09/2007 10:03

Alison I have emailed you. My daughter does not have a statement, she has dyspraxia and some autistic tendencies.

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Original poster
chocaholic73 · 19/09/2007 14:09

Alison - did you get my message?

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majorstress · 19/09/2007 14:14

I'm very interested in St Albans secondaries too, Chocaholic. Do you live in St Albans? We're thinking of moving around there for a better quality of life, but want to make sure we move into a good catchment for our girls. Have you got any ideas at all? What about "STAGS" or is that one private (I know nothing).

granarybeck · 19/09/2007 14:19

majorstress, we've recently moved to harpenden, near st albans. Harpenden has good secondary schools (we're applying this year too)and a nice pace of life.

majorstress · 19/09/2007 14:32

I do wonder how you are supposed to find out about schools, unless you live next to them and know people who go there currently.

OFSTED reports are usually out of date.

Could you directly ask the education authority or would they just give you fluff about how great it all is. I guess it depends on who answers the phone!

so are you just considering your options besides Herpenden?

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 19/09/2007 14:40

STAGS is a state school. I did visit last year and felt it was not right for my DD with her SEN. However, it does have a good reputation locally and gets good results. Yes I am in St Albans majorstress. I think it is very difficult to find out information if you don't know people in the area. I think you need to go to Open Evenings and day time visits (all coming up) to get a feel, but even then, let's face it the schools are all on their "best behaviour" for these.

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granarybeck · 19/09/2007 14:43

Yes, when we moved here it was very hard to find out about schools. I think the key is to try and talk to as many people, on here or when you visit the town, as poss.

No, I think we are going to stick to Harpenden schools, just to save dcs travelling unecessarily, there are three secondary schools in Harpenden, though some children do go to st Albans schools too.

majorstress · 19/09/2007 14:48

I was hoping to choose the school THEN move house to avoid the possibility of being in the wrong place when the time comes, but can;t find my crystal ball!!!

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 19/09/2007 14:55

How old are your children majorstress? The other thing to remember is that even if you move quite close to the school you want, there are no guarantees on if they will get in. Having said that, I think if my DD was little Miss Average (which she is definitely not), there is only one school that I definitely would not want her to go to ..I was quite impressed in general terms with what I saw last year.

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majorstress · 19/09/2007 15:00

they are years off (yr 3), but I really, really hate moving house and want to leave this area soon.

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 19/09/2007 15:17

well that doesn't matter, but you would obviously need to research Primary Schools too - although it's down to where there are places here, doesn't need to be the nearest if you're prepared to take them. The thing about setting your heart on a secondary school, is things can change ie. change of head, plus you can't always guarantee which area you'll end up house wise. We didn't end up where we wanted to be originally because there wasn't anything available when our house sold. It is also difficult to judge areas when you don't live in them ..but that's another story!

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majorstress · 19/09/2007 17:26

that's one reason we want to move, the primary has got worse and no end in sight...

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 19/09/2007 17:37

whereabouts are you at the moment? You'd need to have moved by the time they started Year 6 anyway. We moved into St Albans when DD was in Year 4 and the times gone really quickly. If there's anything else you want to ask, please do.

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majorstress · 21/09/2007 12:34

I'm glad you have confirmed my idea that I am not being paranoid to worry about this now!

we live in North London, but I'm feeling really like quitting my job today and that's what holds us here, also the move will get harder as dds develop hard-won friends

dd2 -started reception yesterday sigh

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 21/09/2007 20:01

children are really adaptable. We were going to move 2 years before we finally put our old house on the market but didn't because DD was well supported at her old primary school. I was pleasantly surprised how well she coped with changing schools.

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Reallytired · 22/09/2007 23:15

If you are considering Harpenden, the Roundwood Park Secondary School is really nice. Most the classes at Roundwood are mixed ablity which means she would avoid a lot of a behaviour problems of being in the bottom set for everything. They are also value less able children as much as the really bright high fliers.

When I worked there briefly I felt it had quite a socialist bent in that it considers all children are of equal value. It is feels a bit like going back in time, in that most the children are incredibly polite and respect their teachers.

Inspite of going against the national trend of setting for everything Roundwood Park still gets very high results.

edam · 22/09/2007 23:39

From what I've heard, in Harpenden Sir John Lawes is your best bet for SEN at high school level. But my ds isn't even quite in reception yet so I may be talking out of my behind. Worth looking into, though.

Interesting POV, Reallytired, I knew Roundwood Park was well-regarded academically but had no idea they didn't use sets.

sparklygothkat · 22/09/2007 23:47

will watch this with interest, as the SENco mentioned a school in st albans that would be ideal for DS, who has SN, but cant remember the name

Original poster
chocaholic73 · 23/09/2007 14:06

I doubt we would get into any of the Harpenden schools. Sparklygothkat - was it Townsend your Senco mentioned?

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Reallytired · 23/09/2007 14:27

"Interesting POV, Reallytired, I knew Roundwood Park was well-regarded academically but had no idea they didn't use sets. "

I admit its been a couple of years since I worked at Roundwood and it may have changed. They did have setting for Maths and French, but they didn't introduce setting for most other subjects until GCSE.

What made an impression on me about Roundwood is how happy most the children are. I just wish that I could afford a house in the catchment area for Roundwood Park.

I have no idea what Sir John Lawes is like as a school, although I have friend who did work there and he says that its a very good school as well.

Setting works well for high ablity children, but it can be demoralising for a low ablity children to be in bottom sets for every subject and to have lessons distrupted by difficult children.

anorak · 23/09/2007 14:52

I know a mumsnetter who works inthis school - I'll point her in the direction of this thread.

edam · 23/09/2007 15:06

Happy is good to hear, thanks!

I know what you mean about house prices, we feel like paupers living here (catchment for the primary) as everyone else seems to have a much bigger house with serious interior design. However, the catchment for the high school is much wider as obviously it's a much bigger school. Kids are bussed in from Flamstead and the other villages.

edam · 23/09/2007 15:07

I gather Sir John Lawes is v. good for children who are not particularly academic, btw.