Bishop's Stortford Primary Schools - Need Help

[IndianFamily]

Dear All,

We are planning to move to Bishop's Stortford having lived in London for more than a decade, mainly due to good schools it has to offer and nice neighbourhoods. We have shortlisted Northgate and Hillmead Primary schools. Can someone please help with below queries we have?

1. Are the school academics/results good for both these schools from a parent's point of view?
2. Is there bullying at the school? Or have you heard of any such incidents?
3. Are children from all backgrounds welcomed with equal opportunities?

I apologise in advance if any of these questions sound silly. It is our first child who will be starting reception in Sep 2023, so still learning about the UK school system and procedures.

We have shortlisted Bishop's Stortford as we have always come across such friendly people when we were scouting the area, and that is such a contrast when you compare to London and gave us a lot of confidence in the area.

We are an Indian family with our first child due for reception this year and naturally we are nervous about our kid moving out of London to a relatively small (but beautiful) place and attending school there and to be able to make friends. Sorry again as I am not sure how else I could have framed the situation or the queries mentioned above. Just being honest.

Trust above makes sense and hoping for some steer from experienced residents and parents living in the area.

Thanks and Regards.

Hello - they're fair questions to ask about an area unknown to you, but I'd imagine that for a 2023 Reception intake, you might not have the luxury of choice!

Reception offers go out the first Monday after the Easter holidays. Depending on whether it's a high or low birth year, there may be spaces in those particular schools you've named.

All the schools in Stortford have lovely reputations. There really isn't a bad school. As are the nearby village schools. Once you know where in Stortford you're moving to, I'd zone in on schools then (unless you already know you will be the Northgate side of town?).

@WhoopWhoop123 - appreciate your swift response. We are currently looking at the new Stortford Fields development to buy, where a new school is also being built but we may move into a rented accommodation first and close to Northgate Primary, as it is our first preference. Do you have any specific views on the 3 queries I mentioned in my original post? I am more concerned about the 2nd query more than the other two.

I'm afraid I dont know those schools well enough to comment, as I'm the other side of town. I have friends from playgroups that have put those schools as first choice, and have heard nothing negative about bullying or fitting in etc.

Good luck with the move - I imagine trying to work out a school space is really tricky until you have secured a place to live.
Stortford is a lovely town with lots to offer families!

I’d ask Bishops Stortford mummies village on facebook as they’re all local.

@Thelittlekingdom @WhoopWhoop123 really appreciate your response thanks. Will check as suggested.

Hello @IndianFamily .
i don’t wish to scare or offend anyone but I’m not sure how diverse BS is and or/how welcoming it would be to anyone of a non-white background. I may be wrong. I am also of SE Asian background and was looking at BS for the same reasons as you but have been partly put off by the fact that there was a racially motivated incident in BS where a group of white teenagers racially abused a teenage Asian boy and left him injured, I think it happened around 2020. Just something to bear in mind.

I found that Northgate is good if your child ‘fits’. They are less accommodating if your child needs any form of additional support.

Have you visited Stortford fields? It’s pretty soulless and the houses are tiny.

Thanks both. Honestly I got really good vibes whenever I have been at BS and generally everyone from shopping mall to residents in local neighborhood all were very welcoming. But points noted.

@SOWK do you mean even if child needs settling in, the school is not that supportive?

If you have not moved here and applied already I doubt that you will get Northgate as its very oversubscribed and bear in mind that has not been inspected in over a decade. You won’t go wrong with any of the schools in Stortford and there are some lovely village schools nearby.

Although its early days the Secondary Schools are great here too. All children are welcomed and never heard of any particular bullying culture in any of the schools.

I live in stortford- both schools are excellent and mine have friends who went to both schools. You really can't go wrong. If you are looking at stortford fields have you not considered the Avanti meadows primary?

Thanks everyone for valuable insights. Really appreciate it.

Hi just came across your post randomly. I know you may have already moved but figured I would chime in as I remember having to get my head around schools when we moved :). Due to schools being oversubscribed in Stortford, you need to make sure your closest school (you add your address on the herts website and it tells you) is the one you would like your child to attend as this is the one they will likely get into. Since schools are oversubscribed there is no such thing as choice in Stortford. I am not sure their age but if you move and they are already school age they will not have a choice and will only be able to go wherever there are spaces (from what I gather the new primary on the other side of your estate- Avanti Meadows- is the only one usually, and when the second primary in Stortford fields opens they will have spaces). In Stortford fields, your child would go to that new primary that is also an Avanti. That is the school that was built for that estate because Northgate and Hillmead were already oversubscribed before that estate was built so I don’t think it’s typical for Stortford fields to send their kids to Northgate. If you would like to send your child there you will have a better chance if you live in that northwest pocket by the Cricketfield. This is where I live and it is a lovely spot. We did move here so we could be by northgate however after living in Stortford I have realised all primaries are really good, and we should have really just focused on secondary- just a bit of advice.

I am mixed Asian and actually moving unfortunately (we love Stortford so very bitter sweet). You will love it. There is a young family asian community in Stortford and actually I think a good community in Stortford Fields. The Avanti schools which are the trust for the two primaries and new secondary there are the first state, non-denom schools of the Avanti trust who are known for their prestigious Hindu affiliated schools throughout England. I have heard good things about the new primary- they offer yoga and yummy vegetarian food. I have an Asian friend in London who was looking to move for the Avanti schools as well when I told her about them (ended up not making sense for them for other reasons)… but I am assuming there will at least be a growing Hindu/South Asian community as these schools open. This is great for Stortford, think there will only be more diversity as the years go on.

Thanks so much for the information. We have actually moved to Stortford Fields and my daughter has joined Avanti Brooks which is indeed a good school.

Hello Indianfamily,

Just came across your post with regards to relocating to BS ...at Stortford Fields . We are currently looking out for the properties in this area however don't have much information about the area in terms of the neighbourhood and good schools. You mentioned that you have settled down at Stortford fields and your lill one goes to Avanti Brooks P. School...Would it be possible to share your overall experience so far with regards to the residential area and the school please. I have similar worries/ queries related to the school environment which you had mentioned in your earlier communication thread. We are a family of 3 and lill one will be going to year 2 this year. Many thanks and regards.

Sure, our experience of Avanti Brooks is great. Teachers are brilliant and loads of activities at school for kids with trips to nearby school, farms to London etc. Bishop's Stortford itself is a fantastic town with pretty much everything needed available or in the adjacent town Harlow. We are quite happy with our house within Stortford Fields with Tesco extra right at the door step which also has a dry cleaners, gp surgery, car wash, fuel station and Timpsons. Birchanger services is not too far so often we go for a quick subway or burger king. We travel to London for work so station is a 5 min drive if you leave a tad bit early 7.30ish. Hope it helps.

Thank you so much for your valued response. It helps a lot . We will be viewing a property at S. Fields next week. Hope it works for us . Have a pleasant evening ahead. Warm regards 🙏