Berkhamsted schools - help please!

[teetering]

We are moving to the Berkhamsted area and wonder if anyone can give any further insights to: Berkhamsted Collegiate Prep School, Westbrook Hay Prep School and The Beacon School in Chesham Bois? It's hard to get an inside view when all you can do is read a review and do a quick tour etc.

If there are any other schools (state or private) that anyone can recommend, please do share!

Thanks!

Oh no that is not what I wanted to hear! I fear it is going to be too far from town, then. BUT, forever optimistic that I am, we're going to go tomorrow morning to do a proper test run. DH is going to make me do the walk and he insists I do the uphill version FROM the station, while he goes off to assess the street parking for another rental house we viewed on North Road. Very close to town, but no off-street parking (always a flippin' compromise somewhere!), so we'd like to see it mid-morning to see how bad the parking is once people have used it for their free parking to walk to town etc.

Or does anyone actually know North Road, and what the parking is like? www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=north+road+HP4&countryCode=GB#map=51.7593,-0.57209|17|4&bd=useful_informat ion&loc=GB:51.75931:-0.57209:17|15%20north%20road%20HP4|15%20North%20Road,%20Berkhamsted,%20Hertford shire,%20England,%20HP4%203

'Compromise' is getting annoying: does anyone live in the perfect house and feels they have no compromise at all??!!!

Foreveroptimistic - we viewed the house I linked to below which is in Bourne End and then 2 other rental houses. We then went to Tring and grabbed a quick bite to eat, before the kids were on their knees and we thought we'd drive home to let them pass out in the car!

Why was Berko so busy???

Teetering,
have you any news?

Teertering:

I'm afraid whereever you are in Berko, you are going to have to deal with hills... We're the other side of Berkhamsted (Gravel Path) but that's up a ruddy great hill too!!!

North Road is nice - the conservation area is all nice - but no off road parking means free for all.

We looked at a lovely place on Kings Road, but without parking... It's a no-deal for us. Parking (esp. that close to the High Street) is going to be a problem.

The High Street is very heavily patrolled by parking wardens, so people are always trying to park just off the High Street, IYSWIM....

There was a half marathon here last weekend - could be the reason for the extra people? We went to the pub for lunch and the place was HEAVING!!!

Hello! There is someone out there still!

Yes, I do have lots of updates, thanks for asking! We might be moving very soon if exchange goes through! The walk from Shootersway Lane to station was 20 mins downhill. Acceptable! Uphill another matter, but yes, just gotta get over the hills!

Have visited Westbrook Hay, and the Berko Collegiate Prep School. Haribo - I liked the Collegiate Prep School, but slightly disappointed about lack of GRASS outside for the kids! How did you find that aspect of it? Apparently they get bussed to the playing fields?!

Westbrook Hay seemed lovely, esp for the littler children. The French seemed a bit disappointing, and no swimming lessons, which is a shame.

Have seen some houses quite close to Greenway School. Can anyone comment on whether it is any good etc?

Why no swimming lessons at Westbrook? They have a pool - although it's outdoor, admittedly.
I'm hopeless with school names and I know that there's one that is experiencing huge staffing turnover at the moment but can't remember which one! Think it had Ofsted very recently though.

Greenway school (and the general area) are pretty good....

I know lots of people in Greenway / Shrublands Ave and Orchard Ave. It's a nice area.

I didn't know Westbrook Hay didn't do swimming lessons?

Yes, one real advantage of Westbrook Hay is the outside space - I've heard people (usually mums of boys!) who think the outside space is fantastic! Collegiate have LOTS of outside space, but it's dotted around the place. Again, more relevant for boys, because the boys school is right in the centre of town (though, this shouldn't matter in the prep school... that's co-ed... No... haven't ever heard of DSD2 being bussed to the playing fields - they are just over the road (behind the Knox Johnson sports centre)

I do see lots of boys walking to and from the playing fields at the other side of town (near the station) when I'm walking the dog, and I know that they have more fields (boys school again) at the top of shootersway lane...

If you ever fancy meeting for coffee, give me a shout on ycbs @ fsmail . net

Haribo thank you. I might take you up on that once it's clear we're moving!

Yes, Westbrook Hay only has outdoor pool, and I am fairly sure the Head of PE told us when we went that they use it only in the summer, and I think only from Year 3. At Berko Prep School lessons are done once a week from Yr 1, just across the road.

Got the prospectus for Chesham Prep. Their website says most kids come from Chesham/Amersham/Chalfonts way, but increasingly more kids from Berko and Hemel area. I think we're going to discount it as surely your kids would end up wanting play dates and tea etc with kids not really from the immediate area, which might be a pain....or am I being inflexible???! Otherwise it sounds a tip top school.

Clam if you recall that school with high turnover then shout!

Teetering - Any time.. (You too, Clam!)

Don't discount any school because of proximity to the school. If you choose Berkhamsted, then kids get buses and trains in from ALL OVER the place. One of DSD1's best friends comes from Milton Keynes (!?) each day!!!!! We spend most weekends driving the DSDs around to places (though thankfully their friends' parents are equally helpful, so often they get lifts from them too!)

But, go for the school YOU feel happiest with. I could name 6 kids, off the top of my head, that go to Chesham Prep from Berko...

Teetering: It's time to face the music: You will spend the next 10-15 years of your life being an unpaid (and largely unthanked!) taxi driver no matter where you live or where your kids go to school

ah, yes, that is a bit depressing!

is there any difference to which side of berko you live, ie station side or other side? is one side or area seen as better/more desirable?

haribo - saw a house just on for sale on gravel path but at £1.2m it is sadly out of budget but great views!

I suppose I think the Gravel Path area is the nicest - Meadway is lovely but then I'm biased!!

There are two houses for sale here at the mo:

this one

and this one

but they are both up at £1.2M

The conservation area is lovely too - but parking is more of a problem and Hall Park is nice too - very solid houses there.

I like Gravel path because it's not too far into town (but equally, it's close to open countryside!), it's good for the station and the houses have more space and good parking - and the local pub shows all the football matches (well, I see this as a good thing!!)

this one is on Gravel Path too - but quite close to the (main) road!

a friend grew up in berko and her parents still live on gravel path! those houses look great. if only...!!!

if you live on the gravel path side of town, don't you then have an issue with not being in close catchment for state primaries which all seem to be on the other side of town?

I don't think so.

Catchment schools here are Swing Gate Lane and Victoria First... but I can't comment directly, as DS (and new baby) will most likely go straight to Berkhamsted...

I'm not aware of anyone having had problems with schools, but there are lots of new houses here, and I suppose that will put more pressure on the schools going forward...

Whether you get into a state school really depends on the birth rate for that particular year.

Children who started Reception in 2008/09 academic year would not have stood a chance at getting into Victoria or Swing Gate if they lived in the Gravel Path area (unless they were regular churchgoers). Last year 33 children were not given a place in Berkhamsted as the birth rate was so high. Eventually the council rectified this by opening an additional classroom at Westfield School (the other side of town). For children starting school in 09/10 the birth rate was much lower and Swing Gate is actually undersubscribed for the coming year so you just can't tell!

Greenway has an excellent reputation and I know many parents who are very happy with it. They are also extending and will be admitting 60 children per year from now on as it is traditionally oversubscribed. I hear on the grapevine that the head will be leaving shortly, she was very popular.

I forgot to mention that a lot of children in the Gravel Path area tend to go to Potten End first school.

Thank you Forever. I can't believe that DS1, due to start in Reception in Sept, could acually be in a year of low birthrate as in our current local area it is a heaving birth year and, wait for it, more boys in his year!!!! Is the advice for applications to apply to the one closest to your home, in order to be (more) sure of a place?

Haribo (and others) I have a question about Berkhamsted Prep School. DH is thinking along the lines of: no idea at age 3 what academic ability the DC will develop, so it's a good contingency to start them off at Berko Prep for a more or less guaranteed place into their Senior School so you at least have that as an option when the time comes. They can always still sit the tests for St Albans School, Bucks Grammars etc if they show promise of flourishing in that environment. The Prep Head did not seem to look unfavourably on students leaving the prep school for other schools (and cited example of 6 girls sitting for Wycombe Abbey tests). Any thoughts?

Both my DSDs started off in Victoria and transferred to the Prep to secure a place for the senior school, but lots of DSD2's friends (she is moving to the senior school in Sept) are moving to other schools and, likewise, lots of kids from other schools have taken the entrance exam to the senior school.

I think it's fair to say it's a little easier to get into the senior school if you are coming from the prep, as you have an allocated place... transferring in (AFAIK) is a little more difficult.

Your plan is certainly what we have in mind for DS and new baby... They will go to SS and then the prep and we'll re-evaluate at age 11... But (FWIW) my DSDs differ widely in academic ability - DSD1 is very academic (without trying according to her reports ) DSD2 is not gifted academically but is very arty, but the school caters well for both of them, IMO.

Also, when we put DS down for SS (he won't start there until 2011), we were FAR from the first. I was a bit at that!!

Teetering, yes if you do apply for a state school place I would advise that you have your closest school listed as one of the three options.

Is your ds actually due to start school this September? If so you have missed the boat for applying as places have already been allocated. You will need to go on the waiting list, Swing Gate have places but all the other schools are full for the next intake. Last year there were loads of parents who applied for Greenway but actually ended up sending their children to private schools so you might be lucky to get a place on the waiting list at Greenway.

ForeverOptimistic - Bit of a hijack here... When do you need to apply to state schools?

My DS is only 9 months now (so I'm probably not in too much of a rush!) but I would like to consider state schools too, just in case!

thanks!

Haribo, your ds would be due to start at state school (reception) in January 2013 which means that you would need to apply in October 2011. If you want to apply for a nursery place you will need to apply in October 2010. You should automatically be sent the application forms anyway.

Thanks! He's due to start at Stepping stones in Sept. 2011, but you never know!!!

How old are your DC?

My ds is 4 and a half and has just started in Reception. It is amazing how quickly the time goes, I can remember thinking that it would be a million years before he went to school and now we are nearly at the end of his first term! Now I want another one so I can do it all again!

the time does go fast doesn't it?

DS is 9 months now and I just look at him and think: What happened to my baby? You are a little boy already!?

But I'm a glutton for punishment - No 2 is pitching up in August this year!!!

So, if you still have a craving for a newborn, you can always come and see mine!!!

Haribo - so you have 2 under 1, so to speak, and 2 a good bit older at big school! Wow!

Forever - thanks for state school tips. Your DS is in the year above my DS1, then. And Haribo, my DS2 is about to go on the list to start Stepping Stones in Sept 2011 too! It annoys me slightly that they can't do entry there before Sept 2011 as he is going to need some more stimulation: he is 2 next month but is ridiculously interested in learning - miles ahead of his poor big brother and knows most of his letters (recognises them anywhere and in weird fonts, not just in fave books etc) and numbers etc.

Forever - if we move to Berko in April then we will, as you say, be late applicants for Sept entry into Reception in state schools. Do the state schools have nursery departments attached to them, and could DS1 go to a free nursery on arrival or are they all full? I need to call the council but am holding off til I have an address from which to apply!

Haribo - sorry, made a mistake and my DS2 can start in Stepping Stones 1 in Sept 2010, not 2011. Doh.....