Kingshott School, St Christopher's, other private school feedback?

[SueEllen1971]

Hi
We're thinking of moving to the area with two boys 4 and 8. I'm really keen to know more about local private schools and/or state primaries but I'm guessing it is next to impossible to get a place at the decent ones.

Thanks.

We are sending our son to Kingshott in September. I believe there are still a few places available as they have a banner up outside the school which I saw this morning. We loved it when we looked round and have heard really positive things about it. Hope that helps!

Re: Kingshott, there are I believe still a number of spaces for Reception entry (2012). Entry higher up the school is highly variable, as the years fill up fast and only occasionally are there leavers/new joiners (except at Year 7/8 - where spaces become available as pupils leave at 11 and not 13). I've previously advised others - go and visit, and definitely on a normal school day (i.e. not when the children are on holidays). You get a totally different experience. There are a number of excellent state primaries in Hitchin - but you will need to live extremely 'close' to be sure of getting in to your preferred. Samuel Lucas in particular is always over subscribed. However if you live in the villages - you will usually get allocated your local village school e.g. Preston, Pirton etc. (subject to spaces being available). St. Christopher's is a very different school to Kingshott (which is more traditional, and of course only goes to 13 whereas you can stay for the duration at St. Chris's) - depends what you are looking for, for your children. I have 2 children who will be educated at Kingshott, 1 who has been through Pre-Prep and is now in the Prep school and another who experienced the Nursery provision there. Wider than purely schools, North Hertfordshire is a lovely place to bring up a family with ease of access to London and the south plus far enough away to disappear into the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire countryside and the hussle and bustle of the Hitchin/Baldock/Letchworth area.