Catholic schools in St Albans

[jubjubbird]

We're thinking about moving to St Albans from Enfield, mainly for the good schools and to be a bit further out of London. We're practising Catholic so looking at state Catholic schools, and have a dd and ds under 3.

I have two questions for those of you who might be able to help:

1. Can you tell me about the different Catholic schools in St Albans, as far as I know there are three or four?

1. Is it worth the move for schools alone? We have a great (big) primary school here in Enfield, but I'm thinking more long-term... and, thinking of Loreto for dd, is it mean to split up siblings to different schools?

I hope you can help me decide whether to move or not, I just don't know what to do! :-)

thank you thank you...

I used to live on the road the big Catholic school in Enfield is on - the primary one that is. Right by the school.

We are Greek Orthodox. One of my cousins is at St Columba's and doing well. Although that is private. My other cousin went to Loreto and liked it there too.

Its much nicer here than in Enfield though I live in one of the villages and not St Albans itself. I used to want to move back but now no way. Enfield is too busy and not as nice. That is my personal opinion. I did like growing up in Enfield and was a fan before I moved here.

Harpenden has a good primary Catholic school and St Georges I believe is for all Christian faiths. Its also mixed and is supposed to be absolutely fabulous.

Thanks for your reply! Even better to here from someone who knows both areas.

I agree about Enfield being too busy. Harpenden is another option, so good to know about those schools too, thank you!

I do like Enfield - just like it here more. I miss the ethnic shops and other bits of Enfield but Cockfosters is close by so can go there to indulge in my fondness for good quality meze.

I'm not Catholic and have no personal experience of these schools but can tell you the names of some in St Albans if that's helpful?!

St Alban & St Stephen are state nursery/ infant and junior schools. I believe they have outstanding Ofsted reports and are certainly well-regarded by parents.

St John Fisher is a state primary that I'm afraid I know nothing about!

Nicholas Breakspear is the state secondary.

HTH :)

St Adrians's RC JMI, St Michaels Catholic secondary at Garston, maybe just boys?
Loreto College St Albans, all girls senior.

Thank you very much everyone!

How is Nicholas Breakspear thought of? (Seems strange to be asking this when my eldest is only 2...)

St Alban & St Stephen sounds like a good school. I'd be interested to know if the primary schools are much the same or if they each have a different reputation? Anyone have kids at these schools?

I wouldn't worry about secondary school now. Lots will change in the next 9 years. Worry about primary schools.

We moved from Cockfosters to St Albans 5 years ago. We moved for 4 reasons 1) the schools 2) my parents live here 3) good local amenities 4)easy commute to London.

I do love it but I don't think it would be worth moving here for the schools alone because you pay such a premium to live here. If you didn't need to commute into London, you could probably do better for your money elsewhere.

St Albans and St Stephens is popular and parents there seem to like it.

Loreto is highly oversubscribed, Nicholas Breakspear not so much. But things can change a lot in a few years.

There is also St Bernadette's in London Colney which is a primary. There was a bit of a scandal a few years back regarding the old head. They got knocked down the league tables but it now has a new head who is very well respected and I hear its a great little school.

My daughter wants to change her school, now she is in Loreto college in St. Albans but she wants to go to Nicolas Breakspear , is anyone knows bit more about this school?