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Original poster

North Hitchin

10 replies

NewToHitchin · 03/03/2015 11:35

We are interested in living in north Hitchin and have seen some nice houses. One house we're interested in is about a mile above the station up Cambridge Road. We are surprised that not more people are interested in the house which we think would be great for us and it also has good schools nearby. Are we missing something? It is further from the station than we would like but we're willing to compromise for a nice house and good schools. What are your views on north Hitchin about a mile from the station?We're worried that being new others know something that we don't.Would appreciate your views. Thank you.

OP posts:

Billingsgatedoxy · 03/03/2015 11:48

The two closet primary schools to that area are Purwell and Highover, neither of which are ranked amongst the most popular schools in the town. St Andrews, Mary Exton and William Ransom are generally considered to be the best schools for that side of town.

The main issue with houses there is that they are so far from the secondary schools, which means you have very little chance of getting into the girls' and boys' school, and will have a very long journey to the mixed comprehensive on the other side of town.

Traditionally, houses with a SG4 9 postcode are the most popular for families as they are considered to be in the right part of town for all the good schools, and within a walkable distance to the train station.

Thurlow · 03/03/2015 11:55

Can you give a rough street name? I'm trying to picture whereabouts you mean.

I think most people prefer other parts of Hitchin as they are easier for the secondary schools and getting to town. A mile walk to the station sounds about right, most people I know do a decent 10-15 min walk to the station.

The only thing with primary schools at the moment is that Hitchin is having a bit of a baby boom and it looks like most people won't have a great deal of choice in which primary they will get and are getting the local school. Not that I think, personally, that any of the primary schools in Hitchin are actually poor.

Rainbow44 · 03/03/2015 15:55

Some schools are definitely more popular in hitchin, like the ones mentioned above but highover and purwell are both good schools with consistently good ofsted reports..both are what I would say are good schools for primary. If you like the house, go for it..the local primary's are good and secondary wise you would be close to the highfield school in letchworth which is a very good school and about to be completely rebuilt..or alternatively you have the priory in hitchin which is over other side of town but a good secondary.

It depends if you want your child to go to good single sex secondaries as you are less likely to get a place at hitchin boys / girls but it is not unheard of..to be sure you would need to live in sg4 and the prices of houses in this area reflects that.

Cambridge road is a nice area close to open country side..

Good luck..( hitchin is a lovely town ) x

TwinkleCrinkle · 03/03/2015 16:15

We have only been in Hitchin for about 6 months and are just about to close on a house (fingers crossed). I think it depends on your situation... If you plan to go into town with little Kids in tow it's a bit of a long walk. However if your kids are school age it's not such a big deal. Also if it's the house I think it is (3 bed with annexe at the end of the garden?) it may be worth being on the other side of the station (which there's really nothing wrong with) as there can be a big difference in price in the different post codes.

Original poster

NewToHitchin · 04/03/2015 11:25

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. We are interested in a house in Granville Road and possibly one on Queenswood Drive. The houses that we have seen in this area just seem to be more us and more spacious than the houses we have seen south of the station even though we definitely get the impression that that would be the "right" area for Hitchin. The most important for us now are the primaries and from what we have read we would be happy with Purwell and Highover. We like that there are a number of buses going down Cambridge Road so there is the possibility of taking a bus when we don't feel like walking. It's a tough decision...

OP posts:

Rainbow44 · 04/03/2015 12:32

Queens wood drive is nice too..I don't know much about Granville road.

I love the style of houses round queens wood drive and Cambridge road..both nice areas imo..

Good luck! : )

Radha1969 · 19/04/2015 20:57

We have been living in Hitchin for 15 years and we are 600 meters from William Ransom School, but my 4 year old did not get a place at the school.Instead we were given our 4th choice Purwell School some 1700 meters away. The problem is that I have difficulty walking such a long distance as I have developing cataracts which makes it difficult to cross roads. If we got William Ransom then I would have no problems as I don't have to cross any roads but having got Purwell I will have to cross 17 busy roads four times a day. The appeal form doesn't have any section to account for my situation. I can't drive due to my eyes can anyone help with my predicament?

Rainbow44 · 20/04/2015 07:30

Radha1969, I would contact the school admissions team and discuss option for home to school transport..it's just an idea, I have no idea what their criteria is though.

hertofdarkness · 20/04/2015 22:39

Radha1969 Home school transport is usually for over 2 mile journeys but you could contact the council to ask. However you should definitely get your child on the waiting lists for William R and any other schools that are near as there is often movement before Sept.

Did you apply to your nearest school? If not try to get on the list for it as this is further up the allocation list and sometimes helps. In addition St Ippolits school appears to be opening up more spaces which might help.

You could try to appeal. There is loads of targeted help on the Primary School board from people who really know their stuff on school admissions. I suggest you re-post over there for better info. Good luck x

Rainbow44 · 02/05/2015 17:33

You had to live within 250 m to gain a place at William Ransome this year and it has been similar for many years now.. It needs to be your closest school and you have to live very close! There could be some movement as hertofdarkness says but you do live a fair distance away...there is no harm at all in appealing if WR is what you want but I would say chances are slim.

I have heard lots of good things about Purwell school..if you could get transport I would personally say it is better for your lo as its not too far to travel transport wise...I'm sure St Ippolytes is a lovely school but if your lo does get transport it is a long way for your lo to go..in the winter the journey might be a bit unreliable too.

Good luck with whatever you decide x

We didn't get our 1st choice school either this year so I know how it feels x

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