big move to Luton-advice needed

[fenugreekcurry]

Hi everyone. This is my first time to use this forum. I currently live in cardiff and hoping to move to luton in the next few months. I need help finding the best area..i dont mind living in the surrounding areas if i can find a nice area with good schools and great activities for my 2 boys. A good community feel and country walks would also be great. Thanks in advance.

I think Bushmead or Barton Hills would suit your needs, the schools are good and it is close to the Bedfordshire countryside.

I am in the Wigmore area which I love and has good schools too but there will be more airport building soon so it might not be to your tastes.

How old are your boys? If they're primary age then you want to be in the Bushmead school catchment.

Thanks, my boys are 5 and 9. I noticed that some schools only go up to year 4? Also how is dunstable area?

Ok, so in that case you want to be in either the Bushmead Primary or Warden Hill/Icknield High School or the Stopsley Primary/Stopsley High School catchment areas. Stopsley Primary may look bad on paper but a new head's been in place for a couple of years and turned the school around. I have a couple of friends with children there and they really rate it highly. There's loads to do for children that age in both areas but the Stopsley area also has the new Inspire sports village. Both are easy access to the countryside.

I don't know about about Dunstable, sorry.

I can't think of any Luton schools that only go to Y4, are you looking at central Beds schools in Caddington etc? The Caddington area is nice and the Lower/Middle schools are good, Manshead Upper has had a bad few years but is pulling it back now.

I've not heard great things about Stopsley Primary or Secondary recently from friends who have children there at the moment but both are having rebuilding works so that might turn things around in the way it seemed to at Ashcroft. I think I would choose Someries Infant and Junior given the option.

I also have no idea about Dunstable, the jammed up traffic puts me off going there often although the theatre and the downs are lovely.

I think I might try Bushmead and Caddington area. I wonder how easy/difficult it is to get spaces at the schools this time of year? Ie Sept? Do you automatically get a space if you live close to the school? Am using rightmove to search for properties. Are there any other local links i could use? Hoping to travel to luton this weekend to have a look around and perhaps view some properties xx

Primary schools in Luton go up to Yr 6 we do not have lower, middle and upper schools like central Bedfordshire.

Schools places in Luton are at a premium, most schools from the town centre and to the north are full. Luton Borough Council are having to increase school places, for example Wigmore Primary have just had an increase building project so that they can become a 3 class entry.

Stopsley High School is having a new school built at the moment and Putteridge High School is due to have new build in the next couple of years.

My younger children are at Ramridge School and I have to say I find it a good school. My eldest is just going into Yr8 at Putteridge High School and again I have no complaints with the school.

We live off old Bedford Road / high town which has some rough areas but we really like it. We have to drive to local country side spots - the downs in Dunstable, The springs in Barton -le -Clay for example but it doesn't take long, and we live near some parks and open space which was important to us.
Dc go to St Matthews, I think it had a bad run a few years ago but we are more than pleased with it It's a really happy school.

I have friends who moved away for a while then moved back, they had to wait quite a while for a school space on their return, 3/4 maybe even 5 months, I don't think the school their dd go to is in their catchment area.

Thankyou..still house hunting. I cant wait for it to be over!

Good luck, hope you find something and it all goes smoothly.

Hi all..we eventually settled to live in an area called ickleford. Not our preferred choice but fits the budget. No spaces in schools nearby but found one in a village not too far. We hope to move this weekend. Wondering what people do about clubs, is there any possibility to pay one fee and use various facilities or do you pay as you go for each one?