Hitchin vs Harpenden

[saraheyes]

Hi, I'm so sorry if this has been asked before but I was wondering if you guys could give me your opinion on which town you would prefer to live in.

Currently DH and I are living in Luton and have two boys aged 6 and 2 and we're thinking of moving out. Luton, although has served us well in the past, doesn't seem to be a great place to bring up the boys any more.

We just can't decide between Hitchin and Harpenden. Obviously an important factor is schools but just generally we would like a better family life.

We've had a look at a few houses in both towns and like a house which William Ransom in the nearest school in Hitchin and in Harpenden we like a house which Crab Tree in the nearest school. Would it be easy for my eldest DS to get a place in a school in Hitchin/Harpenden as he would be moving in year?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!

Well I live in St Albans, so I can't really advise you on one or the other, but what I do know is that schools are massively oversubscribed in Harpenden (I have several friends with school-age DC who live there). The best thing to do is contact the LA and ask about in-year places. Both towns are lovely, so in terms of your quality of time I'm sure you have a good one in either place. Schools though, in this area, are tricky and I know that Harpenden is currently desperately in need of a new secondary, but I don't think they've even secured a site for it yet, let alone starting building.

We chose Hitchin because we felt we could get more house for our money than Harpenden and St Albans was to busy for us.
I think you will struggle in both areas to get a child into the schools if arriving in year tbh. I believe you would probably get a village school in Hitchin (which are good but maybe not convenient re location).

William Ransom has just increased in size though so you never know...

I wrote a post and lost it. But with Harpenden in future years there is going to be a major problem with school places if they don't build the new secondary school.

Google Herts in year admissions to see which schools have places. There are no bad schools in Harpenden.

Hitchin seems lovely too.

saraheyes I am in a similar position. I live in a village between Beds and Herts and currently my almost 7 years old son goes to a Harpenden school. This means a lot of travelling!! I have a 2.5 years old boy as well and thinking to move closer. I am between Hitching and Harpenden but my budget won't allow a very big house unfortunately. I am also considering the surrounding villages (Wheathamsted and Rebourn) although i much prefer a town. I am more concerned on secondaries as I am not sure how easy is to get to Hitching Boys and not sure if I want a single sex school. On the other hand with Harpenden SJL has a very small catchment, StG you have to be a church goer and Roundwood, I am not really impressed with. With the village also, there is no guarantee that you will get a place in harpenden/St. Albans school. Really confused! Does anyone know how was this years admissions in Harpenden/Hitchin secondaries?

Hi I don’t know if you will see this as I know this post was last written on a year ago! However, I wondered where you decided to move to? We are in the same boat at the moment, moving from South East London which I love but we need more space and better schools. I am swaying more towards hitchin but worried about school places as I will have two children to find places for! X

@kb1980 did you end up moving to Hitchin? We are thinking of making the same move but so worried about school places for in year transfers too! :)