Letchworth Secondaries

[Rainbow44]

Please can I have some views of both The Highfield and Fearnhill Secondary schools in Letchworth?

It would be great to hear from parents whose children attend both schools. My understanding is that both have good ofsted reports ( although I don't go much on these ).. I have been told Highfield is a generally well thought of school and that Fearnhill was not so good but is massively improving with a new head... Is this correct ?

Do children generally like going to these schools and do well ? I hear so much about Hitchin girls and boys, also Knights Templar in baldock but I'm keen to hear views of The Highfield and Fearnhill as we are in Letchworth..

Thanks in advance.

Following with interest though we are a few years off having to decide. fwiw I hear a lot of people try to get into Highfield, but a school mum I know let her daughter choose after looking at both schools, and though her friends were going to Highfield, the girl preferred the look of Fearnhill.

All very anecdotal though! I am somewhat concerned about A-level provision although it is far off. Where I grew up the secondaries were bog standard but there were lots of choices for A-level/sixth form. There doesn't seem to be much of that around here?

Thanks HopefulHamster,

My understanding is that A levels can be taken at any Hertfordshire school? I'm sure I've heard some Letchworth kids go to Hitchin schools for A Level studies and vice versa...I've certainly known children from Letchworth secondaries studying A Levels at Hitchin Girls / Boys

That sounds okay - I grew up in an area where there were a number of specifically sixth-form colleges, one very academic, two less so, but it meant I got higher grades than I would have done at my GCSE school. That's probably not the norm though! (the sixth form colleges, I mean)

Hmm, tbh I'm not too up on sixth form colleges!

That's interesting that a parent has looked round both schools and let her daughter decide..and she chose Fearnhill. I certainly don't hear of many families moving to be closer to a certain school in Letchworth. I'm wondering whether there isn't much between them then!

We will have to go and investigate. I am aware that Highfield has had a new school building recently so the facilities are newer, but generally I'd be far more interested in the teaching standard and whether kids are actually happy at either school. ( or as happy as teenagers can be ).

I've heard of people moving out of Letchworth to get to better schools :D :D

Saying that my son has had a good experience in primary education so I am hopeful that by the time he's in secondary they will be decent too.

I think both schools have improved lately. Fearnhill is much smaller these days I believe as more people apply to Highfield. But smaller can be better for some students.

Hopefully someone knowledgeable will come along one day...

I hear mostly good things about Highfields from local parents I know. Fearnhill not so much... BUT a much smaller school which is appealing.

Statenislandferry, I'd be interested to hear any positive / negative feedback about Highfield, sorry I've only just checked back so just seen this.

Also anything about Fearnhill. Just looked round both and not much between them, other than Highfield a much newer building .

DON’T send your child to Fearnhill. My son was bullied and the school did nothing. Very poor. The school head is a fraud

In my opinion, letchowrth schools are amazung i went there