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Original poster

Schools in HARPENDEN/ST ALBANS?

85 replies

granarybeck · 12/07/2006 14:42

does anyone know about the schools in this area?

I have received loads of helpful advice on another thread about where to move to around london. We are thinking of harpenden or st albans and are going have a look round at the end of this week. Does anyone know anything about The Lea school in harpenden? any thoughts would be appreciated.

There seemed to be lots of excellent schools in the area but lots seem to be full (i know, pretty naive of me not to guess). Otherwise could be back to looking at other areas.

would be really grateful for any advice.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 13/07/2006 10:54

i really like living here, i grew up here and then moved to london for about 10 years, and moved back to buy a house.

the towns here are quite nice, because they are surrounded by countryside and have links with the M25, A41 and A1. also the trains are direct to kings cross, farringdon etc. edgware and barnet are also close.

bricket wood is lovely. st albans is also quite near and great for shopping, or watford if you like lots of shops in one area. you have to have an explore!

KTeePee · 13/07/2006 13:22

granerybeck, as you have a ds I really wouldn't advise on anywhere to the south of St Albans (unless you were going for a different town altogether like Radlett, iyswim or can afford private education). Otherwise you won't have much of a choice for secondaries (probably only Marlborough in St Albans). As your ds is going into yr5 I would really advise you to try to decide now which secondary school you would prefer and choose your location accordingly. (Obviously you may love Marlborough) The reality in this area is yes, you get more for your money in places like Bricket Wood and Chiswell Green, or outlying villages like Wheathamsted - the reason for this is geographically most secondary schools are situated in the northern part of the city and distance to the school is the big deciding factor on getting a place. Many families look to move house when their children approach secondary stage because of this. (Sorry anorak, don't mean to talk down Bricket Wood)

southeastastra · 13/07/2006 13:28

are you dissing my son's school?

KTeePee · 13/07/2006 13:36

No, I've only heard good things about it! - just saying there isn't a choice other than that if you live on the "wrong" side of the city - if granerybeck wanted Verulam (say because she felt single sex would be better for her ds for whatever reason) or another school specialising in something or other, she wouldn't have much of a chance of getting it if living on the south side.

KTeePee · 13/07/2006 13:37

Does he really travel from Borehamwood? I know it's common for some of the private/faith schools but didn't realise kids commuted to the "regular" state schools

southeastastra · 13/07/2006 13:38

oh are you in st albans? im going there tonight for a walk round the duck pond

2ManyPimms · 13/07/2006 13:55

southeast - I wish it were warmer, Id like to take the kiddos to the splash park there. Had a horror moment in Nov. with DD - she fell into the river part of the duck pond, started sinking and I didn't even notice! Turned around, looked for her and saw nothing - SPRINTED ( me, I never ran so fast in my life) and found her underwater and sinking in her overcoat and boots. Jumped in (it is deeper than you think) picked her up and THREW her on the sidewalk. Every time I walk to the splash park, I have flashbacks!

southeastastra · 13/07/2006 14:09

that's terrible poor thing!! i didn't think it was that deep either! my son walks so close to the edge too

sylvm · 13/07/2006 14:46

I was asking very similar questions to you at the beginning of last year when we were also thinking of moving to St Albans or Harpenden. Well eventually after a year of trying to sell the house, we finally moved to St Albans in May.

We did not really choose between St Albans and Harpenden in the end, it was all down to what houses were available in the right sort of areas once we sold.

Our DD2 is just finishing Year 4 so like you we were also looking ahead to the next stage. In fact I recognise some of the people who have replied to you cos they also replied to me.

Re the Lea, I liked it a lot, and I think DD would have gone there if we had ended up in Harpenden. However, she is SEN and I understand that the Lea has a very good ethos here. Certainly they seemed impressive. However, I understand that Harpenden may be undergoing a primary school review regarding there being too many places any time now. This is in the process of happening in the town we have just moved out of, and it is not a pleasant process for anybody who has a child at a school affected. My concern was that because the Lea has small class sizes, the powers that be might decide that that is the school to be messed with.

Regarding St Albans Primaries - I visited 6 of them and was impressed with all of them in different ways. We made the decision that seemed right for DD at the time which is not the school nearest to our house. As someone has already said, do think ahead to secondary stage, it comes around too fast.

If you want to ask any more questions, please do. In general terms, I love living in St Albans but I also would have liked Harpenden too.

anorak · 13/07/2006 16:08

KTeePee, I've already mentioned my dds' school Parmiter's which is Garston a mile from Bricket Wood. It's a large secondary foundation school which appears in the Times lists of best schools. South of St Albans.

I've found that most people round here can send their children to a quality school whatever part of St Albans and environs they are in.

KTeePee · 13/07/2006 16:22

At the risk of repeating myself, i'm not trying to offend anyone by saying that the schools to the south are not as good - just that there are fewer of them, so less choice (and no single sex schools to my knowledge). I have to say I'd never heard of Parmiters until you mentioned it - don't know of anyone in St Albans itself going there (I thought it was private when you first mentioned it) so don't know how easy it would be to get a place there if you live in the city as opposed to Bricket Wood. I was just pointing out that if granerybeck's ds is transferring to secondary in the next couple of years it is an important consideration when choosing a location. Every year there are tales of woe in the local papers about pupils in certain areas not getting into local schools and having to commute -if I was moving house anyway, I'd be doing what I could to avoid being in that situation myself.

anorak · 13/07/2006 16:26

There is another huge secondary in the same road as Parmiter's as well - a catholic school. I wouldn't know about coming from St Albans centre but I thought granarybeck might like to know about some of the surrounding villages as well.

There are other huge secondaries between here and Watford as well, like Queens and Bushey Meads which don't have bad reputations. George Michael went to Bushey Meads, don't know if that's good or bad!

The only celebrities I know that went to Parmiter's are Tommy Walsh and Nick Leeson - don't know what to say about them

southeastastra · 13/07/2006 16:40

blimey well they aren't good role models !! (hehe)

alibubbles · 13/07/2006 17:37

My friends girls go to Parmiters, they live right in the city centre. If you pass the exam, you get in, simple as that really, or get in as a sibling.

I know a lot of people in Chiswell Green, most children from go to Marlborough, very few get into STAGs, but having run a creche there for the last two terms, I would have serious thoughts about it even now. DD didn't want to go there 10 years ago. She walked in the door and said "I'm not coming here"

Siblings go to Verulam and Stags mainly. Quite a few also get into most of the private schools.

Child from my road got into Stags this year, we are on the outer of the inner area, so that was a good result for them.

Marborough is a good school, I know lots of families are very pleased with it.

Sylvm, glad to hear that you have moved, I hpope your DD has settled in to her new school, where did you end up? Initials will do! I still look after 5 teachers children from SAHS! - Break up toaday till the 7th Sept!

KTeePee · 13/07/2006 17:43

So Parmiters is selective then? May account for my not knowing any children going there . Have to say I live outside St Albans on the north side so don't suppose many people trek all the way to Garston from here. Used to live on the south side and most children went to Marlborough but lots of families moved to the north of the city also as their children got older. I know a couple of families who got Stags/Verulam this year from the south side but only after going on the waiting list.

Is the creche at Stags for the teachers children or the pupils??!!

alibubbles · 13/07/2006 20:06

The creche is for the Asian Womens group; as STAGs is a business college, they get a grant from the government, so have to be seen to using it for the benefit of the community.

As there is so many Asian girls there and a lot of their parents don't speak or write any English, STAGS put on classes for them, so hopefully they will be involved more in their daughter's education.

I run a creche for the women's children each week.

Yes, parmiters is selective, likewise Watford Grammar - girls and boys, and Rickmansworth School, Dame Alice Owen'si Potters Bar too.

sylvm · 13/07/2006 20:29

Hi Alibubbles .. DD2 is at FV. Yes DD1 finished today like your mindees' parents. I guess that means you're on holiday too, if they're off or do you still work in the school holidays?

alibubbles · 14/07/2006 08:45

I get all school holidays off, but I do have the mindies for A level results day as most of the teachers go in then. I am off to Saudi Arabia for a few weeks.

sylvm · 14/07/2006 10:26

Have a great time

KTeePee · 14/07/2006 11:00

Alibubbles, I had no idea that scheme at STAGS was running - what a great idea, hope it is well supported. Is it only open to women who have3 children at STAGS?

alibubbles · 14/07/2006 16:16

Thanks Sylvm

KTeepee, it is open to all Asian women,not just STAGS mums as some the women who come have only one very young child, but tall seem to know a child at STAGS! The gitls come and peer through the windows and the little ones call Aunty, aunty!

Some came for the CLAIT(computer licence?) courses, some are doing English. I have seen some advertised as free courses in the library and other places.

Original poster
granarybeck · 14/07/2006 22:12

Thanks evryone, just logged on from hotel in harpenden to see more helpful advice! Am exhausted from looking round evrywhere! Wen to see The Lea in Harpenden. Sylvym, sorry, didn't quite know what you meant about a review in harpenden as too many places. ?? At the moment The Lea is the only school with places. Which feels very limiting not to have a choice. We went to look round but only th esecretary could show us round so perhap didn't really get a proper feel for it. I think part of me just wondered why with such small class sizes noone from harpenden went there. Looked at Bricketwood too, the head there was fantastic, very welcoming. Been into St Albans, but at a bit of a loss as to where are nice areas. Also looked at Redbourn, nr Harpenden. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and unable to fit any schools and nice areas together! And also could do with winning lottery to buy house!!

OP posts:
Christie · 14/07/2006 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 14/07/2006 22:51

Ooh Granary, are you staying at the Gleneagles Manor hotel? In that case you are within spitting distance of my house. Which is bizarrely exciting! CAT me and I'll fill you in on all the local info.

Primary schools - Crabtree (need to live near the station, which doesn't sound fab but is actually v. desirable area), Manland (I think) and Roundwood are the ones everyone wants. Plus St Nicholas's if you are CofE, but it's tiny. Or St Dominic's if you are RC (you need a letter from your priest, apparently).

Don't know about the Lea, is that nearer to St Albans - Southdown way? Or is that the one in Batford? We haven't had to investigate others as ds is not quite three and we've got him into Roundwood nursery - we are (just) in the catchment area and all his friends will be going.

When they come to senior school, Roundwood and St Georges are the top choices. The other one is Sir John Lawes which is fine, apparently, but not so desirable - I hear it's great for children who want to do vocational training, though.

Basically the only part of Harpenden to avoid is Batford. It's the cheapest part of town. For a reason - house prices round here are closely related to school catchment areas. Think the primary in Batford is still ahead of national average, but people who move to Harpenden are really chasing the highly academic schools with snob value so it's less popular.

edam · 14/07/2006 22:53

Granary, if you want 4 beds, you are looking at 450k minimum in Harpenden, and probably 500. Or buying somewhere smaller and extending.