Schools in HARPENDEN/ST ALBANS?

[granarybeck]

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.

probably!

How's it going Granarybeck?

ok thanks sylvm. Well no actually we are sat here feeling completely sick and unable to decide what to do!! We have to give a decision to dh's potential firm by monday as to whether he is going to accept or not. They haven't really offered him as much money as he'd hoped, not much more than on now, but with potential to become partner etc (is law job). so feels quite risky. We've been looking at hitchin (virtually rather than physically) as seems a little cheaper but still commutable. Is just mentally exhausting keep trying to assess schools, areas etc. Am tempted to give up but don't want to regret it. Sorry if am ranting slightly, I have really appreciated all the support on here.

anorak, i didn't receive your cat, will double check in case i've missed it. am wondering whether i had a different email last time i registered, will check.

Sorry it's so difficult, Granary. Which agents did you speak to? Putterills and some others tend to deal with the top end houses over £1m so can imagine they might be sniffy about us mere mortals. Harrison Murray, Ashtons, Premier Move and John Curtis tend to deal with houses in every price bracket.

Just asking because my neighbour is looking for houses in the same price bracket so asked his opinion and he was surprised to hear you'd been fobbed off - said he hadn't noticed any shortage of properties. Although he is looking in a wider area, including Redbourn.

My nanny (who grew up here) says the area around The Lea school is very nice ('posh' houses, apparently), btw.

Worth thinking about Radlett and Borehamwood if you still want to make the move, need the line into Farringdon but want to cast your net a bit wider. Or south of the river - just look at the Thameslink (now First Capital Connect) map.

Cheers Edam, think you may be right about the estate agents and just picking the wrong ones. I've spoken to a couple of the ones you mentioned on the phone today and they were very helpful. That's useful info from your nanny. That's what i love about mn, not just getinng so much advice from other mums, but their neighbours and nannies too! cheered me up thanks

I really feel for you Granarybeck - we found it hard enough and we were only 10-15 miles away and could easily go over to spend time. The estate agents we found good were Ashtons in St A and John Curtis in Harpenden. In the end, we didn't buy through either cos it's the luck of the draw who is selling the house you like. Something else I've just thought of re Harpenden is potential Luton airport expansion. We went to a meeting about it at the end of last year. They want to build a new runway and it could mean more air traffic. I'm sure you could find out more thru the internet. Don't think I'm trying to put you off Harpenden, part of me would definitely still like to be there but you do need to be aware of these things.

gb I sent you a CAT with my phone numbers in it in case you wanted to come round for a cup of tea while you are in the area. I'd be happy to show you the village. If you CAT me instead I could send them that way.

Anorak, sorry been having supanet problems so onloy just got your email. Thank you! Dh has said yes to job so need to get our act together about moving - he starts 4th september!

Edam, if you see this, just wanted to say thanks for your estate agents suggestions. Been down to harpenden again this week and had much more successful timme with those agents. I think like you say we'd just gone into the ones that were perhaps a liitle, er, out of our reach!

Really appreciate evryone's support, I don't think we'd have got this far without it. Even my dh was saying, 'well didn't someone from mumsnet say ...' while we were looking round!!