A move to Bishop's Stortford

[M3GIRLS]

Hi
We are thinking of moving to Bishop's Stortford and would like to know how it is like living there ? We are a diverse family of 5 ,how are the secondary schools there? We are thinking of putting an offer on a house and we would like to know how the area is like for a young family . Is it a good neighbourhood? 😊

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125818022

[warofthemonstertrucks]

Schools are great! Transport to London/Cambridge is great. I really I like the town centre. I live in a village not far from there-surrounding countryside is lovely.

[SOWK]

The schools are good but try to live somewhere where you can walk everywhere because the roads are total gridlock. There are thousands of new houses being built without any improvements to infrastructure or facilities.

The house you’ve linked to is on the edge of town, near Thorley which is a 1980s new build estate and Havers which is mostly 1960s/1970s ex-council estate. It’s the more affordable end of the town. It’s fairly close to the construction site of St James Park new build development so I imagine that there would be construction noice and disruption for a couple of years.

You do not say how old your children are. For secondary, that house would be in catchment for the Boys High which is a reasonable all boys secondary - it’s a bit rugby mad but gets reasonable results for a non selective. You are unlikely to be in catchment for the all girls secondary, Herts and Essex, and also a long way away from the mixed secondary Birchwood. You might get a place at Leventhorpe in Sawbridgeworth (approx 3m away) which gets mixed reviews. There’s also a new secondary, Avanthi, being built as part of another development, but again the house you have linked too is the opposite side of town so no idea if you would get a place.

None of Stortford is particularly diverse and there’s little in the way of diverse food or hair businesses, but people are generally friendly.

[M3GIRLS]

Thank you for the full detail ,much appreacited . To answer your question about children ages my eldest is in year 4 now (8,6 & 3)and i have 3 girls . If we settle on thag house for catchment we won't get into Herts& Essex ? How is St Marys high as a school?(we are catholics). Do you have any streets or areas you might recomend with a budget of £500k for a semi 3 bed +? Thank you.

[warofthemonstertrucks]

St Mary's is a really good school.

I think you'd get a diary decent new build for that budget on any of the new estates.

[Ch3wylemon]

Best school from the parent power survey Is Hockerill followed by Herts & Essex - the new Avanti is not rated.

Hockerill is very hard to get into unless you work there or live 6 feet away.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/schools-directory/school.aspx?school=The+Hertfordshire+And+Essex+High+School+and+Science+College&schoolcode=201

This is the details for Herts & Essex if you want it for your girls. It's competitive & oversubscribed so you need to look at where you live and feeder primaries. Manor Fields is part of the same group so guaranteed. Worth looking at the nearby village primaries that are in catchment too.

[Ch3wylemon]

St Mary's is well thought of & you'd stand a better chance from that location.

[M3GIRLS]

Thank you all for the info its very helpful . One more question how hard is it to get a primary place for in year for instance starting this year Septmber ? Is it near impossible ? And for that house i posted is the area a good one or not ? Thanks

[StillNiceCardigan]

My DCs went to St Mary’s we were happy with it as a school but my knowledge is out of date as DCs are in their 20s now. DS did get a place at St Joseph’s but it was full for DD1 and DD2 when we moved to the town. At that time if you wanted a catholic school people used St Thomas of Canterbury in Puckeridge which has a bus to Bishop s Stortford.

[jessiejojo]

Hi there- I’m not sure how to start a thread but I also have some questions about Bishop’s Stortford as I’m also considering a move there. I hope I can just jump in on this! Can anyone kindly give me an idea of life/people there (especially anyone who moved from London?) I have a 6 week old and a 2 year old and post MATL, I will be commuting to
London for work. Also any nursery and play group recommendations? I lived in Putney during my first MATL and the south London NCT group was amazing, as were the baby classes (including accessibility, as I don’t drive). Anyone in a position to advise on how BS might compare? Thanks so much for any replies.

[Monnnica]

Hi
we are considering buying a house in a new development in Saint James park, thorley.
does anybody know the area? Would be so kind to share their thoughts? Also any experience living in a new development are welcomed ☺️