Schools Around Elstree

[SupaMamma]

hi All
We are moving from Australia, back to the UK after being away for about 12 years. Our daughter just got a place at Habs for year 8 to start in September. We have an 8 year old, who will go into year 4 in Sept 2023, however, the plan is for him to go into a state school.
We haven't decided on where we are going to live, which seems crazy given that its only a few months away, but we are working on it!
We only got the Habs place in the last week, so we were waiting on that to be finalised before deciding on where we wanted to live.
Just wanting to know where people would recommend in terms of schools.

The areas we are looking at settling in are:
Bushey
Radlett
Shenley
St Albans
Bricket Wood
Barnet/High Barnet
potentally Watford

And happy for any other suggestions or comments. We used to live in North Watford before moving to Australia, and my in-laws live in borehamwood, so we are familiar with the area.

thanks🙂

Hertfordshire are very transparent about current availability of places in their schools - this spreadsheet is kept up to date and may help you target realistic places:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/school-admissions/in-year-admissions-change-schools-during-the-year/school-vacancies/school-vacancies-reception-to-year-6.aspx

oh. thank you so much. didn’t even know about this, so this is really helpful. much appreciated 🙏

I would add Berkhamsted to your list. Places available in a lot of the primary schools (and they’re all good), great comprehensive school at 11, a chance at a Bucks grammar place depending on where you live, a school coach to Habs for your daughter and Berkhamsted School (independent) if you need.

thank you.
I'll look at Berkhamsted School for DS.

If you’re including independent schools in your search then you might also want to look at St Margaret’s in Bushey - now co-ed and takes from age 2-18.

If your son is going to a state secondary then I would work backwards from there. Very difficult system in Herts. Dame Alice Owens is great, in Potters Bar but I don’t know about Habs transport from there and you’d have to be on the doorstep to get in. If you do the 11+ (Google Herts consortium) it opens up more choice. In your position I’d move to Bushey.

And go for Hartsborne, Ashfield or Bournehall

If you have one at Habs then the best schools closest are Newberries and Fairfield in Radlett.

Fairfield is a 2 form entry and is a great school, Newberries harder to get in as only one form and a bit cliquey.