Primary Schools in St. Albans and Welwyn Garden City

[dayra]

We have recently sold our house in Wimbledon and we are planning to move to St Albans but we have also considered another areas like Welwyn-Garden-City. We are having problems finding a house near a good public school which will have vacancies for my daughter (Year 2) and my son (Reception)in September. We don't know the area very well and we think that the only alternative will be to send them to an independent school. Can please anyone tell us what are the best areas to buy a property in St. Albans with access to good schools (public or independent)? We have also been told that Welwyn-Garden-City does not have good primary/secondary schools? Can anyone help please?

Thanks,

Have you considered Harpenden? VG primary schools there I believe (I grew up near there but don't live in the area, but have heard on here that it is good). My niece went to Fleetville in St Albans but only for a year at the end of primary (moved out of London too) - not v happily, but it may well have been more to do with the timing I think -she's been fine since moving to secondary.

WGC has some very good primary schools. and some dire ones.

The secondry schools are pretty good (stanborough, sir frederic osborn, monks walk if you want to look at their reports and make appointments to have a look around) but you also can get into any of the schools a bit further away if those dont suit your needs. i know kids from here travel to st albans, hertford and further afield.

I'd advise you to take a look at Harpenden. Schools are truly excellent, excellent commuting and very family friendly. It is more expensive though. It has indoor and outdoor swimming, a wonderful sports centre/gym, an amazing park, tennis clubs, nice shops (mostly independents) and acres and acres of beautiful common. Schools are excellent too.

I think the problem is going to be the timing tbh - I would think all the good schools have already got waiting lists for Reception places in September.

I also think that the problem here is the Reception place.

Places in all years do crop up in excellent schools on a regular basis - people move, decide to go private etc. So my feeling is that you'd almost certainly get a Year 2 place somewhere in a good school in St Albans or Harpenden - but the problem is that reception places are at a premium in both towns. There are now many families left without a reception place at a nearby school every year in St Albans and there are several campaigns to build a new school.

However, if you get a place for your Y2 DD, then your reception age DS automatically goes to the top of the reception waiting list as a sibling, iykwim?

Independent school may not necessarily be an easy solution etiher because most are single sex. The popular choices in St Albans are St Albans High School For Girls (v academic and competetive entry, mind) with its junior school in Wheathampstead; Abbots Hill (girls) - less academic, near Hemel; St Columbas (less academic) for boys in St Albans. The only mixed prep I can think of is Beechwood Park, near Markyate.

If moving to St A, the best secondaries are on the north side of the city. Also very much oversubscribed too I'm afraid!

You might look at the St Albans local board as there are several threads there asking v similar questions to you

Another private prep alternative would be Manor Lodge in Shenley, just outside St Albans. Have only heard excellent things about it.

Have you thought of contacting st albans and st stephens school. I know they have vacancies for yr 3 and up. Very school but i agree with previous thread by queen of herts reception place will be your challenge.
good luck