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Original poster

Moving to Harpenden - advice?

45 replies

Movingtoharpendenadvice · 28/02/2021 13:19

We would like to move to Harpenden (from East London). We have two DDs aged 5 and 2.

Any advice on where to look for a house? We can go up to a max of 900k for a four bed. Ideally we don't want to be too far from the station but we also want to be in catchment for the schools. Our current area has some 'black holes' where kids sometimes don't get into any local school. Do these exist in Harpenden?

Our eldest DD will need in-year transfer to a primary school but if the Hertfordshire website is to be believed there are several primaries with spaces in year 1. Does anybody have any experience of transfer to Harpenden schools?

We are not too worried about the culture shock of moving from London as neither of us are originally Londoners and we feel we have realistic expectations! I'm really worried about the commute though. DH will need to go to London 3/4 days a week and me 1/2. Any tips on making it bearable?

I do have a possible option of transferring to an office in either Potters Bar or Hemel Hempstead. Would either of those be a decent commute or would rush hour traffic mean they'd be less attractive than they look on paper?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

OP posts:

PuffItsGone · 02/03/2021 09:23

Miserable they’re just not very attractive streets, a real mix of houses and also busy in terms of both cars and foot traffic, as well as being towards Batford. I just think other areas are nicer but this is in terms of Harpenden, so they’re still nice!

BrownSauceOfCourse · 02/03/2021 10:05

@PuffItsGone

It's all subjective really isn't it. I personally don't see anything wrong with either of the other two roads, but then I lived in one of them until I was 25, so it's familiar to me.

And it isn't true that everyone tutors their children. Or possibly I'm just mixing with the wrong crowd!

Cross Farm is a fair way from the senior schools, but there are LOADS of children who walk from there or take the bus, so don't let that put you off.

@redcoffee is right though, I'm always baffled when I hear people say that it's not friendly or "up itself". I don't recognise that at all, it's the usual mix of mostly nice people and a few arrogant arseholes, but that's not exclusive to any one town I don't think.

Have you looked at St Albans OP - it's also very nice, but a bit less of a 'village' feel, a bit more lively.

redcoffee · 02/03/2021 10:35

@BrownSauceOfCourse Everyone I know has had a Maths Tutor for GCSE - even if they had bright kids, but lots before then too - quite a few tutors for primary and some even for SATS and quite a few for A level (this doesn't get talked about openly). It's the kind of place where doing badly at school is looked down on, it's very competitive and I think it can be tough on kids who aren't very academic.
Whilst being shown around one of the local secondary schools on Open night, I was reassured by my student guide that if my child was struggling it wasn't a problem - everyone just gets a tutor like she had for a few years and that really helped - it was said so casually - like it was completely normal - and in my experience, unfortunately it is.

miserablecat · 02/03/2021 11:20

@BrownSauceOfCourse

agree about the roads and tutors! (I actually thought Waverley Road would be pretty quiet as its a no through road)
My kids are not tutored and I know a few of their friends have them for certain subjects, but certainly not all. I actually thought that was more of a thing in areas with grammar schools.

BrownSauceOfCourse · 02/03/2021 11:24

@redcoffee - I do agree about the non academic children. I am blessed with two who fall into that category. Perhaps I should have had them tutored

Theraindropontherose · 02/03/2021 11:32

We lived for many years in Wheathampstead, really nice village just outside of Harpenden, and more affordable. The St Albans girls prep school is there, which is great, and a new school is being built as well. Worth considering - very easy into Harpenden. I commuted by train into London from there, catching the train from Harpenden - expensive and prone to problems but very quick.

redcoffee · 02/03/2021 12:02

@Theraindropontherose

Do many local kids go to the prep school? I know so very few people who send their kids to private school - I thought that was the whole point of moving to Harpenden - to avoid the private school fees - I thought those kids mostly came from out of area. I also haven't heard that a new school is being built in Wheathampstead, is that a primary? - I feeling a bit out of touch.

OP if you do move to Harpenden - sign up for Scouts as quickly as you can, there's a long waiting list - it's a big part of the community.

PuffItsGone · 02/03/2021 14:05

redcoffee Having myself gone to the high school I can assure you the vast majority of pupils are from Harpenden and St Albans. You will see the girls waiting for the bus all along the Luton road of a morning (obviously pre covid!). I have friends in Harpenden whose daughters now go there too and their friends are also largely very local. The schools in harpenden are undoubtedly excellent and a pull for the area but that doesn’t mean people don’t use private. Harpenden also has St Hilda’s which is a girls prep and Aldwickbury for boys. There is also Beechwood Park in Markyate which is mixed prep.

Original poster

Movingtoharpendenadvice · 02/03/2021 16:01

Thank you so much for all the great advice!

@gra18 oh that's lovely she's excited about moving. We haven't mentioned it to our DDs yet but I'm hopeful the eldest will be excited too (little one probably won't care!) Where else are you considering? We also liked Hitchin and are looking at St Albans too, but Harpenden is our favourite.

OP posts:

Original poster

Movingtoharpendenadvice · 02/03/2021 16:06

@theraindropontherose I love the idea of living in a village and Wheathampstead looks beautiful but I think we would want to be closer to the station. We currently live a 10-minute walk from two tube stations. To go straight from that to having to drive to the station might be a step too far I think.

OP posts:

Original poster

Movingtoharpendenadvice · 02/03/2021 16:26

@brownsauceofcourse yes, St Albans is also on our list although so far we prefer the feel of Harpenden.

I find St Albans schools a little daunting. We wouldn't be going private and we are not catholic, so I think we would want to move into the catchment of Beaumont, STAGS or Sandringham? They all seem quite far apart though, so not sure how easy it is to hedge your bets or if you just need to pick one and hope for the best...

OP posts:

Original poster

Movingtoharpendenadvice · 02/03/2021 17:05

Sorry, also meant to add I can never seem to find where I should be looking for properties in St Albans which are in catchment for STAGS, Sandringham or Beaumont and also not too far from the station!

OP posts:

PuffItsGone · 02/03/2021 21:29

For St Albans around Bernards Heath would be good. If definitely looking at state then I’d go for Harpenden over St Albans or Hitchin. Also just to flag that Wheathampstead doesn’t have a secondary so children would need a lift or to get the bus to and from school.

Weirdlynormal · 02/03/2021 21:43

You can’t hedge your bets on the secondary in St A, the catchments are very concentrated. You nail you colours to a mast and then hope!
I have 2 girls so it was easy

mellicauli · 03/03/2021 00:28

@Movingtoharpendenadvice

Exactly - you can either be near the station or in catchment for schools:

Sandringham catchment this year was 1.7km and it's 3.2km from station
Beaumont catchment is 0.9km & is nearest school and it's 2.6km from the station
STAGS catchment is 1.9km (nearest school) is 2.7km from the station

Your kids are very young. I would just focus on primary and near the station and nursery school for now, worry about secondary later.

duchessa · 24/04/2021 07:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 06/05/2021 23:38

We've put our 2 children in to boarding at St Georges, because I just wanted them to have a more free and rural experience. They are happy and thriving. Through the school we have fallen in love with Harpenden and we are leaving London and making the move! We just bought a house within 10 mins of the station, £750,000, 3 bed but can easily extend.
We're currently in West Hampstead so its only a 20 minute train ride from old friends.

radis9 · 08/05/2021 23:54

Hi guys, thank you so much for all the insightful comments, we are also planning on moving to Harpenden (from Queens Park in NW London) and I found this thread very informative.

I'm surprised that no-one mentioned the slightly further away from the center neighbourhood around Roundwood and up to Kinsbourne green.
House prices seem a bit lower around there (probably the distance from the station ?) and I imagine one is safely withing the Roundwood park catchment area.
Not sure though about St Georges, is that too far away ?

Browncapo · 19/02/2024 12:53

We are looking to move into Harpenden. I just saw this thread and wanted to know if anyone can tell us what is a good area. Budget is upto 1 Mill.

I'm concerned about High school and reading this thread is making me abit nervous/anxious about areas to live. Ideally we would like the children to attend Roundwood Park. Can anyone help.

miserablecat · 19/02/2024 18:14

@Browncapo
Since this is a pretty old thread it might be better to start a new one.

All the secondary schools in Harpenden are good. The immediate area around Roundwood is very expensive but with your budget you would likely get a house in the catchment of any of the schools. (St George's is a faith school so you need also to have a letter from a priest/religious leader)

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