Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire - what is Johnston and Whitland like?

Kitkat2023 · 2023-10-05T18:34:44+00:00

Title says it all really! Are they nice areas? I've done the deprivation map and both look good areas on there

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 05/10/2023 20:24

Whitland has an excellent secondary school. Johnston (halfway between Milford and Haverfordwest) has a primary school and I think secondary may depend on whereabouts in the village you live. I know when I was in school Johnston pupils went to Milford.

Whitland is a small town - just somewhere I would go through on the way to Carmarthen although it now has a bypass.

Johnston is a long ribbon type village. There's an old fashioned pub, a railway station, a couple of restaurant/bar type places, a coffee shop and and one stop type shops.

It depends what you want really. I think there is quite a community in Johnston which you might not find in a town. If you are looking for easy access to shops then Whitland might be better because there is a better selection of shops in Carmarthen. I love Carmarthen and if I was going to live anywhere other where I do that is where I would want to go. It is more Welsh than Havefordwest/Milford.

mallow · 05/10/2023 20:34

Johnston Primary is a feeder school for Milford Haven Secondary school.
Johnston school has a good reputation - they have a strong focus on outdoor learning. The current HT is seconded to another school at the moment but the acting HT seems to really know his stuff.

I personally wouldn't want to live on the main road which runs through from Haverfordwest to Milford, but I'm sure the side roads are fine.

Original poster

Kitkat2023 · 05/10/2023 20:48

Thanks so much for such informative posts.

We still want to be close to all the beauty of Pems and Carmarthenshire but not isolated due to the teenager who will be going to sixth form in Haverfordwest (most likely). Will have a look if there is a sixth form in the Whitland school.

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mumonthehill · 05/10/2023 20:58

Ds at sixth form at a school in haverfordwest and loving it. It has a big college too but has mixed reports, elder ds went there and did not have the best time. Nice areas around Clarbeston Road too and not far from A40. Or Narberth which is lovely. Be warned road from whitland to narberth under construction until 2024 so it is currently a very slow journey!!

mallow · 05/10/2023 21:04

Dyfryn Taff (School in Whitland) has a sixth form

Nowanextraone · 05/10/2023 21:33

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Original poster

Kitkat2023 · 05/10/2023 21:34

mumonthehill · 05/10/2023 20:58

Ds at sixth form at a school in haverfordwest and loving it. It has a big college too but has mixed reports, elder ds went there and did not have the best time. Nice areas around Clarbeston Road too and not far from A40. Or Narberth which is lovely. Be warned road from whitland to narberth under construction until 2024 so it is currently a very slow journey!!

That's good to hear, thank you. DD will be doing a-levels rather than college.

We love Narberth but you pay a bit of a premium to live there I think.

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Original poster

Kitkat2023 · 05/10/2023 21:34

mallow · 05/10/2023 21:04

Dyfryn Taff (School in Whitland) has a sixth form

Thank you. Do you know if it's good?

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mallow · 05/10/2023 22:26

Haven't been there for a few years but last time I visited (maybe ten years ago) it was fab.
Really felt like a well run school with happy, polite and engaged students.

It has a good reputation.

mumonthehill · 06/10/2023 06:47

it is something to think about re sixth form as a few schools lost their sixth form and it is now at the college that they do A levels. Haverfordwest high now competitive to join.

Original poster

Kitkat2023 · 06/10/2023 07:15

mumonthehill · 06/10/2023 06:47

it is something to think about re sixth form as a few schools lost their sixth form and it is now at the college that they do A levels. Haverfordwest high now competitive to join.

Thank you. Is Haverfordwest High better for a-levels than the college do you think?
Daughter is predicted As and ,A*s at gcse

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mumonthehill · 06/10/2023 07:21

I am not sure i come from a great perspective!! Elder ds had to go to the college, he got all A* at GCSE and it was not the right place for ALevels for him, too unstructured. Ds just started at HH and it is so far brilliant. They were over subscribed this year and had 40 external pupils so it is a good choice, quite a few from Milford as well. Ds is so far very happy there. They are very hot on uni applications which is good. I have no experience of Whitland schools but know people think well of them too.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 06/10/2023 09:05

The college has brilliant results but that may be because they don't allow poorer students to sit exams. You know your daughter best. I had two DC who had the option to go to the College for A levels and although they were offered a place they chose to stay in school. They both preferred the structure and pastoral care offered in the school setting rather than the college.

Original poster

Kitkat2023 · 06/10/2023 12:58

Thanks so much both of you, this is so helpful.
My daughter is very bright and academic, but let's things slide if she's not reminded! I wonder if the structure of a school type sixth form would be much better for her.

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CantMoveCatOnMyLap · 06/10/2023 13:08

If I was looking with Haverfordwest as the centre, I would look a little out towards the west/north west - the road that goes along to Roch for example. Or Broad Haven direction. Although public transport would be poor, if I was moving to that area I’d want to be closer to the most beautiful parts.

(caveat being I’m not local but all the in-laws are there and I’ve spent a lot of time in the area)