If you take a UK map and draw a line from around Luton towards Epping Forest, you’ll have made the division between what most people consider east and west Herts. While the west is flashier, pricier and more populated, the east has other riches, not least two garden cities (Welwyn and Letchworth) and more space (dotted with pretty villages such as Much Hadham, Standon etc). And you still get your money’s worth of attractive towns – the likes of Hitchin, Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford. Average earnings are high (the 12th highest of any UK local authority at last count) and, thanks to a similarly high life expectancy, you have a good chance of settling down for the long haul.
Anything else you should know? Well, Letchworth has the UK’s oldest roundabout, London’s Parliament briefly moved to Hertford to escape the plague, and astronomers from the University of Hertfordshire have played a key role in discovering planets outside our solar system. East Herts is where it’s at.
| Local Education Authorities in East Herts |
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| Hertfordshire County Council |
There may be fewer big-names than in the west of the county, but there are still a lot of sought-after schools - and many are well worth moving for, including some excellent state schools. The bonus is that there is generally less of the fierce competition to bag a place than in schools nearer London.
There are no grammar schools in Herts, but there are some semi-selective state secondaries that take a proportion of pupils based on ability in eg academics, sport or music. In some cases, these schools join a consortium to operate the admissions tests. Be sure to read the admissions criteria as some also prioritise certain postcodes. There are also some excellent non-selective state secondaries, and ditto for state primaries (some split between infant and junior) that feed them. These can be as hotly contested.
There’s plenty of choice in the private sector – preps, seniors and all-throughs and a lovely mix of single sex, co-ed, day and boarding.
We’ve focused our attentions on two areas of east Herts that are popular with families and a good spot for nearby schools: Bishop’s Stortford and Welwyn Garden City.
Looking for the best schools in East Hertfordshire? Our Education Consultants can help.
Every day, Good Schools Guide education consultants successfully help parents from all over the world find the best schools for their children. Our UK team is spread out across the country, each expert with their own specialist areas of knowledge. If you would like us to help you find a school place or are keen to know more about your family’s education options in east Herts, we are ready to help. Read about our education consultancy services or get in touch - consultants@goodschoolsguide.co.uk - or read about our education consultancy services.
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We examined the value-added from KS2 to GCSE for 2022 to see which state selective grammar schools added the most value to their offspring. A note of caution - the more highly selective a grammar school, the less scope there will be to add value.
Grammar schools are state-funded, academically selective senior schools. The education a child receives at grammar school is paid for by the state unlike at private schools which provide education for a fee. There are currently around 163 located in 36 English local authorities, with around 167,000 pupils between them. Northern Ireland has a further 67 grammar schools, but there are none in Wales or Scotland. A word of caution: there are private schools that have the word 'grammar' in their name but this is purely for historical reasons.
At specialist music, dance or performing arts schools, the arts aren't optional extras. They’re intrinsic to the school curriculum. Students are expected to fit in high level training and hours of practice alongside a full academic provision. It's a lot to ask any child to take on, but for those with exceptional performing ability this kind of education can be transformative.