Hi, I'm after some advice regarding primary schools in Berkhamsted. We're looking at relocating from West London to the Berko area over the next couple of months but heard via my husband's colleague (who lives in Berko) that schools are so oversubscribed that kids are being shipped out to schools in Hemel! Is this true? If so wondering whether we should look at Tring instead! Thanks in advance

Hi Sarah
Indeed there is a three tier system in Berkhamsted. The first schools are Swing Gate, Greenway, Westfield, and Victoria. The Middle schools are Bridgewater and Thomas Coram. As your colleague said most are oversubscribed but may have spaces in certain year groups.
There is also St Thomas Moore catholic primary school which is not part of the 3 tier system as it feeds into the Hemel system for secondary years.
In neighbouring villages you will find more first schools. St Mary's in Northchurch, Potten End. Also in neighbouring villages you will find traditional primary schools as they go on to either the Tring or Hemel secondary system, Aldbury, Little Gaddesden, Great Gaddesden, Wiggington.
Privately there is Haresfoot, Berkhamsted Prep and Westbrook Hey.
Sorry if this sounds complicated but it is! Really if you are in central Berkhamsted and want a local school it will be 3 tier unless you are catholic. If you want traditional primary then it is worth looking at some of the village schools too. Hope that helps in some way, ask if you have any queries.
It is worth thinking about whether you want to use the 3 tier system

I believe most (all?) kids have been eventually accomodated within Berkhamsted in the past, and plans have been made for the 2012 intake.
Today the long-awaited consultation on a permanent solution opened, so I don't think you should really worry about school places in reception (although other years might be different).
Don't forget we have 3 'Excellent' and the rest 'Good' first/middle schools, and Ashlyns in on all accounts on the way up there (soon I hope).