Situated on the banks of the River Lea and just a few minutes drive apart, Hertford and Ware are rightly gaining a reputation for their interesting, unique, independent retailers and restaurants. Nicola Jelliman takes a closer look. Steeped in history the county town of Hertford offers plenty for the discerning shopper, bon viveur and culture buff with an array of interesting places to visit and enjoy, from the newly refurbished Hertford Theatre and cinema house, the Hertford Museum  recently long listed for the prestigious Arts Fund Prize 2011, courtyard arts, Hertford’s leading visual arts venue and of course Hertford Castle itself.

Choosing the right school for your child is an incredibly important decision, but how do you know if you are making the right choice for you and your child’s needs?  Emily Cole finds out whether a visit to a school’s open day can make all the difference.  You have narrowed it down to five schools, you have met the criteria for three of those five and you still can’t decide what to put as your first choice. Confusing isn’t it?   We can read the school’s prospectus, look at their website or check their position in the league tables from the last ten years,…

What does the future hold for our children? If recent unpredictable news and events are anything to go by, then the answer is ‘change’ and ‘challenge’.  As a parent, how do you decide which school will equip your child with the essential skills, knowledge and qualifications to meet unexpected challenges? Moreover, which environment will nurture your child’s lasting attitudes and values, allowing them to thrive and contribute positively to society, whatever path they choose to take? A big question for the big society!

Why…?’ That one word provides the soundtrack to every parent’s life. Learning is as natural as breathing in the very young, yet, as Jamie Oliver’s Dream School TV series demonstrated, the appetite for learning can all too easily be lost. In this constantly changing world of ours, what is the secret to ensuring our children want to learn and know how to learn?