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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Where to move to in London for Primary School then Secondary?

27 replies

SailorVie · 09/03/2013 10:10

I'm trying to rack my brain to think of areas of London to move to to be best placed for Primary Schools and decent secondary schools.
The catch is we're not Catholic, but do attend church so CofE or non religious schools only.

We're in the fortunate position to be able to move pretty much anywhere with London, but need easy access for work in the West End.

My thoughts so far have extended to Barnes, for Barnes Primary - but struggle to think of Secondary Schools, to save having to move house again 6 years down the line.

Or else, we just look for the best primary school, get a house to rent as close as possible, then move to Kent for secondary?

Anyone else here been and done this before us?

OP posts:

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RueDeWakening · 09/03/2013 13:58

Sutton borough - excellent though v oversubscribed primaries, super selective secondaries or good non selective ones.

whistleahappytune · 09/03/2013 14:00

What other considerations do you have? Transport links, workplace commute, budget etc?

LadyKinbote · 09/03/2013 14:04

Just a word of warning to really do your homework on this one. I live about half a mile from an excellent primary but in reality only those living far closer than me ever get in.

tinytalker · 09/03/2013 15:40

Harrow has a wide selection of excellent primary and secondary schools. Pinner has a met line station.

SailorVie · 09/03/2013 23:54

We currently live in W11 but can't afford to move any closer to the super CofE primaries in our area, nor the amazing community primary Fox, which you have to live on top of to have a chance to get in. Also, we're looking to move somewhere a bit greener, but not too far out of town. Hence the thoughts on Barnes. If we were catholic, we would have a wonderful outstanding primary 50 yards from our front door and one of the best catholic secondaries in London 5 mins walk away... But we're CofE, so have precisely zero chance of getting into either of these schools.

What websites should I be looking at to do my homework?

Transport wise we need to get to Marble Arch and South Ken for work.

Budget for rent is £1700 PCM max for a flat. We would then look for somewhere to buy once kids are safely in school. We have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old.

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nailak · 09/03/2013 23:58

south woodford?

LadyKinbote · 10/03/2013 08:12

Local authority websites will tell you how near children had to live to get in each year (bearing in mind looked after children, SEN children and siblings always get the first places as well).

GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 13:06

Do you have boys or girls?

GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 13:08

Oh, and how old are they? A lot of c of e schools require that you have attended a particular school for a number of years, so depending on age of children youse already be too late.

GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 13:08

Youse?! You may :)

Gigondas · 10/03/2013 13:10

Barnes is Richmond- unless they get some of the free schools sorted, secondary places are at a premium. I am at other end of borough but have a feeling that Barnes is also one of the areas you speak of where unless catholic, secondary places are a lottery .

SailorVie · 10/03/2013 13:14

GreenEggs I have a 3yr old boy and a 1yr old girl. Basically I'm hunting for the equivalent location to where I am, but for CofE people. The Catholics have my area sewn up...

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FiveHoursSleep · 10/03/2013 13:14

We are in Eastcote, excellent Primaries ( Not CofE though) then two good non faith secondaries , plus a good Cof E one, plus in the outer postcode for the Watford Grammars.

FrankWippery · 10/03/2013 13:15

Wandsworth, around Northcote Road. You can rent a two bed flat next to two of the best primaries around for between £1400 & £1700. Slap between Wandsworth and Clapham Commons, heaps of greenery, loads for children and 7 minutes on the train into Victoria or Waterloo. Trains every couple of minutes at peak times, no more than every 10 minutes during the day. Excellent secondaries around too.

SailorVie · 10/03/2013 13:16

South Woodford - that's almost in Essex, right? It's a bit too far out for us.

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GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 13:26

Ok, not nw5 then, too late for the c of e primaries, but more importantly lots of girls secondary schools but not much choice for boys. Sorry can't be more helpful but o suppose it's good to rule places out?

GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 13:28

I'd have a look at south woodford. Easy to get to east and west end on central line but far enough out to get a seat ;) not very urban though to be sure.

SailorVie · 10/03/2013 13:29

We attend church and get a priest's reference for CofE schools I heard. Tbh I'd prefer a faith school but am not hung up on it.

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FIFIBEBE · 10/03/2013 14:42

Christ the Saviour school in Ealing and then onto Twyford in Acton for secondary. Will need a good Cof E ref. There is the new William Perkins High School in Greenford which is run by the same team as Twyford. Second option would give you much cheaper housing.

nailak · 10/03/2013 19:03

there are faith schools in south woodford

GreenEggsAndNaiceHam · 10/03/2013 19:35

Each c of e school has it's own entrance criteria. Round here all the places go to people that go to specific churches, so you would be very unlikely to get in if you have attended a different church. Very unfair to people who have to move area, but there isn't much "fair" about admissions. I wouldn't take anythi h on hearsay or what estate agents say, you can usually check distance criteria for non faith schools for the past few years . Each faith school could tell you individually how many children got in under which entrance criteria in previous years.

EllieNW3 · 10/03/2013 20:17

Muswell Hill is known for some of the best schools in London. Having said that, I think the property prices reflect that.

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sinclair · 10/03/2013 20:21

Plenty of Ofsted good and outstanding (if that is what you are looking for) primaries in Hammersmith & Fulham one or two stops west from where you are now, giving access to Twyford if you want CofE secondary. Always one or two going there from my kids' (non-denom) primary in W12. Burlington Danes gives priority to CofE primaries (25% I think) but not sure what last distance offered is there - it is under a mile for the heathen this year.

But TBH it is a bit early to be planning for 11+ - we have two new schools in the last two years here, things can move fast.

Sorry no idea what rents are but must be cheaper than W11 I would think?

BarryShitpeas · 11/03/2013 13:34

Barnes will only rent you a flat for that budget, not a house. But the school is outstanding and the secondary option there is much improved in the last 2 years.

user1474628250 · 23/09/2016 13:56

Hi. Looking for a high school on harrow or greenford area. I like the look of the new coe school William perkin in greenford. Does anyone have children there? We are catholic and would like a faith school but our closest cardinal Wiseman is just too huge! Thanks

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