Looking for area with good secondary schools with easy commute to London city

Ashford in Kent. Great grammar schools and fast train to London in 35 minutes.

Twickenham: 20 mins on the train into London Waterloo. Has three secondary schools amongst the top ten state schools in greater London (Waldergrave Girls, Orleans Park, and Grey Court). Lovely place, by the river and lots of green spclace. Expensive - as to be expected.

Very unlikely a school would agree to this.

Thank you! So near by or the Kingston Borough? Because vacancies will always be at the least popular school 😅

Great news @Bshweta ! We are planning a move also in Teddington. May I ask how did you activate the Fair Access program? The Teddington school doesn’t have places. And it would be the closest one. We would also need an in year transfer in year 8th. Thank you!

It was Kingston (Surrey County Hall was in Kingston until a couple of years ago).

But Surrey County Council moved to the old Cannon HQ in Reigate at long last, Kingston having become a London Borough yonks ago.

Just discovered that Guildford is the county town of Surrey. It make sense that it should be, but I thought it was Kingston!

Guildford is really nice, but has house prices to match. It also scored highly in a Mumsnet poll about who had the most up themselves inhabitants. And I think the state schools are actually better in my part of Hampshire because people don't get siphoned off to the private schools as much.

I should have read the whole thread as I see you ended up in Kingston. Oh well you are not that far from Guildford if you want to visit it :)

Hampshire has good state schools and is cheaper than Surrey. If you go for the north, eg Fleet/Odiham/Hook sort of area, you have decent links into London (though not as good as they were pre-covid, sadly).

Not a grammar school area, so "just" need to find a house near a good school.

NC'd for this just in case. I'd avoid Hitchin Boys' since the new head took over. He's somewhat of a Covid-denying whacko who doesn't seem to understand that schools aren't budgeted like Goldman Sachs. There's been quite a few staff leaving and a fair few on the way out. If they aren't leaving of their own accord (as many are) or falling into line with the new general then they're being pushed.

All true, but the chances of getting a mid year place at one of Guildford’s heavily oversubscribed outstanding secondaries are slim to none.

Depending on how academic your kids are Kent (so Tonbridge, Tonbridge wells, dartford, Maidstone) still has traditional grammar schools. They are state schools, but the child has to pass an entrance exam to get in- they are a little controversial to some, but because children are surrounded by other academically strong kids the overall standard is higher.

I remember your thread, was wondering where you would end up. Good to hear you've settled in, Kingston is lovely.

Might be worth you starting a new thread with 'Sutton' in the title, or asking Mumsnet HQ to edit your thread title to include Sutton. For what it's worth I've got friends with school-age children in Carshalton and it's very nice around there, although I think as everywhere some of the secondaries are great and some... not so great.

Wimbledon/Raynes Park would be a good option for you.

I think you would be best advised to use a school placement/advice agency as the UK system is very complex, especially with DC of different ages and genders (lots of secondaries = high schools) are single sex here and if you're looking at in year admissions, doubly so. As you can see from this thread, there are religious schools (in the state sector too), academically selective schools, and lots are not only full but could be filled many times over.

I would also look at your definition of a good school. Good for one student might not be good for another. Check out the ethos of the school by reading the headteacher’s bit on the website. Look at how big schools manage the pastoral side of thing. If there are any problems you would want to know how the school would resolve them.
It’s a bit tricky and I would always say that kids settle in really quickly even with a min year entry.
Looks at the facilities in the school that are important for you.
Good luck

I would try as Epsom or Ewell, as someone else has suggested. I would try to be in the catchment for Rosebery. This would give you access to good primary schools for your younger child.

Look on the Ofsted.gov.uk website and navigate to the latest results in all the boroughs. Schools here have weird status' such as academised and private and so forth, some statuses are working better than others it's complex. You should get a feel for it and then compare housing and commuting costs.
You also need to decide what your ideal house and lifestyle would be in addition to schools. Good luck

[quote Bshweta]@Hollyontherampage Thanks,ive heard good things about those other places you mentioned. just curious though why would Leigh on sea not be a good choice[/quote]
I lived and worked in south end near Leigh on sea for years. Awful place for the most part. Run down. Deprived. A tiny bit of Leigh is ok but drive anywhere within 10 mins and you are in a not nice area. Wouldn’t bring up kids in Southend if you paid me. The train runs straight into fenchurch st but if you want my advise stay well well away from any part of south Essex.

If you want to be within very easy reach of fenchurch st then Upminster is your best bet. Schools good and plenty of nice houses.