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Original poster

Where in London is the best place to live for grammar options (boys and girls) and good state school fall back options.

140 replies

TuttleTree · 21/09/2023 21:43

Please help! We are house hunting and torn between London and Chelmsford. Ideally, we would like to stay in London for work, travel, culture, things going on. Etc etc all the usual. However fully aware that as kids are involved we have to prioritise in the right way.

We live in East London at the moment and have great grammar options but not good state options. Feel like with Chelmsford there might be some good state back ups there? But before we do anything drastic and leave the big smoke, wondering where else in London we could go that have the option of both.

OP posts:
Original poster
TuttleTree · 21/09/2023 23:09

I ve heard of tiffin. Don't know much about it but have the impression it's impossible to get in? I support they're all hard to get into though aren't they 🤔

OP posts:
bopbey · 21/09/2023 22:50

Bromley, Worcester Park, New Malden, Cheam helps if you're open to faith options.

Slothlikemum · 21/09/2023 22:44

We're in Greenwich (Eltham) but close to Bexley border so DS has sat 11+ for Bexley Grammars but the Greenwich secondary options near us are good too.

izzyislington · 21/09/2023 22:41

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/09/2023 21:48

Grammar Schools often ruin the local non-selective schools. I would go for the good comprehensive in the right area of London

This isn't really true in London unless you live in an 11plus area in the edge of the city (Essex? Kent? Not sure of others)

There are a handful of grammar schools here in North London but they are so super-selective and take from such a wide catchment that the other local schools (all comprehensives) are not really affected.
Queen Elizabeth Boys School, Henrietta Barnett (girls) and St Michaels (Catholic girls) in LB Barnet and Latymer School (mixed) in LB Enfield all select on academic ability rather than distance or anything else. I can't think of any others, but these are all traditional grammars within a few miles of each other.

Dame Alice Owen School (Potters Bar and partially selective; it's a great school) serves Barnet / Enfield too (check the eligible catchment carefully, as it's specific postcodes). It also takes a number of children from LB Islington for historical reasons so that's worth considering too, if you live in Islington.

Just make sure you have a decent comp within reach too, as your backup, in case the above options don't work out.

elderflowerandpomelo · 21/09/2023 22:31

Move to Camden, great comprehensive options.

Radiodread · 21/09/2023 22:29

Grammars are state schools (apart from the few independents that have “grammar” in the name. You mean selective and comprehensive I take it, or are you considering independent fee paying schools?

Areas with a predominantly selective system are fine if your kids get in to the selectives. If not, they will probably do worse than they would have done in a non-selective area.

selectives give bright children a marginal shove up in terms of performance.

what do you want for your kids? What does a good education look like? Start there and work backwards.

most London boroughs have good options for non-selective. London fringe a bit more problematic.. Kent in particular.

fishfingersandtoes · 21/09/2023 22:23

What about Ealing? Excellent comps (Ealing fields, elthorne etc) & if you're keen for grammar it's still in range for Tiffin

bluejelly · 21/09/2023 22:20

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/09/2023 21:48

Grammar Schools often ruin the local non-selective schools. I would go for the good comprehensive in the right area of London

Exactly. Which is why many people (including me) are opposed to grammar schools.

London1305f · 21/09/2023 22:15

Barnet

dizzydizzydizzy · 21/09/2023 22:12

Bromley.

ThingsWillWorkOut · 21/09/2023 22:06

Worcester Park. You will be in catchment for Tiffins but also Suttons.

But to be completely honest... Do you have that academic children that they will get in? It is not only about location where you live. Thousands of children just didn't pass Sutton exam first stage.

bombastix · 21/09/2023 22:03

Bromley. Good private, grammar and comprehensive schools.

Fifireee · 21/09/2023 22:01

Bromley.

1forward2back · 21/09/2023 21:53

Sutton (Greater London) has grammars and some excellent comprehensives, both single sex and mixed. Glenthorne, greenshaw and Cheam high were all state options we looked at

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/09/2023 21:48

Grammar Schools often ruin the local non-selective schools. I would go for the good comprehensive in the right area of London