Help choosing area for state secondary school

MomofSS · 2024-03-24T13:53:16+00:00

Hi parents I will be moving to London soon and im having a hard time finalising which area to choose. Im supposed to select 3 boroughs to submit to my husbands company and while ive selected Kingston and Richmond, im struggling with choosing the third. Im looking for areas that have plenty of good state secondary schools for my daughter and the area is also lively and safe. My husbands work will be mostly work from home but may have some trips to bankside but we would want to prioritise on school. Ive shortlisted the following and was hoping you all could help me with your experience and pros and cons. Ealing Sutton Merton (wimbledon) Harrow Please help this struggling mom P.s also open to better suggestions

YouDeserveSomeCake · 28/03/2024 08:13

Unless you are practicing Catholic ( Holly Cross, Rich Challoner), move to the very heart of Kingston ( Kingston Academy), your kid is an absolute genious( Tiffins and bright is not enough) then Kingston doesn't have any amazing schools but ratger average.

rupertthebairn · 27/03/2024 08:32

"There are many good secondary schools but you have to pick one and then live as close as possible to it."

Not always, so do read the admissions policies before you move, not after. There is one school in Richmond borough that takes 80% of its students by distance to a nodal admissions point a couple of miles away from the school itself, so if you moved close to the school your chances of a place would be lowered. Another Richmond school takes a smaller percentage of its students from a remote catchment. And the local Catholic school uses random allocation for families with the relevant certification. All of the admissions policies are on the school websites.

Verite1 · 27/03/2024 08:29

What about Barnet or Haringey? Camden also has some very good girls schools as well. The area may be more central than you would like though.

Lazytiger · 27/03/2024 08:23

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 17:14

Shes actually 10 so she will be going to yeat 6 next year but I wanted to be in the right area when we apply for secondary the year after. Yea his company policies are changing. We are trying to negotiate but the best they would probably offer is a year of private schooling

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You won’t just need the right area, you will need the right address. Competition for secondary in Kingston and Richmond is fierce. There are many good secondary schools but you have to pick one and then live as close as possible to it. Check the schools admissions policy as some have preference for feeder schools.
Do you have any additional cards’ up your sleeve? Is your DC very bright (Tiffin grammar school), musical or has an aptitude for language? Are you a practicing Catholic? There are many faith schools and lots of schools with music or language places.

Rhayader · 27/03/2024 07:35

The best schools in Ealing have religious character. That may be a good, bad or neutral thing for you. They do not all have religious entry criteria though (just Cardinal wiseman and Twyford).

The catchments for the others are small but not vanishingly small and they are fairly consistent.

https://www.ealing.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/18711/high_school_on_time_offers_2024.pdf

Original poster

MomofSS · 25/03/2024 18:20

clary · 25/03/2024 07:00

Yes of course, what a fool I am! So in fact if she is 10 now she will deffo be going into at least yr 6 in September! I was thinking she might be going into yr 5 but that would be if she was 9 obvs

Yes @MomofSS good point - her 11th birthday is not before August 31 this year is it?

Edited

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No it isn't.. she will be 11 in Jan next year

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clary · 25/03/2024 07:00

MarchingFrogs · 25/03/2024 06:49

If she turns 11 before 31st August 2024, then she would currently be in year 6 and needs a place in year 7 for September.

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Yes of course, what a fool I am! So in fact if she is 10 now she will deffo be going into at least yr 6 in September! I was thinking she might be going into yr 5 but that would be if she was 9 obvs

Yes @MomofSS good point - her 11th birthday is not before August 31 this year is it?

MarchingFrogs · 25/03/2024 06:49

clary · 24/03/2024 19:38

Hey @MomofSS no suggestions better than the ones here but just to flag - if your DD is 10 (and turns 11 before August this year) and going into year 6 in September, you apply for secondary by 31 October this year. I'm mentioning this just because you mentioned 'next year' for applying in a post. You will need to be in your London address by the time of application in Oct 2024, ie in six months' time, for the best chance of a place.

Edited

If she turns 11 before 31st August 2024, then she would currently be in year 6 and needs a place in year 7 for September.

ThisAngelWearsPrada · 24/03/2024 23:06

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 20:15

No it’s never called that. They’re called the areas listed. But anyway, we’re derailing the thread.

Nower Hill is in North Harrow (Headstone north on the map shown) Whitmore is in West Harrow and Pinner High is in Pinner.

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Except it is for those of us who live here. As we’re referring to the borough rather than the town. We are in the east of the borough…

NeedToKnow101 · 24/03/2024 20:17

NeedToKnow101 · 24/03/2024 20:06

Some very good schools in Haringey, primary and secondary, but with tiny catchment areas.

Oops sorry I didn't notice your shortlist

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 20:15

ThisAngelWearsPrada · 24/03/2024 19:30

Part I’ve highlighted yellow. That’s east Harrow?

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No it’s never called that. They’re called the areas listed. But anyway, we’re derailing the thread.

Nower Hill is in North Harrow (Headstone north on the map shown) Whitmore is in West Harrow and Pinner High is in Pinner.

NeedToKnow101 · 24/03/2024 20:06

Some very good schools in Haringey, primary and secondary, but with tiny catchment areas.

Original poster

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 19:49

clary · 24/03/2024 19:38

Hey @MomofSS no suggestions better than the ones here but just to flag - if your DD is 10 (and turns 11 before August this year) and going into year 6 in September, you apply for secondary by 31 October this year. I'm mentioning this just because you mentioned 'next year' for applying in a post. You will need to be in your London address by the time of application in Oct 2024, ie in six months' time, for the best chance of a place.

Edited

Ohhh thats so important! Thanks for the heads up. We will be in London by June so hopefully will have chosen an area and be settled by then 🤞

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clary · 24/03/2024 19:38

Hey @MomofSS no suggestions better than the ones here but just to flag - if your DD is 10 (and turns 11 before August this year) and going into year 6 in September, you apply for secondary by 31 October this year. I'm mentioning this just because you mentioned 'next year' for applying in a post. You will need to be in your London address by the time of application in Oct 2024, ie in six months' time, for the best chance of a place.

ThisAngelWearsPrada · 24/03/2024 19:30

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 19:17

Harrow Weald? Or further out?

Part I’ve highlighted yellow. That’s east Harrow?

Help choosing area for state secondary school

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 19:17

Harrow Weald? Or further out?

ThisAngelWearsPrada · 24/03/2024 18:43

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 18:05

I’ve lived here twenty years and never even heard of East Harrow! North, South and West Harrow are all places on the map, as is Harrow on the Hill (where the boys school is) but for some strange reason there is no East Harrow… (except as a constituency)

Edited

I’m talking about the borough of Harrow rather than Harrow town itself. What do you call the part of Harrow that’s towards Edgware and Stanmore?

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 18:05

I’ve lived here twenty years and never even heard of East Harrow! North, South and West Harrow are all places on the map, as is Harrow on the Hill (where the boys school is) but for some strange reason there is no East Harrow… (except as a constituency)

ThisAngelWearsPrada · 24/03/2024 17:45

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 16:38

Where on Earth are you hearing that? So many outstanding state secondaries in the borough. Look up Nower Hill, Whitmore or Pinner High for just starters. Then there’s also Bentley Wood which is an all girls school a little further out that takes places on lottery.

you do have to live pretty close to the school to get a place though.

my personal experience is with Nower Hill which just retained its outstanding ofsted at Christmas. GCSE options cover the whole spectrum from childcare, hospitality and PE to astronomy, classical civilisation, citizenship, Latin and Ancient Greek.

Above average GCSE results generally and excellent progress 8, but the others Ive mentioned have amazing reputations too.

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I was thinking of only east Harrow. Admittedly didn’t know Pinner was in Harrow!

Original poster

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 17:14

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 24/03/2024 16:50

How old is your daughter? The outstanding state secondaries in Richmond are typically full so you would likely be offered a place at a less good school. I’m surprised if your husbands company is offering relocation advice that they are not offering to cover private school fees.

Shes actually 10 so she will be going to yeat 6 next year but I wanted to be in the right area when we apply for secondary the year after. Yea his company policies are changing. We are trying to negotiate but the best they would probably offer is a year of private schooling

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OneHeartySnail · 24/03/2024 17:14

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 17:12

That sounds attractive, i could look into it thank you 🙂

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We have found it excellent value!

Original poster

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 17:12

OneHeartySnail · 24/03/2024 17:02

Also close to Morden underground, a diverse community, DD travels on public transport without concern. Overground links as well. Plenty of solid inter-war family housing!

That sounds attractive, i could look into it thank you 🙂

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Original poster

MomofSS · 24/03/2024 17:09

Tiredalwaystired · 24/03/2024 16:38

Where on Earth are you hearing that? So many outstanding state secondaries in the borough. Look up Nower Hill, Whitmore or Pinner High for just starters. Then there’s also Bentley Wood which is an all girls school a little further out that takes places on lottery.

you do have to live pretty close to the school to get a place though.

my personal experience is with Nower Hill which just retained its outstanding ofsted at Christmas. GCSE options cover the whole spectrum from childcare, hospitality and PE to astronomy, classical civilisation, citizenship, Latin and Ancient Greek.

Above average GCSE results generally and excellent progress 8, but the others Ive mentioned have amazing reputations too.

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Thanks this is helpful to know.. my daughter isnt going to secondary till sept 2025 but I wanted to be in the correct area when the time comes

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OneHeartySnail · 24/03/2024 17:02

Also close to Morden underground, a diverse community, DD travels on public transport without concern. Overground links as well. Plenty of solid inter-war family housing!

OneHeartySnail · 24/03/2024 16:58

Our experience was that all the Merton secondaries were acceptable. Depending on your child's needs one might be better than another (DD has an EHCP) but none are sink schools.

She has ended up in a school that has been absolutely amazing in meeting her needs, as well as those who are more academically able, despite an OFSTED rating of 'good' and not 'outstanding'. Look beyond OFSTED and gossip, and consider what would meet your child's needs.

Also, what the worst case scenario school is - if the only place in the Borough is their worst school.