Best place to live in London for access to good state primary and secondary schools?

[TeachesOfPeaches]

I currently rent in Blackheath which is lovely but I'm looking to buy my first flat and have a 3.5 year old son.

Where I am the primary schools are good but secondaries are a bit hit and miss and there are a lot of prep and private schools which I don't think will be an option.

Any ideas?

If your son is already 3.5 he’ll be going to school next September. So you need to move in the next month to meet criteria for next years schools. The most desirable a school the harder it is to get into of course, even harder out of normal entry points so if you moved midyear.

Bromley?

Yes I'm having a bit of a freak out and not sure what to do. Have a deposit and will be a first time buyer.

Visited Petts Wood yesterday but wasn't enamoured.

Well, contentious but many do it....
Get your son into whichever marvellous Blackheath primary you prefer then move anywhere you like still accessible to school but with better secondary options thereafter.

One Blackheath primary has a postage stamp sized catchment due to people getting #1 in then moving away and all siblings going forever more on sib rules.

Sutton has some of the best schools in the country and have been building loads of new flats.

Just focus on Primaries for now. He wont be in secondary for 7 years and lots can change in that time, outstanding schools get rated inadequate and vice cersa!

Are you talking about John Ball? The admissions criteria is very tight and even goes by closest flat number if you live in the flats nearby.

Yes I was thinking of Sutton and Kingston area as I know it quite well. Not sure about the commute to Canary Wharf though.

Yes, but yet the car park is stuffed full of people having to drive their kids to school as they live so far away.

I know a few people who done this successfully - some years they didn’t get through road before running out of new family spots but I think the range is wider now they’ve gone to 3 form entry. Personally I much preferred st mgt and asb though so we didn’t go for it.

Kingston.
Move to cheaper south Kingston, all primary schools are 'good'. Secondary wise there's a grammar system.

I would actually highly recommend Petts Wood OP. People move here specifically for the great schools. There is so much to do for children locally and it’s half an hour travel to London including London Waterloo, London Bridge, Cannon St, Charing Cross and Victoria.

Muswell Hill. APS and Fortismere for secondary and Rhodes ave, coldfall, tetherdown, st James, Muswell Hill primary

Sutton is easy to get to Canary Wharf. Just take a train from Sutton to London Bridge and then the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf.

I wouldn't choose south of Kingston borough as if you don't get into a grammar school which is bit of a pain to get to due to traffic, you are lumbered with Chessington Community College.

Thanks all for the suggestions, will continue with the research

Sorry, I don't mean south of Kingston borough, I just mean not north Kingston.

I'd echo Muswell hill - excellent state schools and a lovely community surrounded by woods and parks, swimming pools, cinemas, restaurants etc. But v pricey.

We are New Malden. Lots of good schools, 45 - 50 minutes to CW and should be a better commute once Crossrail takes some pressure off the jubilee line.

I think your budget might dictate this OP, no point us suggesting places if you can't afford to live there!

Muswell Hill is lovely but expensive and no tube- it's a bus ride to F Park or Highgate.

Islington Borough has some very good schools, but I'd focus on primary for now as a lot can change.