Wondering where teachers live if they teach in central London

[cariadambyth]

I live and teach in South Wales. I teach in an affluent area and live about a ten minute drive from work, as do most other members of staff. I was in London for a few days over the summer and saw schools in Belgravia, Mayfair etc and it made me wonder where the teachers might live? Do they all have an awful commute from miles away? A teaching salary here means a comfortable life but what is the case for teachers in London with higher house prices, cost of living et al. Just wondering if anyone can shed any light for me just to quench my nosiness. Thanks.

I know two teachers in London primary schools.
One teaches near the Arsenal ground and lives within walking distance of the school in a house bought in the 1990s with help from two inheritances.
The other used to teach part time in Knightsbridge and commuted in from Crawley.

I'm still hanging on to living in London due to school issues for dd, but I won't be able to do so much longer- I'm on UPS3 with a TLR and my rent is £1800 a month.

I knew one who commuted from Croydon. Tbh imo It's pointless living In London as a teacher (I live there!) As the pay isn't that much more and your money goes further anywhere else!

@Scarby9 - they must have been committed. I hope the head appreciated them.

Houseshares too.

They might have a partner who earns more. Or flat/house share.

Or bought a while ago or with help.

Or live on a line that get you in quickly, not teachers but our combined salary was around £45k and we rent in zone 3 and can be in Belgravia/Mayfair in about 40 mins.

Teachers are no different from anyone else who works in Central London, e.g. cleaners, shop workers, NHS, etc.

I'm a nurse and live quite centrally but have been here for 40 plus years - I assume that not many young nurses own property in London, based on their wages, as I did aged 24.

There are some very long commutes into London.

@Westfacing

Teachers are no different from anyone else who works in Central London, e.g. cleaners, shop workers, NHS, etc.

I'm a nurse and live quite centrally but have been here for 40 plus years - I assume that not many young nurses own property in London, based on their wages, as I did aged 24.

There are some very long commutes into London.

This. Or anyone who commutes into any large city centre.

The only teacher I know lives in a five bedroom house in Dulwich because her husband is a fund manager.

A friend of mine teaches in North East London and lives in a 2 bed flat in West London that she bought with a parental deposit and 40 year mortgage on 65% shared ownership. She has 2 dc now who are teens and wants to sell up, but flats haven't made any money so she intends to let out her flat and rent a house in Harlow, which apparently a lot of her colleagues do. She said it is worth it as you are able progress much quicker in London than elsewhere, she went from NQT to SLT in 6 years.

Thanks for your responses. @JanewaysBun, that’s exactly what I meant but you said better, a teacher’s salary goes a lot further elsewhere. I hadn’t really considered a second income or having bought locally before the huge house price increase.

Private schools in Belgravia and Mayfair pay better than state schools; at least enough for a flat share somewhere in commuting distance, like Clapham or Brixton. London’s very expensive, but even in the most central parts it’s still very residential, and it’s not impossible to find an ex-council flat for rent that you can share with flat mates. Just don’t expect to buy a home!

I teach in South East London but can't afford housing in the area so I live 10 miles down the A2.

@AdoptedBumpkin Although I wouldn't want to commute into London myself, the journey from Crawley to Knightsbridge was only just over an hour by train and she slept most of the way in and did her planning on the way back. I actually commute over an hour each way driving (mostly rural roads) so I suppose you pay your money and take your choice!

I'd imagine same as most people who earn regular salaries and work in central London. They live on zones 2/3 and beyond then commute in.

I'm also not sure when London house price were not very expensive for teachers or those on that kind of salary? When you mention before house price spike! But it is definitely a bigger challenge for people starting out in lower paid jobs than people say towards the end of their career.

I know some London teachers - believe they both live in Maida Vale in flat shares.

I often wonder this but even lower paid people the barista in Starbucks for example.

I’m a police officer and quite comfortable where I live but often wondered how Met colleagues manage on the same wage

@S0CKS even smaller, crappier flat shares in further reaches of town - when I worked at Starbucks a lot of the staff were also studying so living in house shares or halls of residence.

I used to teach in London (now I'm back in S.Wales). I used to have a tiny shoebox one bedroom flat in NE London about 14/15 miles out of the city centre.

Really interesting, thanks for your replies. I was also struck by the apparent lack of outside space for the children.

I lived in a house share, when I wanted a family and a house, I headed north. In my school, the oldest member of teaching staff was the head at 42. Most of us were under 28.

Yes, I imagine they commute in. I work in Central London (lecturer, not a teacher so I suspect I make more) and I have a long commute. I get a lot done on the train though.

Worked in Camden, lived in Barnet, last stop on the Northern line. Used to hate the commute.