Moving to South London and Schooling

[WineLover21]

We are planning to move to South London with our kids (from a fairly rural part of Scotland). Absolutely terrifying.

Any tips on schools and how to know what schools to get into?

Looking at Balham, Wandsworth, Earlsfield area.

Also totally scared about doing this with kids. Any advice appreciated

Regarding schools I really don't think you can go wrong with any primaries in those areas but if you're thinking long term, look at Locrating or similar and be smart about secondary catchments. It comes round much faster than you think.

Great to hear, thank you. Yep open to the upper part of tooting near Balham.

If you have 1.3 mil to spend you will be fine - if you can look wider I really recommend looking in SE London not Sw. For that price you can get a great house in Brockley/ look in the conversation area near Hilly fields park - lovely primary schools (I think most London primary schools are good) - or Nunhead/ round peckham rye - I miss that area so much, incredibly fun, friendly, great community vibe.

however, all the areas you mention - if you are near the commons - are lovely.

Yes! Have heard about secondary schools and it being an issue in London. We've got about 7 years and then we might have to move back to Edinburgh or send them to boarding school which seems a shame.

Thank you, really appreciate this.

"One of my friends has told me I am absolutely insane to move them to London. She thinks I'm holding onto my old life and need to grow up. But I miss London so much and wonder if I'm being selfish."

It's not for everyone, but people who say things like this generally are not looking at the full picture. In terms of being selfish, your happiness matters! And also London is so good for kids. My son who loves dinosaurs etc. has been to the Natural History Museum about a dozen times, it's free and about half an hour away. We go on walks along the south bank. If they do a topic in art, we pop and look at the galleries which are also mostly free. There are so many parks and outdoor spaces and some weekends our kids are literally muddy the whole time from being in the park/woods/playing sport.

I would go stay in an air bnb in Balham (or another area you are keen on) with the family for a week and see how it feels at a weekend but also on a normal weekday when everyone is at work and you’ll be out and about

One of my friends has told me I am absolutely insane to move them to London. She thinks I'm holding onto my old life and need to grow up

one of those “mumsnet friendships” where neither seem to like one another in the slightest

my brother is selling on a dodgy road 15 mins from clapham north and not near a good school. 3.5 bedrooms, terraced, courtyard garden, nice interior… £1.8mil

but your youngest would only be 9…. i think you’d have to discount boarding school at that age?

i have lived in a handful of places across the UK

and hands down friendliest was london

I'd honestly consider living somewhere in the commuter towns with that budget rather than more central. There is a happy medium between the middle of nowhere in Scotland and central London...

you can be whoever you like whenever you like and no judgement

i agree with this

it is a massive change for you op and i don’t think your budget is big enough for what you likely have moved from

Yes, just state schools and we want to be in the thick of it.

when was the last time you lived in london OP? and i take it that it wasn’t with children?

It’s probably better than leaving them behind in Scotland to fend for themselves 😂

Husband works there 4 days a week too and it's really hard being left for most of the week

what made you move to scotland??

Ha, I love her. She was saying it jovially but she's very blunt.

This
I think it is a big jump going from the area you currently live in to South London.
You would get more for your money,

Our family was here and we were promised support but it didn't really materialise. Parents separated and quite a few family deaths.

where does she live?

what would your support be like in london?

any family or friends?

4 years ago

And I know the area very well, lots of family support and friends. Don't want to be in a random place that I don't know well.

ah she’s one of those. “I just tell it like it is”. 😆

@FunnyFinch we live in an expensive place and it's not that far off the prices in London.