To think there is nowhere within commutable distance to London that I want to live?

[Teacherprebaby]

Any advice greatly appreciated; if you commute to London, where do you live and what is it like? I have seen some less than desirable areas and don't want to make a mistake. I'm sure there are fabulous places, I just don't know them.

Must be within commuting distance to London Bridge/Victoria.

But Crystal Palace options will likely be Harris unless you get into Kingsdale which has a lotto admission policy.

I think St Albans would be ideal. Whilst you’d lose the London weighting moving out of Vauxhall, you wouldn’t miss it if you didn’t pay to commute and there are nice schools in Herts. Would you want to drive to work, ideally? You could definitely be further out, with cheaper housing, particularly if your dp only needs to be in Farringdon 3 days a week.

Obviously, you’ll probably want to have maternity leave then go back to your current school so as not to have to pay anything back. As you know, March onwards is peak time to start looking.

If you do stay in London research your boroughs carefully. There are some big drops in school rolls which is impacting budgets. You may already be aware. I know Lambeth is particularly affected.

https://www.headteacher-update.com/content/news/falling-rolls-will-wipe-1bn-from-school-funding-across-england/

If I was choosing a primary now I would want at least 3 form entry for example.

If I only get SMP do I still have to go back do you know?

Also lots of London secondaries are same sex which some people dislike. I think the only mixed option in Merton is a Harris for example. I mentioned Tooting upthread I think, there is a very good secondary there that’s mixed but you either need to live very close (tiny catchment) or do well on 11+

Raynes Park is mixed too but another bloody prison camp school 🙄

No. If you only get SMP you’re not obliged to go back. Once you’ve qualified and are employed they are required to pay it.

@Merryoldgoat Oh yes forgot about them! I went to secondary in Wimbledon.

I didn’t realise there were now 3 Harris schools in Merton, they are taking over!

The Dartford accent. A tradesmen’s accent, which is presumably her issue.

Obviously everybody from St Albans to Brighton to Winchester speaks with that exact same accent

They’re fucking hideous. I’d never send my child to one.

Do you mean if you take a full year? Honestly I’m not sure, best to talk to your payroll at work. 😉

Sevenoaks
Petts Wood
Chislehurst
Beckenham

Plenty of scope with that budget!

I used to live in south London and commute to Farringdon and it took 45 min door to door by tube.
Now I live in Hertfordshire and I commute to the same place and it's 45-50 min door to door. (But obviously way more expensive!)

Sevenoaks has a nice high street and is about 30 minutes from London Bridge. Not sure about the house prices but could be within your budget. I think it’s a lovely town and would live there if I could afford it.

I’d second all of those. Very pleasant places to live.

Thank you, I'm looking to go elsewhere.

Where in Hertfordshire?

😄 most people don’t know about them? That’s quite laughable. The hundreds of thousands of people who live in SE London know about them. And, it has been full of people who know is exists for about 200 years now.

I think what you mean is that ‘people like us’ have been forced to discover it since they could no longer afford South West or North London. So, it’s become socially acceptable. A bit like discovering Albania when Croatia gets too expensive.

A friend of a friend from Clapham recently told me that ‘everyone’ is moving to Crystal Palace and Brockley. As if they were empty before. I have lived in SE London all my life and there have always been people here who appreciate it.

Kingston is lovely, ideal for a young family with nice shops and good transport links.

Wow how snobby do you sound? Very unpleasant comment.

I'm really sorry if you think that. I can't help how I feel. How can it be 'snobby' as you call it, if Prince Harry speak Estuary?

It's unpleasant and you know it. There's no point trying to defend yourself now. I won't lose any sleep over it obviously but just thought it needed calling out.

Chislehurst!

Prince Harry doesn’t speak Estuary. And neither do large numbers of people in the southeast, probably the majority of us.