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Original poster

Ibstock Place School Reviews & Good Areas to live nearby

37 replies

Shreyasarin · 03/03/2015 14:11

Hi, we will be moving to London soon. We plan to send our kids to Ibstock place. Any moms with kids in the primary section at Ibstock? Need reviews on the schools primary section and how academic it is. We are also looking at areas to live near the school which have good public transport and a train station near by as I dont drive and plan on learning to drive once we move there. Where do most moms with kids at Ibstock place stay? Which are the good areas for families to live ? Many thanks!

OP posts:
MN164 · 03/03/2015 17:14

I'd be interested in the answers you get here.

I'm a north Londoner but am falling in love with parts of West London. However, I have a couple of issues - 1) air traffic noise and 2) flood risks.

I love the Barnes area and have wondered around it quite a bit, but find the noise from airplanes every x seconds a bit too much.

You might want to look at the flight paths (take off and landing) to see which areas might be affected and then ask people what they make of the noise (if any) on a day to night basis.

If you're really ultra cautious you might want to check the flood risk map of London too - Zone 3 is the area with a 1 in 100 year risk.

Comments from West Londoners (along with non-identifying but reasonably accurate location) welcome.

FishyNibble · 03/03/2015 17:43

Barnes is a wonderful area with two train stations with decent links into Waterloo, plus a very frequent bus service up to Hammersmith for the tube. I didn't notice the aircraft noise at all and where ever you go in West London/SW London/Surrey, you are going to have to deal with it to some extent.

I only experienced 1 small flood (I lived there for 20 years) which was a combination of blocked drains, heavy rain & a high tide - the wall along the river really does help, and it was only the road which was flooded. Barnes is a fabulous area for families, lots to do and a good community spirit. The main downside is the traffic, it really is shocking at rush hour now.

You should also look at East Sheen/Mortlake if you are thinking of Ibstock, and perhaps the area along the Upper Richmond Road towards Putney station too.

I'm afraid that my knowledge of Ibstock is many many years out of date, but friends locally say that it is a lot more academic that it used to be.

Original poster
Shreyasarin · 03/03/2015 21:06

Thanks a ton! Really appreciate the feedback. Gives me a better picture on where to stay. We loved the school and its facilities as well as the open space. Being new its difficult to decide on where to staye etc. Will definately look at these areas and will check the flood risk map too.

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Original poster
Shreyasarin · 03/03/2015 21:26

Are there any websites where I can connect with other moms who send their kids to Ibstock Place? Also which are the good real estate websites to look for a rental house in the areas nearby? Will look at Barnes, Putney, Upper Richmond. How about Wimbledon? It looks nearby too. TIA

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Gozogozo · 03/03/2015 23:25

Wimbledon is not as close as the other areas you are focused on, & the main approach to Ibstock is via the A3 which is very busy.

Original poster
Shreyasarin · 04/03/2015 00:21

K thanks. We will be moving in April so will check out the other areas once we are there.

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SonorousBip · 04/03/2015 09:01

One thing you need to check re Instock Place is accessibility via public transport. It is in a curiously inaccessible place - we live fairly close as the crow flies but it would be a slightly uncomfortable walk and a very roundabout route by public transport, disproportionately convoluted for the distance. I believe there are shuttle buses from one of the stations, but again that only works if the station is itself convenient. Just make sure you check it out, as it would be a bugger to be "so near and yet so far".

Its a very London thing that the closest school is not necessarily the most accessible!

AugustaGloop · 04/03/2015 09:08

i agree with the comments about inaccessibility. it is not that easy to get to by public transport form many areas even those that look close on a map.

OttiliaVonBCup · 04/03/2015 09:18

It's a very awkward place for access..

East Sheen might be your best bet and walk from there, but the houses near the school are all frightfully expensive.

Hebe2 · 04/03/2015 10:42

There is a shuttle service from Barnes station I believe. It would be awkward to drive to everyday, rather congested round there. As to the plane noise it's there, it's annoying, you learn to ignore it. The area, Is wonderful in most other respects.

MN164 · 04/03/2015 11:48

Of topic (ish) apologies. I was surprised by the earlier comment that aircraft noise wasn't a "thing". I don't live there but have been there a number of times during daylight hours (open days etc) and thought it should be something people need to see/hear to be comfortable with. At least, I'd hope someone would mention it before committing to a rental contract or mortgage!

mimbleandlittlemy · 04/03/2015 12:52

MN164 - I live in W4 and the planes put their landing gear down pretty much as they go past our house (directly over ds's old primary school). You just get used to it - have lived in the West London area all my life and really you learn to screen it out. In fact I sleep with the windows open all year round and it is quite rare for me to be disturbed even by the night flights and I am a very light sleeper.

Occasionally atmospheric pressure will mean planes sound a bit louder (and that's when I do get woken, if it's the 4am onwards flights) but modern planes are a great deal quieter than they used to be and it's not like we still have Concorde coming in - that you really did notice.

mimbleandlittlemy · 04/03/2015 12:56

PS - also live within 10 minutes walk of the river and I'll take the odds of a 100/1 chance of flooding too!

safaristar · 04/03/2015 13:13

Worth looking at houses in North Kingston - less plane noise and an easy commute through Richmond Park to Ibstock School....

Kingston is great for families and loads of amenities close by... and good transport links with buses and trains in Kingston or Richmond.

castlesintheair · 04/03/2015 13:22

I'd live in Sheen or Richmond and then your DC can cycle through the park to school. You don't have to live right by the park or on Richmond Hill there are plenty of other places just as accessible to the park/Ibstock such as North Sheen, Mortlake or Richmond (flood plain as I call it) which are the abundance of places not on the hill but on the other side of the Sheen Road/Upper Richmond Road West. Same applies to Sheen.

FishyNibble · 04/03/2015 14:09

Don't forget that Richmond Park closes at 4pm in winter, and then you've got a horrible journey through the traffic around the park to Sheen/Richmond/Kingston if your kids have to stay for any afterschool clubs!

Also - what mimble said about the plane noise, you really do get used to it, it just sort of blends into the general background - tbh, I think the trains are worse if you're near the major lines.

castlesintheair · 04/03/2015 14:16

The gates only close for cars at dusk so not a problem for walkers/cyclists in winter.

Agree about airplane noise. I've lived in Richmond for years and never notice it.

Original poster
Shreyasarin · 04/03/2015 14:21

Thank you everyone! Im very grateful for all the feedback. Its good to get a point of view from different people. Any idea where I can get information on bus services to the school and from which station it is? I have also heard that the park closes by 5.30 so if your child has after school activities or they are late then driving through the park might be a problem. Is it true??? At the moment I do not drive so I am looking for good public transport too around the area. Once Ive learnt driving it will be easier. Hubby will be taking the train to Canary Wharf. Sonorous Bip do you live on the Queen Mary hsp Roehampton road side or near the priory Ln side?? As I have heard there is a 72 bus that uses the Queen Mary hsptl route and stops outside Clarence ln but the walk to school from Clarence ln is 10 mins and there is no public transport on the Priory ln side. Will keep the Aircraft noise in mind too when we check out the areas. Thanks once again everyone for taking the time to respond.

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castlesintheair · 04/03/2015 14:30

Have a look here for public transport routes etc transport for London

As I said before the park closes at dusk to cars but is open 24 hours for pedestrians. So near Christmas it shuts to cars at 4pm but if your child is cycling or walking to/from school not a problem. Obviously it is one for younger DC who need taking to school in a car. If you google Richmond Park you will find all the info you need.

Original poster
Shreyasarin · 04/03/2015 14:30

FishyNibble & castlesintheair just read your comments. Thanks!

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Original poster
Shreyasarin · 04/03/2015 14:34

Many thanks! Will check out transport for London.

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Original poster
Shreyasarin · 04/03/2015 14:54

Sorry needed info on the shuttle buses from the station for Ibstock school kids.

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Gozogozo · 04/03/2015 15:08

Maybe email the school for uptodate info at that point.

Elibean · 04/03/2015 16:13

No comment on Ibstock, but re air noise in Barnes: I didn't notice it when younger, but it has either got worse over the past 20 years or I've got more sensitive or both. Its ok in winter (and silicone ear plugs are as effective for air noise as they are for dh's snoring Hmm) but a bit of a pain on a nice summer's day in the garden...or at 5am in summer with windows open.

I don't like it at all. But would I move because of it? Not in a million years, not if I had to stay in London. Too many positives.

Beingfrank · 04/03/2015 16:13

Shuttle runs from Barnes Station (SW trains into Waterloo) to Ibstock in the morning and after school.

How old are your children? I ask because Ibstock do not guarantee you a place in the senior school and the 11+ exam process gets more competitive every year. If you have a child getting close to secondary transfer age you will need to bear this in mind.