Schools in Croydon - thinking of moving back

[GeorginaA]

Dh, ds1 and I moved away from Croydon 3 years ago for complicated reasons, but basically not really of our choice.

Recently, we're missing it more and more, are sick of being away from London and are contemplating trying to move back (obviously haven't got a job lined up yet - still in the "is this practical/possible" stage).

The problem is, when we moved away, ds1 was only 2 years old, so I never really knew about the schools/nurseries situation (ds2 is now 2... ds1 is in Y1). Areas we think we'll be able to afford are: Park Hill, Shirley Park/that end of Addiscombe, Shirley Oaks/that end of Shirley. I've been googling like mad but really can't find much info about the school catchment areas and how all that works.

Part of the dilemma is that ds1's current school here in Worcester is just outstanding - it has a real vibrancy and enthusiasm that we'd sorely miss (if only we could transplant it to a London borough and near a secondary school that didn't have an 80% failure rate at GCSE...) so I NEED to know that I'm not selling ds1 short by moving back. I would be really grateful for any insights about schools in these area (secondary and primary) - the ethos as well as the on paper performance, and also any comments about whether we're being totally insane for even considering it...

Thanks

Oh would also need to know what the chances are of getting into the schools, given that ds1 is now in Y1 (probably be Y2 by the time we get a job/sell the house etc)

No idea about Croydon, but personally I think Worcester V Croydon is a no brainer in my opinion.

Did you move for the right reasons? Are you moving back for the right reasons ?

No brainer in which direction? Honestly, this place is so f-ing depressing it's killing me (no offence to the lovely Worcester mumsnetters I've met - this area is just not me).

We moved because dh lost his job and we almost lost the house.

We are in Shirley but we aren't yet at the school stage. Not much help sorry.

Personally I would rather be in Worcester.

Pardon me being blunt,if you are doing a reverse move will you be able to afford the mortgage in Croydon. We moved North /South and the mortgage still hurts 6 years later, it is getting easier but we really know we have a mortgate. IYKWIM

We think we would be able to do the reverse move. Part of the problem is that dh took a huge salary cut as his line of work isn't in that much in demand outside of London. Career progression is fairly non-existant for him here. We will be getting a house valuation in the next couple of weeks, but I don't think it'll be impossible.

Secondary school situation here is something we're really concerned about in the future, so we would probably be moving eventually anyway.

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Any Croydonites with school age children?

We're in a similar position. Moved north 8 years ago and have never been really happy. Miss Croydon like mad (we're going back on friday for a visit for a few days - we call it our fix!) Thing is we've got a nice house in a really nice area where we are now. DD1 will be starting school next year and she'll be going to a lovely little school. The areas we could afford in Croydon would not compare at all. So basically we're stuck.

I grew up in the ParkHill area and went to Park Hill junior school and it was fantastic and to be truthful if I could afford a big enough house in that area I'd move back like a shot.

Not much help to you really but going by the areas you said you can afford then I'd go back, definately. I really miss shopping in the Whitgift Centre

sorry, can't help with schools but just wanted to say that house price wise it is a good time to move back.
house prices in s london have been static for years while everywhere else has gone up. but recently it seems to be taking off again, particularly houses.

JustBonnie - we used to live in Park Hill - I love that park and the whole area... being able to walk into a decent town centre... having public transport that works. The trams they put in 3 years ago made it even better.

Sometimes get so homesick for the place it hurts.

We'd have reservations moving back to Park Hill (although I always wanted ds1 to go to Park Hill infants/junior) because the type of house we could afford there has a tiny garden. I do like the idea of a 30s semi, maybe needing some updating but potential for loft room later, in Shirley Park with an 85' garden which would be possible for the same sort of money.

Well, I've booked a house valuation for Wednesday afternoon. Since then I've bumped into the estate agent twice... (it's a sign, it's a sign ).

So... how difficult is it to transfer schools across LEAs?

good luck with your valuation and I'll be very if you get to go back!!

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lol essbee - no not cos you've moved away

Was hoping Soupy would see the thread too, actually, but I wasn't sure which area she lived in Will email her later if she doesn't spot the thread...

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no need

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I hope your valuation gives you the result you want. FWIW, it seems that 3 beds in your area are rocketing, pricewise.

Well, we moved from Shirley Park/Addiscombe to Sanderstead/South Croydon to get DSs into one of the 3 good primaries there (Ridgeway, Atwood and Gresham). We'd not heard great things about Ashburton Primary (and it looked horrid from the outside) and we needed to move so here we came. St Johns is in Shirley Park and very god but it is a church school and you pretty much have to go to St Johns church to get in really.

Park Hill Primary is apprently good but I don't know anything about it really. A friend is very happy with Woodside (she lives near the old "Leslie" pub.)

Ridgeway is fab IMO and with a 3 form intake you might not have much trouble getting in. DS2's class alone has lost & replaced 3 since Easter. Atwood (2 form intake I think - not sure) is very structured (more traditional sit-at-desks) from what I've been told and Gresham is tiny and somewhere between the 2. All 3 are together in the league tables IIRC and tend to swap places occasionally.

Secondary is a different matter. The choice is Church, cr*p Haling manor, Riddlesdown, Warlingham, go to Wallington or Private. The Riddlesdown "feeder" schools are (I think) more Kenley/Purley way.

Another Mumsnetter can inform you of the Purley/Kenley schools I think. Not sure about the other areas.

You can email me if you like. iamsoupdragon at blueyonder dot co dot uk

I have friends in the Woodside/Shirley area with children in school, most of them go to Ashburton and seem fairly happy, although I get the impression that the 'good' schools are the Catholic ones. Most of them are CMs, and have children in most of the schools in that area so if there is somewhere specific I could make some enquiries.

Strangely enough I have a better idea of the Secondary schools than the Primary ones, after bf agonising over them all with her eldest a couple of years ago!

NdP: ta Still not sure if we'll make the move yet, but I thought we'd have settled by now but we just don't seem to have done.

Soupy: that's really helpful, thanks What about Shirley High, is that not considered any good? Am going to need to get a better map - my A to Z just has (helpfully) "school" written by all the blobs and not which ones...

SCAREnity: thanks Once we've narrowed down areas a bit more I'll ask about specifics

BFs DS1 is at Shirley, they had a few problems at the beginning (to do with individual teachers rather than the school) but now it's been dealt with I think she's generally happy with most aspects of the school. It seems ridiculously big to me though. I went to a school with two classes per year, Shirley has eight!

Eight?!! Yikes!

off to a meeting now