Where to move in London for great primaries and secondaries

[bettymoo212]

We currently live in a two-bed flat in North Greenwich with our two-year-old and newborn. We want to upsize to a four-bed house in an area with great primaries and secondaries, so that we can stay there for the long-term.

We both work in central Lond two days a week so need to be in relatively easy commuting distance. Beyond that though, we are completely open to moving anywhere in London. Therein lies the problem - we just don’t have a clue where to look!

Twickenham - fast trains and excellent schools in borough of Richmond.

Posted too soon!!

I keep finding areas with state great primaries OR great secondaries but not both. Our budget is 800k. Does anyone live in an area that fits the bill? Please tell me about it!

Try New Malden

Thank you @tennissquare. I haven’t looked at New Malden and had discounted Twickenham as being too expensive but will take a look!

Muswell Hill, Bounds Green and Alexandra Park all have an excess of great primary schools and two well regarded secondaries (Fortismere and APS). The catchments are small though.

Kingston upon Thames

Avoid Sutton

Shooters Hill if you're in with a shot of the grammars? You'll get a brill house for that

Sorry just seen kids are tiny. But would recommend SE18 regardless

Crystal Palace/Norwood Lakes -
good schools and train links to central london (London Bridge & Victoria)

Thanks everyone! Off to do some research on these areas.

Bromley/Bickley/Chislehurst if you don't mind a slightly less "London" vibe - you'll get a lot for your money, easy commute and v good schools!

Have you had a look at West Ealing/Northfields/South Ealing. Good connections with Elizabeth line and lots of great primaries, like Fielding or Little Ealing and Ealing Fields High School. Good luck!

That’s interesting! Why avoid Sutton?

I’m curious about this too!

@lilyfire unfortunately that budget is too small for somewhere like Bounds Green/ Crouch End / Muswell Hill unless you are open to a flat. You might get a three bed house in Southgate, but you'd have to check catchment areas for Ashmole and Walker schools. Alternatively look at Furzedown, the Tooting side for Graveney School (secondary) and Furzedown Primary.

@DoeRayMe what makes you say this?

This is within budget - 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Vicars Moor Lane, N21 (rightmove.co.uk) and I think in the catchment for St Paul's CE Primary St Paul’s C of E Primary School - Home (st-pauls.enfield.sch.uk)

New malden
Surbiton
Hinchley Wood
Guildford.

All straight into Waterloo in the train... Depends how far you want to go!

if your dc are both girls I’d say Brockley/Crofton Park/Blythe Hill. Secondary provision patchier for boys.

Streatham, specifically the area around Dunraven secondary. Excellent primaries in abundance, and if you stay on the Streatham Wells side of things rather than Streatham Hill, you could get a decent house for 800k.

Other secondaries in the area include Norwood school, Elm Green and a highly regarded Catholic school. Kingsdale also within reach (although lottery places)

Alternatively Tooting, focusing on the Graveney catchment, although I suspect this may be out of budget

You could stay nearby and move to SE7 - several outstanding primaries (eg Sherington or Windrush) and now an outstanding secondary too (Leigh Academy Blackheath). Easy commute into central too. You could get a 4 bed for that budget.

Bickley and Beckenham

Barnet. On the northern line. Brilliant schools.

only if you're religious as the best schools in the borough are either Jewish, Catholic or CoE.