Very broad question - schools in West London

[Vesta1]

I know the subject is very broad, but maybe somebody can help me?

We are pretty new to London (and UK). Our ds will turn 2 in June and we have another baby on the way. We've been renting for the past 2 years (in W6, close to Chiswick) and were quite happy with the location. Now the flat is getting too small for our growing family, so we are going to move. Obviously, I want to move somewhere where the schools are good.

I know bits and pieces (like, I found a couple of excellent public primary schools in Chiswick and East Sheen), but have a feeling that I miss the big picture, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I would really appreciate, if anybody could point me to the information resource or share their experience. I heard Ealing is good for schools (both primary AND secondary), is it true? Any other areas?

Many thanks in advance

Hi, I only just saw this message but didn't want to leave it unanswered. I don't know West London (I am more Central) but if you are looking for results etc, the Times website is very good, and the Evening Standard publishes school performance lists every year if that helps. Other than that, best thing to do is contact the local Education Authority who should be able to provide you with details of all your local state schools.

One thing to be aware of with excellent state primary schools is that many of them nearly fill their intake with sibling places, so that there are only a handful of places available to "new" families and you'd need to be living virtually in the school playground to get a place. Sheen Mount is a prime example of that (no idea if that's the one you were thinking of). But there are plenty of good primary schools in East and North Sheen. I know East Sheen, Riverside and Marshgate are all good, for example.

Richmond is iffy at secondary level, though.

There are great primaries in LBHF where you are now so I would start there. Search on here as there have been various threads but bear in mind that you have to live quite close to get into the popular single entry schools (sibling rule applies). I do know people who have bought in x road hoping to get a place at y school so you are not unusual in trying to plan ahead, tho planning for secondary is harder - things change (admissions criteria eg) and new schools get built etc.

Sinclair,

Some of Chiswick is actually in Ealing. Have a friend there who would like to send her DS to an LBHF school but is in zone for an Ealing one. So worth checking.

Vesta1,
I've heard that Ealing is pretty good for primary but not so good for secondary. Not sure how up-to-date that is though