AIBU to feel a sense of foreboding about real local secondary school choice in years to come?

[HaydonWomble]

Based on feedback from local parents, it would seem that for Rutlish and Ricards Lodge (which are massively gaining in popularity amongst Merton-based families, year on year), the catchment areas are diminishing to the point that for both they are now well under 2 miles. We know of some local families (towards the borough borders), whose DCs did not get places at these, their preferred choice schools, despite being Merton resident.

Starting to panic about the realistic options (or lack of) for any local DCs (and my DC2) in the coming years.

Maybe time to move to nearby Sutton?

Haven't really thought about it all that much yet. However, we are church goers so hopefully DD will get a place at Ursuline, though will also hope for Wimbledon High. Head in the sand a bit right now....few years to go though!

We may well be in a catchment black hole. Especially as the local primaries have all massively expanded, but the secondaries haven't.

Dd1 may (may!) be good enough to get into Tiffin or the Sutton grammars. But if not (and those are quite long commutes) she might well be facing an even longer commute for a poorly performing school out of the borough.

I understand from friends with sons that Rutlish is getting more and more sought after due to its good results and increased discipline. I'm not hearing quite the same about Ricards and haven't been impressed by what I've seen of it. Friends with girls have generally found religion or gone private. Those are obviously both tricky and risky/expensive options, with no guarantees any more due to high numbers of applicants.
It seems very short sighted of the council to increase the numbers in primary schools without providing extra secondary places. The bulge classes at my local primaries are now heading to/already at secondary age.
I'm glad to have got my kids into secondary (private alas) already, I must say.