Islington for raising family?

[fathom5]

Hi there - we're considering buying a shared ownership property in Islington, between Clerkenwell and Angel. We have a daughter who's 2.5. I think we'd be in the catchment for Hugh Myddleton Primary. Anyone with children currently attending who can let me know what it's like, how oversubscribed it is, etc.? Looking at the longer term, it seems like we wouldn't be in the catchment area for any great secondaries. Would love to hear from those living in the area what they do for secondary school. Finally, friends tell me Islington isn't family-friendly. Would anyone care to agree or disagree with that? Thoughts on pollution, green spaces, safety? We love the idea of being so centrally-located, but obviously our kid comes first, so would love to hear from other south Islington parents on their views of the area. Thank you!

In my experience - It’s lovely and very family friendly - if you have shed loads of money.

Lots of people (including us) move away for more space though.

Believe the birth rate is down 20% over the last 5 years, no shortage of primary places in fact some seem to be closing.

My husband went to Hugh Myd 😂 It's a great school.

Lots of families in Islington and lots going on. However, it's not the greenest area and air quality isn't the best (see https://www.londonair.org.uk/map-maker/) As you'll have found, your money doesn't go very far- there are families in ££££ houses/flats and families in social housing and not that much in the middle.

Lots of kids go private for secondary- City, Highgate etc.

I used to spend a lot of my maternity leave around Islington, so I found it family friendly!
I felt safe and happy to walk around.

That said, with the rate of primary schools closing around Camden, Islington etc it my change the dynamic of future families moving in.

Personally, I would have happily moved there (was renting in Hampstead), but had to move a lot further out to be able to buy with the budget we had.

No one in Islington is in a catchment for great state secondary unless you bus it to DAO out in potters bar.

Its nice but birthrates are in radical decline in z1-2. If the place you are buying is big enough for your needs long term and you are sure it's what you want long term crack on
But you might want to see what your budget could get you in somewhere like Ealing/ Hanwell or barnet maybe? Before locking in ... I say that only as stamp duty is a killer in London and makes moving really expensive.

I grew up in the area and lived nearby when my dcs were babies/toddlers. I found it very family-friendly in terms of activities - Little Angel Theatre, Mrs H, Islington Museum and Finsbury Library, ballet, gymnastics and football at St Mary's, Sadler's Wells, Water Babies at Golden Lane, LSO concerts, Postal Museum. Small but decent green spaces at King Square, Spa Fields, Myddleton Sq, canal walks. Easy access to Barbican, Kings Cross, Coram's Fields, Bloomsbury museums, central, Hackney.

I'd say it's less desirable than the Highbury area though and I think SMMA and Highbury Fields are the better secondaries. For boys CF gets decent results but it's not popular with MN families. I don't have personal experience of HM but families from dc's nursery were happy to get allocated it (we went private).

I am not keen on SO properties much although that's another discussion! I always find it a bit weird though that some SO developments are in very central and expensive areas - it just seems it would make more sense to buy a non-SO property further out as it would cost similar but less restrictions?