Dh wants to move back to London. Is he bonkers?

[iwasjustwondering]

I would like to keep my anonymity for this thread hence the name change.

We live currently about 40 miles away from London (Dh's job is pretty near) Our house is nice and we have been incredibly lucky to buy in an area where to our amazement our houses value almost quadrupled (nothing we did, just very jammy) The area is rather quite, perhaps dull but we have settled into family life with a nice set of friends and a good local pub.

Anyway DH has decided he really really wants to move back to London, he really misses the buzz of the place and never really settled here. I think if it had just been him and I then I would have seriously considered it (however the last time I lived in London was 8 years ago whilst at uni)We have a 2 year old toddler to consider and we are trying for another baby now.

Would we be crazy to move back?
Would we get a decent sized house in a nice area for the money ours is worth? (670k)
Are the good schools packed out?
Am I bananas to be even thinking about this?

i've got Camden school for Girls near me. You need to live on the doorstep though. (and houses there cost at least £850k).

someone in my road rented a flat on camden rd to get his dd into it, pollyanna!

If we stay in London, we're counting on it for our 3 dds (and we don't have £850K!).

are you deffo staying for the time being pollyanna?

It's still under discussion - we are thinking of moving to Brighton, but dh doesn't want to move jobs to there or commute back to London. But secondary schools are one of the main reasons we would move out. (and lack of ability to afford a bigger house here the other reason).

I really like living in London though. Are you planning to stay put?

yes, but need 3 bed house as opposed to 2 bed flat. desperate to move, but can't think of where I'd feel safe/happy and find reasonable school (dd1 has been at hers for just over a year and would only move v reluctantly to a "worse" school)..in zone 3 prob (north-ish rather than east, where school problem even worse, imo, although with the catholic option I think it's slightly more hopeful for us)

Belgian, sorry no I don't I live in Streatham so not that near to Crystal Palace. I am going back in April and am in same boat as you.

there are plenty of good state schools in Richmond borough - in fact, as someone said, the primaries have come out top for ages.

The secondary schools are not all bad - there's a fantastic all girls secondary in Twickenham called Waldegrave that does brilliantly and there are a few others that are above average (orleans park, teddington, grey court though it recently had a blip). There's also Tiffin grammar school in Kingston (if you can get a place!).

It is true that quite a few people go private at secondary or send their children out of borough.

cd, I didn't realise you were in Sheen.

where are you foxinsocks?

I did a bit of research after I posted here and last year 63 were taken on ability, 135 Siblings and 45 on location. Can't believe there are so many siblings. Back in 2000 they took 50% on selection so how did they cater for siblings then?

Call me a cynic but who checks a schools admission policy is actually administered correctly. Is there an independent body that does spot check to ensure accurate application of the policy. I know this school fought hard to keep it's 50% intake on ability and even went to the high court.

A teacher told me once that schools will do what is neccessary to ensure they get the type of people they want she also said that the best time ot do this is when spaces come available mid year. After all how would you know thata spot became available in the school you had your name down for and that soemone else was offered a place.

Funny how this thread became a thread about London schools.

I am in Teddington but dh has an aunt in Sheen (just off clifford avenue) who I take the kids to visit. I am also a frequent visitor to that side of the park especially in summer.

I can't remember if you have girls or boys but Waldegrave (the girl's school) has a weird admission policy where it divides the borough (and a bit of Ham&Fulham) into quarters (with the school not at the centre!) and takes an even number of pupils from each quarter (based on distance in that quarter) so theoretically if we both wanted our girls to go there, we would probably stand an equal chance!