Hicksville > London ... right or wrong?

[spacemonkey]

Rather than hijack the other thread, I'll start one of my own.

I'm thinking about moving to London from the provincial town where I now live. My children are nearly 13 (dd) and 10 (ds), so if we moved in the summer ds would start Year 6 at a new primary school and dd would start Year 9 at a new secondary school. They'll both be going to state schools.

I don't like the idea of uprooting them, BUT there are lots of good reasons for the move, for them as well as me.

We're looking at moving into Camden LEA, and I am told the schools are very good. I also think as the children get older there will be many more opportunities for them educationally and socially in London. My sister and brother both live in north London and I would dearly love to be nearer to them, and so would the kids. Plus my mum wants to move in with us on a trial basis - she is very close to the children and more importantly is very good for them, and would be my general factotum in terms of childcare.

And of course the work opportunities for me would be stratospherically better than they are where I now am.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has made a big move with kids at a similar age, and what impact it had on them. Of course a lot comes down to personality, and I know it would be hard for them to adjust at first, but any advice or experience would be most welcome.

Thanks!

i think with kids i would favour hampstead over islington. there is a more villagey atmosphere and of course the heath is a marvellous resource. my understanding is that camden schools are better in general than islington schools.

hth.

HAving taught in an inner city school I would rather cut my arm off then send either of my two there unless I knew the school was very good etc. He is what I would also do.

SM, I lived in Highbury for quite a few years and had friends on Almedia St - just off Upper St in central Islington. I loved it then but that was pre children etc. Hampstead is lovely - Islington more buzzy perhaps?? A lot to do in both areas. HAven't a clue about schools. Both great areas but very different - unless the Essex Rd has changed enormously. Lots of luck.

spacemonkey, i'm about to e-mail you, & when you get it you're going to owe me BIG TIME .

I agree with serenequeen - I think that Hampstead would be much better for children, even though it's not so cool as Islington. I am slightly biased because I live in Hampstead, but my sister lives on Essex road, dh used to live there and ds used to go to nursery in Islington. As far as I know schools are really crap in Islington, and each day there is a huge influx of islingtonites into the private schools in Hampstead. I think the secondary schools are miles better in Hampstead - have you heard really bad things about the Hampstead ones? I didn't think that they were that bad. And although Islington has more trendy bars etc I think it has more crime, and, a big factor for me, no greenery (although with teenagers this might be less important.)

Sm has gone away overnight girls, in case you wonder why she hasn't replied.

thank you lou, i feared she was ignoring me.

Pollyanna, where in Hampstead are you?

South End Green ( so not hampstead proper!!). How about you Maomao?

I'm in between the village and South End Green. We spend a lot of time in the Heath by the swimming pond, and also at the Downshire Hill playground. Would you like to meet up sometime? I often get together with Davros, too.

Yes, it'd be really nice to meet up - I go to that playground and the Heath alot too - we'd probably recognise each other! How old is/are your child(ren)?

Oh dear, I'm the unkempt Chinese woman with a dog and a one year old daughter who sings tunelessly (and LOUDLY) whilst she waves at any and all strangers.... Do I sound familiar???

Oh, and some people may tell you that I have large feet --- but don't listen to them!

How old is/are your child(ren) pollyanna?

5, 3 and 1!! They are always bickering or dawdling and I am the hassled, screeching, dishevelled looking woman. Do you go to Caroline's music?

Do you mean the playground by the railway track with the paddling pool at the Gospel Oak end?
Oh can I tag along some time, I have a 3yr old and a 8 month old, I am often down there, was at the one o clock club today in fact
I am the bad tempered looking one with the very white legs and big teeth.

sorry to hi jack your thread spacemonkey, but I believe you are Training tonight anyway

Hiya suzy,

No, but I walk by there too, sometimes! I would definitely like to meet up there, as I've been wanting to go to that 1 o'clock club.

We're talking about a small playground on Downshire Hill by the car park on East Heath Road.

And pollyanna, I have no idea what Caroline's music is --- is it at the Community Centre?

Hi Suzy - I often go to that playground and the one o clock club! (would recommend the one o clock club maomao). Caroline's music is in the Royal Free Recreation Club on Friday mornings. It is v good. You could sing loudly and out of tune as much as you want there!

looks like we should fix a date for the one o clock club then, how about next week?
Maybe we should take this to emails, I know space monkey has her limits regarding thread hijacks

Okay, girls. Made a new thread under "meet-ups," as I don't want to get on the wrong side of spacemonkey (she is a tech, after all)!

Yes, let's do that. Sorry for hijacking your thread spacemonkey - hopefully when you get back we can be more help in your decision making.

She has the power to delete all your posts, so be afraid!

thanks all

if camden schools are better than islington ones, that's not saying much. From what I can gather London state secondaries are in crisis, period.

Have received more info about home edding, and apparently there is a very active group of teenage home edders in north london. Better get my kids some wholemeal shoes pronto

and a very special thank you to YOU hoxtonchick