Moving to London - school or house first?

[mummabubba]

We are in the process of moving to London, we expect to arrive in late March/early April. We have DS1 (5), DD (3 in April) and DS2 (5mths). I am at the stage where we are deciding where to live and which schools we should try to get the kids into.

My concerns are elevating reading these blogs - 1. are we even going to get a place for my DS1 at this point in the school year. 2. we are going to rent, so are we better to find the school we want first and then a house, when it seems that even in the right catchment area we may not get a place. Am feeling very much does "chicken before the egg, egg before the chicken!". I have seen the Ofsted reports, but feel that testing results is really a minor part of what makes a fabulous school.

DS1 is currently in a fabulous Montessori school, and as much as I would love to leave him there for the remainder of the school year, it is not an option.

We are looking Zone 2/3 London, so if anyone has any fabulous tips for this slightly frazzled mama moving half way around the world I would appreciate it.

Tips?

Well starting by renting is a good idea as it will allow you to find out about an area and decide whether you want to live there, and then build up a relationship with local estate agents and find out about those little pockets of nice places otherwise difficult to find.

As to where.

Well I suppose there is a job involved, if so where is that based.

Then have a look (Use the TFL Transport for London Website) at what tube and overground routes there are and then work your way out along them.

if you tell me the post code of the job I could give more targeted advice.

Once you get regions then you can start checking out schools.

Pick an area dependant on convenience and budget and then look hereto find local schools. This site gives you results as well. You can then look on the http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Inspection-reports/ ofsted website to look at each schools reports. .Your son is 5 so if you were here he would either be in reception or year one which means he will join the school mid year rather than September being the earliest he can get in. It may then be worth phoning your chosen school to see whether they are likely to have a place in reception or year one. They will most likely say they can't guarantee anything and you can't do much until you are here. As a rule in London the closer you live to school the more likely you will get a place. Ideally pick an area with several school you would like. I live in London. Where are you thinking of moving to?

Thanks for the advice so far. My husband will be working in Central London (but job involves regular travel as well) and best lines for us will be Central and Northern, but we are not basing our decision solely on that. I have lived in London before, but I was single and carefree . We have been looking pretty much everywhere that is within a 35 minute commute for my husband. I have never lived in the Nth London suburbs, always been Central or Sth West...

Thanks for the advice about schools. I have noticed some of the LEA's manage the in year admissions and not the schools, so that will add another dimension.

Thx

Remember to look south of the river on the Northern Line

-Kennington is an area well worth looking at.

My own area which I like a lot is the Whitehall Park Conservation area, with Archway as the nearest tube.

Do a google search under WHPARA and you will get the website of the local residents association.

Good schools in London can be very oversubscribed and therefore difficult to get into out of the normal admissions times.

From September 2011, children who have turned 4 in the previous academic year can start full-time at primary school in September, if that's what you wish (otherwise they can start part-time or delay starting until later in Reception, again if that's what you prefer); that would mean your DD would be due to start school in September 2012, so you should be in plenty of time to get her a place (you'll need to apply around this time next year for her). Once she's in, you should then get sibling priority (if that's in the admissions criteria for the school) for the other two).

Regarding DS1, you could try moving to an area with a good junior school (intake in Year 3 aged 7), make sure you are safely in catchment and then go private until the start of Year 3 (if you can get a school to take him). Otherwise contact Local Authorities for advice.

What month and year is DS1's birthday - trying to work our the appropriate school year.

If there is only one of you working have you thought about living further out and your husband commuting in from somewhere like Sevenoaks or Tonbridge etc.

Are you looking for state or private schools - that will have a big impact on which areas to look in - and how long do you think you will be staying? eg do you need to look for good secondary as well or is the focus only on primary.

Thanks all for your info - fabulous to have everything we can in mind. DS1 is a February 06 baby, so think that puts him in Reception currently, with 1st grade next school year?

We had thought about living further out, but from what we have seen the housing still seems comparable and then we would have commuting costs (as well as my husband not seeing a great deal of the kids)...but am open to the idea.

We had hoped to go state, but I guess that private might have to be considered in the scenario for DS1.

Our time in the UK will probably be between 2 and 5 years, so high school not really on our radar for here (I have heard nightmare stories from friends).

For Northern line try the Fortis Green area near East Finchley Underground. Get as close to the school as possible because in some years the catchment area is tiny.

Near the tube, nice friendly community, parkland, woodland and nice shops.

If you're from the US do make sure yo look at schools in both private and state sector. In London there is in particular massive differences between the two sectors.

If you are choosing the state sector then I would definitely look at schools first then rent as close as you can to your favourite to ensure your child gets the next available place. The idiocy of the British system is that you can then move away as soon as his bum is on a seat and he can still retain his place (and his siblings will automatically be guaranteed a place as well in the majority of primary schools).

mummabubba

Unfortunately, you might find it very difficult to find a place at a school you want for your 5 year old. Places at London schools are under huge pressure at the moment and most schools will be full with the schools with vacanices (if at all) the least popular ones.

You probably need to be very strategic about what you do. Firstly, if you'll consider faith schools, see if you can do something now before you move to count for the criteria for schools you might be interested in. Then try and locate yourself near two or more good schools with 3 or more classes per year (hard to find areas like that but they do exist). There's a relatively high turnover of children in London and you're more likely that a place will become available in a larger school (and if your child is without a school place, I think you might get priority). Also, try and get on the waiting list ASAP - either get a contract for rental signed or exchange contracts even if you don't intend to move for a while since you can get on the waiting lists once you've exchanged (although schools won't keep a place for you for very long if one does come up).

Good luck!!!

We live North London at the end of the line where the schools are excellent at primary level. DH commutes and there's greenery all around - parks and golf courses etc.
Woodside Park, Totteridge, West Finchley.

I would definitely rent first and find out the catchment area for the schools (which are tiny). Alot of secondary schools are now requiring that you not only live in the catchment area - but have done for 2 years prior to application i.e. 3 years before starting!!!!!

Ealing has very good schools and is well connected, on the Central, District and Piccadilly lines and with a rail link to Paddington. Good shopping, nice houses.

Borough of Richmond has great schools and some lovely areas to live: Richmond itself, Kew, Twickenham, Teddington, St Margarets...

Wimbledon also has some good schools and great tube and rail connections in to town.