Need Help on Schools for 7 year old boy in London

[Indianworkingmom]

I am a working mother moving to London with husband and a 7 year old son. I will be working at Canary Wharf and my husband at Southwark. I would like to send my son to a state school (comprehensive?) and am willing to spend about GBP 2500 per month on accomodation (2 bedroom or 3 bedroom house are both fine).

Can you please suggest some areas that have Good State Schools and easy access to Canary Wharf and Southwark?

What are the afterschool options I should explore? Would prefer to send him to some classes rather than keep him at home with a nanny.

Cannot comment on schools but for ease of commute I would look at Surrey Quays/Canada Water.

Either 4 minutes on the boat to canary wharf or one stop on jubilee line. Depending on where in Southwark either jubilee line or bus.

Actually you can choose from much of south east London. It depends on how much of a commute you want. I live in the borough of Southwark at the far end near Dulwich and there are a lot of good schools here. There are also a lot in Beckenham and Bromley which have good rail links in. These are all nice areas with lots of great parks so good for families.

Comprehensive applies to secondary not primary.

Look for some primaries that you like, then find out if they have spaces in the year your son is in (Y2?) and then see if there are any rental properties nearby.

Don't just dismiss trains. They usually run every 15 mins and head to stations like London Bridge or others on the Jubilee line. The new Overground line runs from Gipsy Hill and places like Sydenham and Forest Hill.

Personally I wouldn't go for Surrey Quays if you have a young family. I have lived there and the schools can be a bit depressing.

Not Gipsy Hill, it runs from Crystal Palace!

Thanks Sharpkat and NynaevesSister, how expensive are these neighbourhoods?

I would go with Nynaeve's advice more than mine with regards to schools as I have no DC but have worked at both Canary Wharf and London bridge so am more about a convenient commute than how good the local primary schools are. I pay £1500 a month for a 2 bed flat but that is on the Thames so you could rent a house nearby for not much more but not have the views.

I have lived in New cross gate as well which is still a convenient commute as is Brockley and forest hill and are probably a bit more family orientated.

Honor Oak Park or Forest Hill are on the overground (quick change at Canada Water for both your destinations), are great for families and have lots of fab schools (Stillness, Dalmain, Fairlawn, Horniman, Eliot Bank and others) - all oversubscribed, but as he's 7 they should find a place for him in one of the KS2 classes. Should be fine for your budget too.

With a budget of £2,500 a month you would easily get a three bed house with garden in Forest Hill/Crystal Palace/most of Beckenham. It may be tougher to find something in Dulwich Village as this is a very exclusive area but it is absolutely gorgeous and both Dulwich Juniors and infants are excellent schools. The nearby secondary Charter House is also highly rated. Beckenham is also full of great primary schools, and is very leafy and lovely. If I moved it would be in that direction.

Where are you coming from? If it is the US, Canada, Australia etc then be aware that houses will look very small to you by comparison. Something like you would think of as a modest ranch style house would be at the upper end of the market here.

Also have a look around Chislehurst and Petts Wood areas. I don't know if the trains link up that well with the jubilee line though.