Commute to London - best areas for primary schools

[Confined123]

We live in Muswell hill and our child goes to an outstanding primary school. We really like the area and the school is good as well - forest school, music class, etc.
However, we can't really justify the high rents we are paying for our matchbox size house. Also, lot of break-ins in the neighborhood. Our house got broken in and robbed couple of months back as well. So it is not like we are paying more to stay in a safe area.
We are looking to move a little outside now. Where there is greenery, less pollution and lower crime rate. Our first priority remains an excellent state primary school. Which areas would you recommend we look at?
We will need to commute to Warren Street and an year later to kings cross.
New in the country so will appreciate any inputs. Thanks.

I guess you’re aware that as your child is already in school (ie no longer applying for a reception place) everywhere you move to you will be on the waiting list for desirable schools, especially up to Year 2 as the infant class size law restricts the number of children admitted.

If you are happy to be on the waiting list, which can take many months or more often years to get you a place at the desirable school, then you can look further out to North London to keep your commute to Warren Street and Kings Cross. Lots of nice places that way such as Woodside Park, Finchley, Stanmore.

No school place is guaranteed when you move so I would suggest you look into secondary schools as well so in case primary school waiting list does not work you then have the chance to apply at good secondary schools. North / North West London is tricky in that most good secondary schools are faith-based ie Christian (Anglican or Catholic) and Jewish. There are grammar schools which are highly selective.

Thanks @blissful201, I am aware of that. We are going to be renting and are willing to take a place close to school and be on the waiting list. We are looking for somewhere farther and not in North London itself. Maybe somewhere with fast lines so the commuting is still under an hour but it's a bit away.

St Albans would fit the bill for fast trains and good schools.

www.police.uk

That’s where you can look up crime rates.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

And that’s schools.

But yes, you’ll be on waiting lists until sth becomes available.

You could have a look at Southgate/New Southgate, good primaries and secondary if you live near Ashmole

Berkhamsted, Herts. Direct Trainline into Euston takes 35 mins and 98% of the time you can get a seat. Slightly cheaper than St Albans. All primary schools rated good or outstanding, a great comprehensive and a shot at Bucks grammars as an out of county applicant.

I wonder if I know where you work as that’s the two office locations we have been factoring in for our move

Assuming you don’t want a rural village, we have looked at Berkhamsted & that was our first choice assuming a 5 day commute (before the pandemic). Tring is also really lovely. Amersham and Chalfont at the end of the Met line have good state primaries and are quite green being in the Chilterns.

We’re currently focussed on Buckinghamshire as we’ve decided to go for a village given we are apparently never going back to a 5 day commute.

Hi there. Saw you on another post yesterday re Muswell Hill schools! We used to live in MH but moved pre school applications because whilst we lived the area and the schools are great, we wanted to move out of a flat into a house (buying not renting though) before our second child arrived. This may not be as far out as you’d like, but we moved to Southgate. You get a lot more for your money this side of the north circular whilst still getting good schools and the tube (Piccadilly line). It’s also a great area for families. Lots of parks etc. Town centre not as nice as muswell though! From here you could always commute your child into their muswell school until senior/whilst on a wait list. Good luck.

@jcurve, thanks a lot for your inputs. Very helpful. We might also not go to 5 days commute, but it is up in the air. Definitely work from home till mid next year. I will look at the options you mentioned.

Thanks @Pl242, we like muswell hill as well but it is so expensive! Being locked in at home has made us realize even more that it will be nice to have a bit more space in the house.
I will look at southgate. It seems convenient, but I really want to move a bit more outside in a new area since I am not tied to a place. We don't have family around and we can still rent for couple of years before we decide to buy. So looking to explore a bit outside London.

Thanks @Zodlebud, sounds good. I will look at it.

Broxbourne, Hertford and Ware are all good options. Commute under an hour. Switch to Victoria line at Tottenham Hale. Lots of green spaces and great primary schools.

Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire or even Milton Keynes might suit as they are on the train route into Euston which is walking distance to Kings Cross. Both would be cheaper to rent than Berkhamsted and Tring.