Moving away from Crouch End to Southgate and primary school choices?

[MNO]

Hi There,

We're looking to move from our two bedroom apartment in CE to somewhere in Southgate. With a 7 and 3 year old, we're struggling for space especially that my partner works from home.

From an affordability perspective, Southgate and surrounding look like a sweet spot for us.

From my research, we're keen on Ashmole Primary and trying to look at places in it's catchment area. Unfortunately it seems that most other schools in that area are somewhat meh? Would love to stand corrected.

We've found a house that's approx 0.20 miles (320 meters) away from Ashmole, however assuming Ashmole is very popular school, we're worried that even a close distance like that may not be enough.

Suggestions welcome.

We r ashmole parents. Its a good (enough) school. We are 0.2 miles away and got in fine. In year transfer may be a bit tricky for your older child. I know someone who has been waiting 2 yrs. The other sought after schools in the area are monkfrith and walker. They may have space for your 7 yr old.

Ashmole schools are excellent. Our daughter was educated in the Academy and now the 6th Form. I can’t praise the school enough. It has excellent leadership, pastoral care and progress. Our daughter didn’t go to the Primary but it has been open for a while now and is one of the most sort after in North London by number of applications. My friends who are lucky enough to have children there are very happy. You will need to live really close to get in though. Another thing to consider is that I think Osidge Primary which is very close by has just become part of the Ashmole Trust- a win for the whole community. It is not oversubscribed (for now!) and most pupils go onto Ashmole Academy. Visit the schools if you can so you can get a feel for them. You won’t get better provision in the State sector. Good luck with your search and move.

Thank you both.

The catchment area is fairly confusing as I could only find the reference from 2024 from Barnet borough's website but that was for secondary schools only, so nothing concrete the primary school itself.

If things do go according to plan, we'd move during school year, which would potentially make things challening - and on top we'll likely be going through a full renovation so it's all getting very stressful.

Great tip on Osidge Primary, will check it out.

Sounds like a big move but hopefully you wouldn’t have to do it again for a long time! You could contact the admissions officer for both Ashmole Primary and Osidge and see what they say/ advise.

For your 7 year old it would be an in year application so it will depend on the school having space.

We have kids as far as 0.5 miles away from the school. The catchment is indeed confusing and likely dependent on the number of special care/siblings etc for that year applying. Good luck.

I know a 7 year old 0.1 miles from ashmole and has been on the waiting list for three years… currently 25th on the list! So chances of getting in are very slim unless you have siblings there etc.

Osidge is a good school. It doesn’t have the kudos of ashmole but it’s hard to criticise. My friends say the communication is good, the grounds are massive and they do a lot with what they have. it’s in walking distance of ashmole so if the 3 year old got in to ashmole then you could walk to Osidge in the same school run.

dm me if you want to know more.

Walker is well regarded as well but would require driving from the ashmole area.

Apologies for going dark for a while. The property we were planning to get on Hampden Way fell through so as a result, we're back to square one.

We've now expanded our search radius a bit and trying to be flexible and have found a property near Bush Hill (I know, quite the jump from Southgate) that is comfortably within the catchment area of Raglan Junior School.

We've also found a suitable match in Oakleigh Park which is hopefully in the catchment area of Monkfirth School.

Opinions on both would be much appreciated, even though neither are no where near our original search area!

Sounds very stressful. Both of those are very good schools, ones that I would have been happy to send my child to had we lived in those areas. Bush Hill Park is still not far from Southgate although Enfield Town is your nearest main centre. Oakleigh Park is great too- I have friends that live there. Local shops in East Barnet and a good train line too. Good luck with everything!

I don’t know Bush Hill but Oakleigh Park is really nice, especially if you are close the whetstone tube line which is very convinient. The main roads are very busy - especially the A109. My dream roads are Oakleigh avenue and Oakleigh Park south but I don’t have a spare £5m!

I think the hampden way house falling through was probably a blessing, it’s a really busy road!

St Andrews CofE?

49% oversubscribed unfortunately

Apparently undersubscribed this year ….

UPDATE

Well after some deleberation and maybe even apprehension, we've decided to accept an offer on a 4 bed semi very close to Raglan.

Yes, it's a bit further east to Southgate and we're losing tube privilages but we're getting a lot of house for the money.

Thank you everyone who chimed in. Looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel, whether it's another train remains to be seen.