Caterham, Purley, Wallington, South Sutton ? where to move with two pre-school boys?

[toja555]

Hi. We currently live in South London (SE25) and commute to work in central London. We own 2 bed house which we are happy to swap to a 2 bed apartment/maisonette for a better location. When I say better, I mean nicer community, greener, hopefully no gang groups, and better choice of schools of course. This is because we will soon have two boys and I want to potentially protect them by growing up in the right place. A decent commuting to London route is also important.
I quite like all of the mentioned places, but very worried that we will move into a good area but oversubscribed state schools, and my children will end up going to a crap school. Unless we find an area were all schools are relatively good. Private schools are out of the question. Catholic schools could work for us (although I am not practicing catholic).

Any advice please?

I would n't consider Purley or Caterham particulary green tbh unless you go a long way from the stations or between the two (ie Riddlesdown). Schools in Caterham very mixed, you need ot to look at Surrey CC website for details of applications to places and priority entrance criteria, but there are some smaller village style schools just outside.

I understand why you are considering this being in S norwood. We lived in THornton HEath until my son was 18 months and then could not think of sending him to the local schools. We have moved out to Kent and although where we are is not green, you are 10 minutes away from green and the neighbours are lovely all down the street. Everyone knows each others business! The schools seem to be much better and there is no gang violence or yellow murder signs at the end of the road. WOuld you consider Kent as you get lots more for your money?!

LIZS and chivers1977, thanks.

Chivers1977, whereabout in Kent are you? I would consider it as long as it is on commutable line, although it seemed a bit unaffordable.. but maybe I am wrong!

What is your budget for a house? Buying or renting?

Sutton is a green borough, lots of parks and trees, it doesn't have huge problems with groups of kids but it's not nonexistant.

Church schools have a good reputation but you have to be practicing, you require a letter from priest/vicar to get in (some churches ask you sign a register each time you go to prove you are a regular) and live within a decent distance. Some of the state schools are pretty good but you would certainly need to move into their quite small catchment areas to get in.

Senior schools have some of the best reputations going as Sutton still has grammar schools. They are incredibly hard (but not impossible) to get into, they regularly have thousands of applicants for a couple of hundred places. Some of the non grammar schools aren't bad but again have small catchment areas, one of the popular mixed comps last year had a catchment of 0.9 km for example.

I wouldn't rule out south Sutton or Carshalton Beeches but would definitely research schools and their catchment areas first. Bits of Wallington are nice but puts you out of the area of the decent non grammar schools. Have a look at the websites for the local papers (sorry if you've already done this!) of the areas, should give you an idea of what they are like. Hth

My budget is under 200k.

I was going to suggest Carshalton Beeches too. You won't get into a Catholic School around here unless already all baptised/confirmed/regular church goers etc, it's v strict and often oversubscribed with people who do meet the above.

I live in Epsom, you could get a 2 bed flat or maisonette for £200k, 30mins to Waterloo on a rush hour train, schools very good, single sex secondary options as well as being able to sit for Sutton Grammar.

Bigcar, thanks for your response. It seems like you know a lot.

This school thing seems mad. Even if I choose a catchment area for one particular school, then the next year the catchment may change, or the school may drop in pass rates, or I just simply won?t get in due to other reasons, and what?s next? I can?t spend 10k everytime for relocating. It seems so frustrating. I just want a better area with a better than average schools, and potentially no gangs for my boys in the future.
Seems tougher than I thought it would be?

no, don't know a lot, just live nearby!

catchments are tight but fairly stable and only tend to change slightly from year to year, it's more of an issue at senior level than primary. If you're thinking along grammar lines then distance to the school isn't such an issue, lots of out of borough kids get in. However, because lots of out of borough kids go to the grammar schools, there is added pressure on the good non grammar schools for places, hence the small catchment areas. It is doable, just requires careful research first.

Bearing in mind the age of your dc and dc-to-be I would n't get too stressed about secondaries just yet. pick an area you like and consider the options for primary. You'll need to be in situ at latest by the time your ds1 is turning 4. However I doubt you'll be choosing to live in the same 2-bed maisonette by the time they are coming up to secondary age. By then the choice of schools could have changed (new academies, heads etc)

bigcar, I am not thinking along grammar school.. i guess because I come from abroad background, I haven't realised the benefits of grammar schools yet, not to mention that to choose a state/religious school seems complicated enough!

LIZS, I see nothing wrong with maisonettes except leasehold and maintenance charges. But, hopefully, in 7+ years time we will be able to afford something bigger!

Just thinking you might be wanting a garden and 3rd bedroom by then with 2 energetic boys !

LIZS, I am not buying a maisonette without a garden! I have seen plenty of choices of such maisonettes so far, and was stupid enough not to buy.. instead went for a house which now annoys me so much to my regret. 3rd bedroom would be great, though..

if you are seriously considering sutton, some useful info on schools senior and primary and a flat here (after just a quick google!) near a primary school with a decent reputation. The closest senior school is being rebuilt starting very soon, it's had a crap reputation until the head changed recently but is seen as up and coming, results have improved the last couple of years, so who knows what the future holds.

We are in medway. It is around 40 minutes by train into lodnon or there are cOmmuter coaches. We are in chathamwhich is really cheap - think 120 k for 3 bed terrace . Rainham where my parents have moved to is posher but on rightmove there are still3 bed semi detAched houses for under 200 k

Chivers1977, thanks that?s interesting to hear. I googled Chatham on internet, looks lovely from the pictures and convenient commuting to London, too. I wonder, why it is so cheap? The only problem which came out from Google, is that Chatham is blamed for a lot of racism incidents. We are a mixed family, and we don?t want any additional issues? Otherwise, the property prices are so attractive that I am almost tempted to go and visit Chatham in the very near future.