Thornton Heath? With young children - would you?

[Baalamooree]

It looks like we have missed the boat in SE London. We were set on South Norwood as it was relatively cheap, compared to the rest of SE London, but even that is looking unaffordable for us. We can stretch to £240k max and have 2 DC so we will need to consider primary schools in a couple of years. We need to stay in London for DP's job so as much as I'm tempted, it's not really an option.

We only know the Grangewood Park area and it looks nice enough. Does anyone live in Thornton Heath with young DC? Is there a reason it's cheap or can someone be wonderfully reassuring and tell me it's going to be ok?

oh I like Harrison Road...

Thanks Nessus I've pm'd you.

Bit late to reply but wanted to say that I moved to thornton heath about 8 years ago from canary wharf. Kids at an outstanding state school. Lovely neighbours mostly over 70. Cycle to clapham daily and dp to Farringdon. Not pretty to live in and defo not villagey but very affordable and totally normal parents at our school. Never had a problem here. Not a firever home but fine for now.

Dorisbumble would you tell were you are and are there choices for secondaries? I am not far looking to move...

Sorry just seen this message. Wilsons wallington sutton grammars. Son passed entrance. Then Bishop Thomas Grant London oratory and john fisher. Some friends are trying for dunraven and the harris cp. Next door boy got a full scholarship for Alleyns and his siblings go to wallinton girls with big brother at wallington county. Couple of friends have kids at Trinity with scholarship 40%. Other than that, people here are applying for Wimbledon College.

Sorry just seen this message. Wilsons wallington sutton grammars. Son passed entrance. Then Bishop Thomas Grant London oratory and john fisher. Some friends are trying for dunraven and the harris cp. Next door boy got a full scholarship for Alleyns and his siblings go to wallinton girls with big brother at wallington county. Couple of friends have kids at Trinity with scholarship 40%. Other than that, people here are applying for Wimbledon College.

I don't think you will get anywhere near Dunraven from Thornton Heath!

They are streatham common and norbury parents who are applying for that one.

Streatham Common is a possibility, the catchment for the top band is just under a mile, measured by safe walking route (lit paths) . Middle bands have smaller catchments.

Hi everyone, sorry to jump in but I'm thinking about moving to a house on Pollards Hill East (the circular bit just off the A23) and I'm wondering - is this considered Norbury or Thornton Heath? Also does anyone know about state primaries? It seems as though this is about 0.5 miles from several and I'm not sure if that would be close enough to get into the one we choose. I currently live in West Norwood but I'm priced out of moving locally! Many thanks for any advice.

Pollard Hill is Norbury. Which school did you hope for? You'd probably get Norbury Manor from there, which isn't great. Possibly Stanford (Merton), which is all right. Not close enough for Woodmansterne which is probably the best in Norbury/Streatham Vale, and not close enough for Gonville (v good) in Thornton Heath either. You might get Winterbourne, which isn't good. Kensington Ave is okayish. Can you tell we moved from Norbury because we were in a schools black hole?? I'd stay in West Norwood! But if that's not poss, then I'd look at the other side of Norbury/T Heath (ie other side of A23) - check out Crescent, Downsview or David Livingstone schools and see if it's worth finding a place near there.

If you're Catholic, st Andrews streatham st james the great thornton heath are very good and outstanding respectively. West thornton (expanding to take another form ) is also outstanding ofsted 2013 and just a bit further up the road than gonville.

I live and raise my kids in Thornton Heath. They will go to the local schools and have local friends. Thornton Heath is one of the last affordable places in London. It is also one of the most multicultural. We love it. We love some of the local little businesses, the friendliness, the fact that because housing is cheaper, the place has plenty of working class or lower middle class homeowners instead of very wealthy yuppies who leave London as soon as they have kids. I love the Costa, the cornfield bakery, south Norwood lake, Grangewood, YBR bakery, Jam Rock, and even the well stocked halal butchers are more useful than they are given credit for. Schools at primary are good or outstanding and there's a fair bit of choice at secondary. The housing stock is vast. Yes some roads are grim, others nice, not different from other roads in south London. Would much prefer to south Norwood or bland south Croydon - proximity to crystal palace, Croydon (west field on its way), and pretty much the rest of south London. 22mins to Viccy. Short hop down the m23 to be out in lush countryside. We want to stay for a long time. Really lovely road. On our first Xmas here we got ten cards from ten people on our street. Prices rising all the time, lots of young pros moving in to, so get in quick.

Also there is a very active and now quite influential community group called Thornton Heath Community Action Team - google it. They have been an inspiration.

The council are spending a few mil to spruce up the highstreet a little, too.

lots of young pros moving in to, so get in quick . I should think the OPs moved by now, Jimmy, she was asking the question over 2 years ago.