Forest Hill or HOP or Nunhead -pros and cons??

[CDavidson]

hi all
I posted another query about moving from East London. We are now settled on SELondon. But cant totally agree on where exactly so I wanted to hear views on what its like in practice on those areas. We are choosing between very limited areas -either near the Horniman primary, or Fairlawn or Ivydale in Nunhead.
Im keen on being in the catchment for airlawn and therefore being walkable to the Rye and hOP for a coffee. My partner is more inclined towards the Horniman gardens end and says we would be more oriented to Dulwich park/Lordship Lane and Sydenham woods.
My concern is that the South Circular is a depressing road and never really change however many more shops end up on it and you cant avoid it if you live next to the horniman for shopping etc. BUT we would get more space in a house there/larger garden for less money. Its the only place in london we can afford to be next to an outstanding school!!. I liked Nunhead but wonder if its on a limb....Ivydale isnt that near Nunhead lane with the shops. Im mainly a mum at the moment but also a printmaker so home a lot.
Part of the issue is comparing Horniman/Ivydale and Fairlawn as primaries. Im also really conscious that with small kids whats on your doorstep counts so even if Dulwich is only 15 mins by bus, if we cant walk there in 20 mins we wont go that often anyway.
Sorry for burbling. All ideas welcome.

Hi,
Just posted on your other thread. I'm quite near fairlawn (not that far from horniman either) right on se22/23 border. We can walk to east dulwich (top end by the library) in 15/20 mins. Main shopping parade for us is forest hill road, which is ok and fairly useful (though not as nice as lordship lane or as many nice shops as forest hill).
If you are right near London rd /horniman you will use the shops there and also loads of buses to lordship lane.
You can try se23.com or east dulwich forum for views on the different primary schools. Both fairlawn and horniman are very good schools I believe, fairlawn (2 form) bigger than horniman (1 form) both on top of a hill, fresh air, great views, quite art/music. Neither have a compulsory school uniform. Do also know someone with kids at ivy dale and they like it. I think there are plans for it to expand to four form entry (on a different site) although not sure where that's got to (May be more info on the east dulwich forum).
Where does your dh need to commute to? Make sure you're close to your chosen school as catchments are shrinking.
Feel free to DM me for any questions.

Ps it is very hilly round here so it does get tiring with a buggy. Maybe something to be aware of!

Bear in mind there isn't really such thing as "catchment" In London boroughs.

It's home to school distance, so the intake radius will vary each year depending on the number of applicants. You can get an idea whether you will get in a school going on last years figures, but all it takes is a high number of siblings of a couple of sets of twins and the radius might be dramatically reduced the following year…

Apparently your best bet with property is along the East London Line from New cross to Crystal Palace.

I live about 50 yards from Fairlawn (although not for long as just sold our flat!) Would definitely look at this area above Lordship Lane area - it's still only 5 mins to walk to the Horniman museum and in my opinion Forest Hill is much nicer and trendier than East Dulwich! Would also def recommend a look at se22.com

I meant se23.com

All those schools have small 'catchments' so make sure you buy close enough. Ivydale is going to 4 form entry in 2016 so area they draw from will increase then. You don't have to worry about traffic in Nunhead as people don't tend to drive through it to get elsewhere due to the railway line. It has a strong sense of community and is quiet. You have to go to ED for action although there are some great pubs, and shops on Nunhead lane are varied enough you can do your weekly shop there.

I would set your sights on secondary school rather than primary, tbh. All the primaries are good.

All I know about Fairlawn is that the catchment area is teeny

There's lots going on in Nunhead and it's really easy to get to surrounding areas like the Rye, Peckham, Brockley, ED so you're not short of things to do. Ivydale isn't that far the main shopping strip and near there is some independent cafés etc. I like FH and I love the horniman. Also a fab area and I think you'll find that the change will make the south circular less noticeable. LL is rammed with cars yet it's fine and the same will happen with FH in time.

I live in ED and have friends in all of the areas you are looking as well as Peckham. I'd go for HOP or the London Road area. I think Nunhead is on the up but in my experience its a bit rougher than HOP and the London Road area of Forest Hill and has fewer amenities.

Fairlawn is a terrific school but the schools in HOP are also very strong academically. The main thing between HOP and Forest Hill is if you prefer the quiet of HOP or if you can tolerate the South Circular in exchange for being closer to Lordship Lane. Its very personal but I'd choose the London Road area.

Fairlawn and Horniman schools are a 5 minute walk from each other so you'd be moving to the same general area. HOP, East Dulwich, Peckham Rye are walkable from the houses in the catchment of both schools as long as you don't mind going up a hill on the way home. Good for the leg muscles.

For those two schools, you're best looking at places within 300-350 metres of both schools, which is depressing. The Lewisham website is helpful and if you ring they'll probably tell you how far the address is from the school. Both are very good schools with different strengths.

Not a big fan of Nunhead, although I have heard very good things about Ivydale. I think Nunhead would have been nicer when it was this cheap oasis in Zone 2. Now the prices have risen so much, it just seems a bit overrated. We looked round there and our general impression was that a lot of the houses there are very small with quite narrow rooms.

We have just moved to Honor Oak and are in the catchments for both Dalmain and Stillness which are both OFSTED outstanding I think. HOP is a lot quieter than Forest Hill as there isn't the South Circ running through the centre of the villagey bit, loads of green space and lots of parent friendly cafes. It's marginally cheaper than the Sydenham side of Forest Hill despite being further north, nicer housing stock, and still only 15 - 20 mins walk from the Horniman. Blythe Hill Fields has a nice little playground and a lovely view. ED is nice, but over priced IMO for what you can get and an over hyped and slightly busy centre. Nunhead quieter but less facilities like restaurants etc (good greasy spoon and excellent delis etc but not many places for a bite to eat in the evening just around the corner) - so I think it depends what you are looking for. Both Dalmain and Stillness have reasonably large catchments so you have a better chance with the placement lottery.

Here are last years figures;

www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/education/schools/school-admission/applying-to-start-primary-school/Documents/last_years_application_appeal_rates.pdf

So you need to be within 392 metres of dalmain and 498 of stillness to have any sort of chance at a place....not what I'd call a "reasonably large" area. Couple minutes walk at most? Within 2 or 3 streets?

That is incorrect that Dalmain and Stillness have large catchment areas. Kilmorie yes, but not Dalmain and Stillness.

oh and can anyone tell me if there's a cut through to Brockley train from ivydale. its am odd dogleg walk otherwise and probably the station we'd most rely on.

I would be thinking of secondaries too. Time will fly fast and you will be looking at secondaries before you know it! In fact as soon as your child gets a place in Reception class, even if you don't want to you would still be concerned as half of the class parents would be talking about secondaries.

I've decided not to panic about secondaries as I assume by the time my DC get there, there will have been a few more education secretaries, changes of plans and new schools built to deal with all the kids that have moved into the neighbourhood.

Sydenham Girls and Forest Hill Boys are the main schools for my neighbourhood and they're both decent schools.

I wouldn't worry yet either as so much is changing and as you say the local schools are good. Since we moved a new primary and a new secondary are slated to open in ED and Southwark are already in discussions with existing secondaries to expand in the coming years.

Yes, PinkPlasticFlamingo - Sydenham Girls and Forest Hill boys are both good schools. But this will not help op if she moves to Nunhead.

Kilmorie catchment is not going to be anything like last year's (a last minute bulge year) when the updated distances come out for 2014 entry. I heard of someone from
Queenswood Rd getting in but not someone on De Frene Rd for example. It's another really popular SE23 school and rightly so.

Oh and I much prefer FH (all parts and despite South Circ) to ED and Nunhead; have lived in all three. FH is fab, great community, all primary schools are good or outstanding and beautiful skies and views.

Definitely Forest Hill, such a great area - loads going on for families, today we've been to a free craft session at the horniman, scooted round the horminam gardens, had coffee and cake in forest hill and then I've been out this eve to Sodo Pizza and the just reopened Honor Oak pub all easily walkable. Yes the south circular isn't pretty but really it's a small price to pay.

Just stumbled across your thread in active convos. Have no up to date advice but I went to Fairlawn back in the days of Mr Jackaman (early 80s) and this thread has brought back lots of happy memories.

That sounds like a typical lovely local day for us too sleepless. We love living in SE23. Keep talking about leaving London but then keep extending our metaphorical visa for 'a few more years' ;)