Best areas for secondary aged DC London

[GailSnail]

Inspired by reading a thread about teenagers growing up in London. Which area of London do people think is the best to live in, if you want state schools (not private schools or religious schools)?

Any experiences on here of happy London families with teenagers?

(Disclaimer - I currently live in Greenwich which is great for primary but secondary schools aren't the best.)

Muswell Hill has excellent secondary schools and is a lovely 'village' for teenagers (and adults). Lots of restaurants, cafes, swimming pool, cinema, ice skating and green spaces close at hand, But the commute into town is a bit longer if you work in the centre of town - Crouch End is nearer in but the schools are not as good.

I think it's a totally reasonable question. Take a look around Alexandra Park, Muswell Hill, Finchley area, OP. A friend of mine recently moved there because there are a number of very good secondaries (and few poor ones I believe). It is also a nice area, though expensive, but they bought a 3 bed flat which was pretty good value.

Thank you @TheYearOfSmallThings and other pp suggesting Muswell Hill area. I actually used to live there some 15 years ago before DC do I know it! It's lovely. I guess the only thought would be getting a bus to the tube everyday for husbands early start, and wondering which school. Fortismere often gets mixed reviews but APS seems to do well.

I am thinking of doing the same. do you know what kind of flat they bought (period conversion/purpose built) and how much did it cost and in what area?

Thank you.

Yes, the area around Muswell Hill has lots of good secondary schools, including Fortismere. There's also APS, Highgate Wood, Archer Academy in East Finchley, Wren Academy not far away.

I think budget and commute time is very important. You’ve just said there’s a caveat on your husband needing to commute early. What type of accommodation do you want, what’s the budget, how many bedrooms, do you want a large garden, etc. we could recommended great schools, but if you could only afford a one bed flat with no garden in the catchment area, it might not be a good fit. I liked Fortismere and grew up in MH, but the catchment area is tiny now. Also, what type of surroundings do you like. I felt like MH was a bit too suburban for me growing up, night busses were easy, but it depended on where you went out. I’ve lived in most areas in London (went to uni there too!) and personally didn’t like the south as much (unless around London Bridge, I hated living SW). We have young children so looking to move in the next two years to our ‘forever’ home, still undecided where. You do get more bang for your buck in the south, but I’d prefer less space and to be more central.

When I was buying my first flat, one of the sellers I encountered was a single mum who bought a 1.5 bed flat in MH to get her child into fortismere (second bedroom could only fit in a bed and tiny desk and a clothes rack). She bought it as a second home (but seemed to be living there full time) and her main home was a house in wood green. was selling it once her child got into fortismere. The things people do to get their kids into schools!

@gretr yes we sound similar on that- we are not looking to move further out or bothered about large gardens etc. I don't know budget yet as it's a few years away and our careers have trajectory but knowing prices I would expect to be able to afford a 3-bed in MH. Husbands commute should probs be around 45 mins max to the city, but I was more thinking about the faff of bus to tube - as I remember getting stuck on the W7 a few times in traffic in the mornings!

You might be a bit shocked at the prices in Muswell Hill within catchments because they've started nudging/moving above the 2M mark. Of course this could drop back a bit with a recession. But if the last recession was anything to go by, people didn't sell but hunkered down instead & the local market disappeared. Houses in catchment are very hard to come by because people move in and stay. I hear parents complain a bit about Fortismere & it's 'hands off' approach to the dc, though it does well. AP school is more in demand & people come from far & wide to get in & that brings it's own issues. It's a brilliant place to live though.

If you have girls Forest Hill/brockley/Ladywell is good. If boys less so.

Another thing I notice is 3 bed houses are becoming fewer as people extend and extend. There are many 4/5 &6 bedders around that used to be 3 beds & this also pushes prices up.

Bromley. Bullers girls or Bullers Boys. Also Park Langley boy or girls and Hayes.
They're all excellent schools.

What don't buyers understand 😬, the bloody buying fairy isn't real you have to arrange your own survey and searches. Not a FTB either 🙄, think I'm in for a rocky few weeks. I can't wait to see what questions they will ask via solicitor 😂. The viewings were bad enough no I don't know the exact line of gas pipe underground or how much your gas and electric bills will be🤔.

Ealing....good secondaries..

I think Barnet is the best & then Sutton but some of those will be grammars & faith schools.

Lots of people leave London because of this ime.

If you have to get to the city, then probably wouldn’t choose MH. We both work in the city but can work from home a few days a week. We work long hours, and at the moment compress so one drops, one picks up and we do a half day on Friday taking it in turns to do childcare that day. For that reason, we wanted a 30min commute max, and bought a small 3 bed house.I can cycle or walk from where we live, but secondary schools here aren’t good (nurserys are excellent but pricey), hence wanting to move in a few years (want to get them settled before school age) . We do also want more space! Personally places like Barnet and Sutton are too far and would prefer to go out of London for a similar commute time but with the better schools than move to those places.

Herne Hill / E Dulwich in catchment for either or both Charter schools. Kingsdale nearby for the chance of a lottery place.

Streatham Hill / West Norwood in catchment for Dunraven, ditto Kingsdale, also Elmgreen, and the chance of a music place (and possible catchment overlap) at Norwood School, or a language / art place at Chestnut Grove.

I don't know much about Barnet but have friends in Worcester Park, Cheam & Carshalton Beeches (all in Sutton), all moved for schools. Their commute really isn't much different to mine. I'm in z3 SW London.

Thanks but we wouldn't be looking as far as Bromley. We want to stay in London and not move out to suburbs.

I'm not sure what you class as suburbs, I'm in z3 & it's pretty suburban, but I would narrow down your areas & then look at the schools in those areas.

West Norwood/Streatham: Dunraven, Elmgreen, Norwood, Kingsdale

The website locrating might be helpful for you, maps out good schools, catchment areas, distance to work etc. Have to pay for it though.

We are moving to Clapton for secondary schools. Clapton Girls, Mossbourne, City Academy and other good options.

What @SuperCamp and @Davethecat2001 said. Hear particularly good things about both Charters, nice area and decent commute.