Raising teens in London - good areas?

[Citylifemum]

I listed a question in another section but users suggested I try asking on this forum.

I've one young child, a boy, and TTC. We live in London and will remain here due to our jobs and because we like everything it has to offer, the diversity and the variety. At the moment the area we live in was great pre-kids but isn't very suitable for family life.

I am looking ahead to teenage years / secondary school and aware of the rise in problems young people face as I work with young people in a support sector. Like all parents I want to do my best to support my DC to stay safe and thrive.

I'm wondering if we would do well to choose the area we want to live in now whilst DS is still small, and make a go of it in a new area with a view to staying there until DC have left home. My concerns are finding good Co-Ed secondary schools (not Catholic) and it being a good safe area for teenagers (as far as possible). Obviously I know that nowhere is untouched by violence, gangs or drugs etc. but some areas are better than others.

We are fortunate enough to have a pretty healthy budget for a home so lots of London would be available to us but as a newish mum it's the first time I've looked round London areas through a family lens.

What are other peoples experiences of raising children / teens in London and areas which tick most of the boxes?

Dulwich Village , Herne Hill, East Dulwich , Blackheath

Not sure I agree with this. There are many areas which are brilliant for families. Loads of Hackney, for example. Islington. Places south like Hearne Hill. Greenwich like you mention. (we're assuming budget is no issue here though!)
I mean, if everyone moved out when their kids hit secondary age, all the schools would be empty!

I live in Sydenham / Penge. Still has a 'London vibe' but near to beckenham and Bromley for the more family friendly options.

Only downside is that this area seems to really like single sex schools (private and state) it wouldn't be my first choice as I have one of each but I'm coming round to it as I love living here.

I agree with this. If the budget is high then you should be able to get close enough to the good state secondary.

I grew up in London, we lived in one of the smartest Zone 2 neighbourhoods and I got mugged 50 metres from my house.

As someone who grew up in London, still lives in London, and is now raising DC in London.. my priority is to be as near to a station as possible (train or tube). The dramas were always on those long walks home in the dark, or long waits for buses at quiet bus stops so if you can cut those out I'd start there.

Please don’t take any notice of this comment OP. The highest crime areas of the UK are not in London. Raising teens in London is a great idea if you can afford it. You will be giving them amazing options and amazing schools.

Have a look at Dulwich. I agree with others that Kingston has great schools (if you have smart kids) but to me that’s not really London.

Not sure I agree with this. There are many areas which are brilliant for families. Loads of Hackney, for example. Islington. Places south like Hearne Hill. Greenwich like you mention. (we're assuming budget is no issue here though!)

I mean, if everyone moved out when their kids hit secondary age, all the schools would be empty!

We moved a bit further out because whilst my area was great for younger dc I wanted more activities after school on my doorstep or a quick drive rather than 25 mins stuck in traffic .

Safety was also a big concern for me. As @gogohmm says though nowhere is immune.

Tbf primary schools in London are seeing huge falls in numbers due to migration & low birth rates. This will hit secondaries & it will have ramifications since funding is based on head counts. The great schools will become even more desirable I expect.

amp.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/12/primary-schools-in-london-may-need-to-merge-or-close-as-intakes-dwindle

This is an interesting article about changes in children numbers in London

www.centreforlondon.org/blog/london-child-free/

I don't live there myself, but somewhere like Muswell Hill in North London could work. At the secondary level, you have Fortismere and Alexandra Park, plus Highgate if private is on your radar. Even in reach of the grammars in Barnet (QEB/HBS).

Agree that London is a great place to bring up children and get them used to the wide world and how to keep themselves street wise.

Relative a few years ago moved their family to Cornwall. Kids are bored silly and are being ferried around all the time by family. Child is very naive but family insist child loves it there.

Have a look at Dulwich. I agree with others that Kingston has great schools (if you have smart kids) but to me that’s not really London.

Whereas I would say somewhere like New Malden feels much more like London than Dulwich Village but I guess it depends on what you class as feeling like London.

Sorry, you did say co-ed and the grammars i mentioned are single sex. However, Muswell Hill is in catchment for Latymer grammar which is co-ed.

As someone who grew up in London, still lives in London, and is now raising DC in London.. my priority is to be as near to a station as possible (train or tube). The dramas were always on those long walks home in the dark, or long waits for buses at quiet bus stops so if you can cut those out I'd start there.

Agree with this & it can be very road specific. I lived near the tube & train & frequent buses whereas a friend in the same area had only 1 bus to get to the train that wasn't very regular.

Wherever is closest to a station. Muswell Hill is lovely but not great when you're coming back from a night out. Finchley is really good if you have the budget, masses of green spaces and great schools, tube right there and lots of things for mums. Barnet is nice too but might be too far out for you, although the transport links are great.
Much depends on your budget and what train connections you need. Lots of SW suggestions on here but I've found anything south of the Thames is a nightmare with train strikes. Barely ever have problems with the tube.

Coming in to say exactly this. Loads of outstanding state primaries, but yep ND Charter has an 800m catchment area which limits you to about 3 very expensive roads, or the housing estate (I think a lot of people move in to get the first child in and then move out again, given the distances I see pupils travelling home).

There’s also East Dulwich Charter, which has a slightly more sensible catchment area (still about 800m but the average family house is £1m rather than £1.8m).

@gogohmm by Co-Ed I mean mixed state secondary but not Catholic. There are quite a few single sex academies around but we would want mixed.

By healthy budget what exactly do you mean?

Yes I know it narrows options saying not Catholic and mixed, but we are not religious and want our DC at a mixed school, so that's what we need.

In a way it's easier as there's less choice. So far I'm looking at Grey Court / Orleans Park in Richmond, Acland Burghley / Haverstock in Camden / Tufnell Park, Alexandra Palace and Furzedown in Muswell Hill.

God I am SO jealous. We left Greenwich for the South West beach dream..

Biggest mistake of our lives and the kids want to go back. But we can no longer afford it 😔

This is a really good point. This rules out some areas of south london possibly...

In a way it's easier as there's less choice

that's true.

there's a very good mixed school in Tooting but the catchment is tiny or you could get a selective place. There's another very good mixed one in Modern or Sutton that I think has some selective places.

Omg @Fridayispizzaday what happened? What have you specifically found worse? Would be very interested to find out. Sometimes I feel against the grain in wanting to stay!

Consider Penge, Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Beckenham (London side) - diverse, excellent transport links (overground, trains in 20min to London bridge, Charing X, Victoria, Blackfriars). Easy to get to private schools in Dulwich if that is something that interests. Lots more bang for your buck.

This. When my kids were born the local primary was “outstanding” “beacon status” and people were moving from all over to get in.

4 years later I went to visit and hated it. 2 years after that it was in special measures.

the sink school down the road that everyone avoided was pulled down, completely rebuilt, a “superhead” was drafted in and it was truly excellent.

similar with secondaries as well.

I agree with what @chronictonic says

Wimbledon has fantastic outstanding schools. But secondaries are single sex (Rutlish for boys and Ricards Lodge for girls) both outstanding with a joint mixed outstanding sixth form.

Mine goes to grammar in Sutton and I'm only ever nervous about the 'walking' element. When they are on public transport it's less of a worry.

Schools change - what is good now may not been good once your kid is that age!

The secondary schools in SW London that my parents classed as good are still good now.