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?

I don't think Stokey is the right fit - we definitely aren't going to use private schools. And I have a big issue with rubbish transport! After being scathed in south london! So a tube would be the ideal.

@Citylifemum I agree, that's why I didn't mention it earlier. The area around Gospel Oak primary school is very similar in terms of Stokeys vibes and masses of things for families, but it has far better transport and more school options, esp for girls.

I know Orleans and Grey Court and despite being in Richmond Borough you wouldn't get into either of them living in actual Richmond. They both have pretty small catchments so look at buying a house within 1km of the school.

Ealing... Chiswick... East Dulwich... West Norwood... Crystal Palace... All the same sort of places always get mentioned. Depends on budget and specific requirements. Then find a school.

My area never gets mentioned on these good places to live in London threads and I have no idea why. I think it’s brilliant. I live in Kennington, Zone 1/2, excellent public transport, lots of parks and playgrounds near by, theatres, pubs, restaurants, leisure centres, walking distance to south bank, etc etc. Schools are pretty good. You can get into Kingsdale from here. Also there’s Chestnut Grove, Haberdashers London Bridge, and some others (I’m not super hot on secondary schools as my kids are tiny but those are ones I’ve heard people talking positively about).

My sons were brought up in Chiswick. There are four tube stations along the length of the High Road, which is a factor when they get to teens and are out and about to know they can get home easily.

@Citylifemum for Ealing you need to be close to the high school you are interested in. Elthorne, Drayton Manor and Brentside are in Hanwell and Elthorne has a very small catchment mainly South Hanwell, West Ealing and Northfields roads. Drayton is in North Hanwell very close to Hanwell station with the Lizzy line and again is over subscribed.

That's a poor example as Ealing now gets the Elizabeth line which gives fast trains to several Z1 stations and a quicker journey to the West End than from Richmond!

I live in Kentish Town/Tufnell Park. Very happy here.

North Kingston is good with Grey Court. St Margaret’s for Orleans Park and Turing in Twickenham/Whitton or Waldegrave if you have girls. Richmond itself is not so good for state secondaries apart from Christs’ which is C of E.

If you are interested in Orleans Park, you would need to live close to it to get in. Think last distance offered this year was about 900m which would probably mean living in St Margaret’s or that side of Twickenham.

Beckenham is too far out but not Chiswick/Richmond?

what’s your thinking here Op, are you looking West?

I think there are people who still deem the West End and Soho as being the main & only 'central' part of London, so lean towards West London etc but in the last 20 years East London, Shoreditch etc has become as relevant, busy and predominant especially if you're creative leaning, so I've found I now think of 'central' as stretching across towards the East End too and therefore find those areas of South East London less 'far out' than the equivalents in West London etc.

My advice would be live wherever you are happiest and close to a really nice primary school you can walk to. Then get your children playing rare orchestral instruments early on…. The number of good state comprehensives across London now offering music scholarships really took us by surprise!

This sounds interesting! Tell me more please?

If you can afford it Stoke Newington within distance for Stoke Newington Secondary school (I believe its a very small catchment depends how they are banded).

musicaptitudetest.wordpress.com/2023/02/08/which-secondary-schools-use-the-music-aptitude-tests/

There are loads of websites giving indication now of music aptitude tests and schools.
Anyway, I think it is brilliant and hopefully we will have lots of talented musicians in the future as a result of this push in education.
Sceptics will say it is the new church route in, but I disagree. There have to be incentives in society towards musicianship. Plus kids who like music tend to be quite academic too, on the whole.

Loads of teens around muswell hill and crouch end, or Alexandra Palace, easr Finchley, Highgate. I find it a great place to live

The update saying you are after state secondary schools dies really narrow the choice. Lots of nice areas get separated for secondary with those that can going private.

The London school atlas is really useful for looking at areas, schools and where current pupils travel from.

I think st Margaret's area for Orleans's school is the best option in South West London, but may not be London enough for you. Grey court is lovely, as is Ham, but it is not very London.

Barnes, Putney, Fulham, Wimbledon don't have great mixed state secondary schools (that you would move to the area for). So many go private in that area.

Maybe Balham area looking at Graveney school?

@doadeer I agree-for me it's that area (and we have lived there) or that Kingston/ham/richmond/Teddington area. (Have lived there too ) both are great areas for families

Maybe Balham area looking at Graveney school?

you would have to pass the test as the catchment is tiny

SW11 between the Commons - access to mainline trains and Northern line. Bolingbroke Academy is mixed secondary. Lots of sports clubs etc in area for teens.