Where in London for brilliant secondary up to £1.6m?

[Blacknailer]

As it says, with a budget of around £1.6m, where should I look to be completely certain of getting kids into a great (mixed) secondary school? We'd need a large 4 bed house with at least a small garden, near to transport, not more than 40 min journey into the centre. Have family in north west London so not the far south east of the city (which is a shame because it's cheaper!).

I don't actually want to move and the stamp duty would be huge but the secondary schools near us do not seem great. So would have to be certain of getting into a great school to make it worth it!

Ealing.

Have you got any decent private schools nearby? If your DC are already secondary age, might it not be cheaper to consider staying put, and paying school fees instead?

How old are your dc? Schools can improve or deteriorate in the space of a few years. I wouldn't buy a house in the catchment of a seemingly great school if my dc were KS1.

They are in years 4 and 1 now.

Hopeful bump?
Maybe this should be in the schools topic.

Muswell Hill for APS/Fortismere
Southgate for Ashmole Acadamy (more for your money than Muswell Hill)
Stoke Newington school is supposed to not be bad.

Tufnell Park/Dartmouth Park for Acland Burghley. East Finchley for Archer Academy. Highgate/Crouch End for Highgate Wood. Muswell Hill for APS.

But as pp mentioned I would caution that a lot can change in a few years with schools - good and bad.

Catchment of Charter , Dulwich / Herne Hill / East Dulwich