London secondary school best areas

[Coffeepants]

We are looking at relocating for secondary school in a couple years. Would like to stay London based if possible. Commute to the city ideally door to door under an hour. What areas / schools (state) would you start looking at?

Comprehensive or trying for grammar and if the latter then boy girl or both?

What's your idea of a good school?

South Southwark- Charter schools, Kingsdale, Haberdashers Askes.

Budget?

House budget and how many bedrooms? (I.e what sort of area can you afford? )

@Coffeepants to be honest one person's idea of a "good" school can be another person's hell and vice versa.
I would actually prioritise what else is important to you.
Access to public transport. A nearby large supermarket. Nearby decent sports centre/library/park/church - whatever is important to your family.

I would be open to both. Boy and girl will be starting secondary in a few years and ideally would like the same school

But are you prepared to do the 11+ prep for grammar?

We started with the Sunday Times guides and ignored all the grammar and religious options. Then we visited and researched the remaining options to learn more about ethos and approach. There are some schools with excellent results which we wouldn't have been keen on, as they seemed rather authoritarian.
Ended up in Kentish Town (we have 2 dds, it doesn't have great options for boys). We didn't want to go for grammar as it was too much of a gamble, you need to have moved house by Year 6 so you need a house sale to complete by then, but you won't know if the dcs will be successful in the 11+ so you might have moved there for nothing (and not have a great second choice). If you have more than one dc, the younger one might not get in, and most London grammars aren't very central. With a good comp which selects on distance and has a sibling policy, you know you'll get both dcs in as long as you've moved close enough. If you are religious that may open up more options, but it seems like that can be quite a minefield too.

Sutton's secondary schools all seem to have a good reputation and for private you are close to Whitgift (Boys), Royal Russell, Croydon High (Girls) and Wilson's as well.