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Property/DIY

Moving Out Of London For Kids Education

76 replies

Rohey · 27/09/2009 18:56

Looking to move out of North West London to somewhere we can get a bigger home for our money and more importantly good schools..

Both Hubby and my job will be uneffected, so the move would be purely for the kids education.

We have 2 DDs 1 x is 6 and other is 3... I have heard that Kent has more grammer schools but is so vast I don't know where to start..

Anybody got any advice/suggestions etc??

Thanks...

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EldonAve · 27/09/2009 19:04

Will you still commute into London?

colditz · 27/09/2009 19:05

leicestershire

mmrsceptic · 27/09/2009 19:06

golly, would def say kent or harpenden area or bucks

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:06

Eldon..

Will drive into London but only to see family.. Not for work...

Colditz, I had not realised Leicester had good schools...

I am looking at state schools as well as Grammer...

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mmrsceptic · 27/09/2009 19:06

bear in mind what happens if they don't get into a grammar

I would say Kent out of all three

HeadFairy · 27/09/2009 19:07

We're moving to Redhill in Surrey for exactly the same reasons... the schools are all great!

BedofRosesItAintII · 27/09/2009 19:07

But the house prices around good schools will be probably just as expensive as NW London...

pinkteddy · 27/09/2009 19:08

God don't move to Kent! They have the highest number of underachieving secondary schools in the country. One in five secondaries is below the government's target of five GCSEs grade C and above. How about Hertfordshire? Very high standard of schools in most of it.

mmrsceptic · 27/09/2009 19:09

lol ignore me then

if you don't get into a grammar you are plainly kippered

EldonAve · 27/09/2009 19:10

How far away do you want to go?
Which side of London will you want to visit when you come back?

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:11

Thanks all..

I knew I would get the right advice from you guys..

I am looking at this holistically, so am looking ahead to 2ndary schools etc..

Will look at hertfordshire, Redhill & Harpenden...

Afurther advances on those 3?

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pinkteddy · 27/09/2009 19:11

Yes that's exactly it mmrssceptic!

BedofRosesItAintII · 27/09/2009 19:11

How far is a reasonable commute? Define 'good school'? What are your must haves e.g. shops, cinema, transport links, diversity, distance from London?

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:15

Not as far a field as Manchester etc..

All my family live in North West London, so that's what we would be coming back for.

Was looking at Oxford/Cambridge.. But decided against as I did not think the schools were great..Am I worng?

Mmrscepti - exactly my point if they don't get into a grammer school, I would be stuffed and would most probably be better of here!..

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HeadFairy · 27/09/2009 19:16

Rohey - Reigate Grammar (near Redhill) is actually a fee paying school but the state schools in the area are really good, which is why we're moving there. If your heart's set on grammar schools i'm not sure Surrey have that many, other than I think a couple in Sutton, and Wallington High (I think that's what it's called)

colditz · 27/09/2009 19:16

Rugby?

Rugby very good for the London commute and as long as you aren;'t planning more children would be ideal (school is girls only)

HeadFairy · 27/09/2009 19:16

Of course, there's Tiffin in Kingston, but the competition to get in is very high....

colditz · 27/09/2009 19:17

bare in mind that some areas are SO much cheaper than London you may be able to afford private.

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:19

Good point Bedofroses ...

Must haves.. Sainsburys etc, mixed diversity would be best as it's what we are used to here. About 1-2 hours drive into London.

Transport links into London - not a necessity as we both rely on our cars so much.. Nice shopping mall near by would be great, but not essential as it gives me an excuse to trundle into London - Westfiled !! LOL!!

Good schools: Good teachers who nuture the kids. Teachers who are aware of the kids' capabilities and works with the child and my parents..

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HerHonesty · 27/09/2009 19:21

i dont think anywhere within reasonable commuting distance to London is that much cheaper, particularly if you are looking to live in the catchment of a decent secondary.

Hampshire?
erm whereabouts in north west london?

Bellsa · 27/09/2009 19:21

I grew up in south cambridgeshire, where the schools are good up to 16, and the sixth form colleges in Cambridge are fantastic. I'd move back if I could. North cambs villages are also nice and more affordable, with good schools, my friend has just moved back there and is very pleased with the primary her dcs are at.

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:21

I had looked into Tiffin but Kingston is not my cup of tea...
Not to bothered about gramer school, more focused that they kids get the most out of their education and enjoy it..

Where DD1 goes it's more like a rat race in the class and it's 30 kids to 1 teacher... Madness..

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colditz · 27/09/2009 19:22

Grantham?

Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:22

HerHonesty - Harrow..

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Rohey · 27/09/2009 19:23

Bellsa - Thanks for that.. renewed my thoughts on Cambridge now...

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