DS in reception - best time to move out of London for Secondary School?

[testbunny]

Hi.
We currently live in South West London. The primary school that DS (aged 5) is good, but options for state secondary don't look so good....at the moment at least! Both DH and myself work in London, so we would need to be somewhere within easy reach of London (we were thinking Surrey as we have family there). Obviously we would like to save as much money as possible on commuter fares whilst we can (once we move it will be c.£7k plus a year on travel!). This would mean staying in London as long as possible. However, we would also like DS to make friends (DD is 3 and is currently in nursery) in, and get used to an area. So the dilema is; do we move sooner rather than later (i.e. when DS is around 7 years old) so we can settle into an area and he can make friends? Or, wait as long as we can and move when he is closer to 10 years old?
Is there a good age when to move? Of course, there is always the risk if we move too early to an area, the catchment for the secondary we choose would change! Any advice much appreciated! Thank you

As the mother of a 10 year old who is also looking to move area, I would say definitely do not leave it till age 10! My situation is this:

Son is Year 5 now. Applications for Year 7 places have to be made by 31 Oct of Year 6. In order to be allocated a place at the school you apply for, you have to be in catchment for it at the application date. That would mean I would have to move house this summer and in order to be in situ in time for the October deadline. But moving close enough to the desired secondary is not necessarily also in catchment for a decent primary to do year 6 in. And even if it was, there might not be a place in that decent primary, as of course if you're looking for a place at a non-standard entry point, it's "dead man's shoes" (not literally of course). As all the best state primaries are oversubscribed, there are hardly ever any places at good ones unless you get in at the start.

Then you have to allow for the fact that you might have another DC. I have a younger DD and it is very hard to find a way to move and be sure of places at acceptable schools for both. And of course the County Council can't do anything for you until you actually have an address in the area, i.e. you've burned your bridges where you are and basically have to take your chances with fingers crossed in the new place.

So I would say, move sooner. As to location, I'm moving to Guildford so have done a lot of research on the schools in the area and there is very good state provision at both primary and secondary level. PM me if you like.

7K could buy a lot of tuition / music lessons / clubs / holidays / days out.

If you are commuting into London that will be what? 1 - 1.5 hours each way? So what time will you be leaving the house? What time would you get back.

As a child I moved primary schools 3 times in as many years - it was disruptive to say the least.

Have a think about staying put, and if the options for secondary don't improve, employ tutors.

A lot can change in 6 years, you might find secondary schools have improved. If that's the only reason you are thinking of moving I'd think again. As said above you can do a lot with 7k and commuting is pretty crap.

There are also employment opportunities outside London!

Hi, thanks so much for your replies.

In an ideal world I would love to stay in London. we have thought long and hard about it. However, the facilities at some of the schools I have looked at outside are so much better. Also, we could get a bigger (albeit not much as we are talking about Surrey!) house, and be closer to family. If I won the lottery I would definitely stay in London, buy a massive house with a big garden, move my family in and, at the moment at least, pay for a top notch private school! It's really hard - I lived here half my life.

I think I would give it a couple of years to see what the situation is like, but we had a nightmare for primary and I don't think I want to go through that again for secondary in London (although I do realise it may be just as hard in Surrey!). I could try and work from home 1 day a week, or maybe cut down my days to try and make the commute more manageable/cheaper.

Peppin, I would love to get your thoughts on Guildford (I always understood it was very expensive?). I know what you mean about primary, I guess I was focusing on secondary. How do I PM you?

Thanks

If you are going to move, it might be worth bearing in mind that you stand a much better chance of winning an appeal (for an oversubscribed primary school) in the juniors, once infant class size restrictions are over.

For Guildford unless you are Catholic, the primary doesn't matter for getting into the preferred secondary. However if you want Howard of Effingham the primary is important. Guildford does have some more affordable housing, and even in "catchment" for desirable secondaries.

I would move sooner rather than later, but then my idea of hell is suburban London (central or out for me).
The annual season ticket from Guildford to London is £3000 ish, would you both be commuting 5 days a week?

I would also add that yes, your commute will be lon but I live in SW London and my commute within London is an hour anyway and that 's not unusual - I would rather be on an overland train than a tube for that hour.

We are in a very similar situation though my children are slightly older. My problem is that I love London and love the children's primary school but think we should probably move because we are squeezed into a tiny v expensive house and the choices for secondary are very limited. Best of luck with your decision, it's not easy.

Hi, I work 4 days a week. I could get it down to 3 days in the office and 1 day from home, which would make it doable. DH works 5 days a week. Guildford journey looks good, although woking looks really good (lots of trains direct to waterloo, all c30 mins or less). However, I know Guildford is viewed as the 'nicer' town, although the outside villages of Woking are supposed to be nice. We are C of E. I'll have a look at Howard of Effingham. Thanks

p.s. DH are lucky enough to be able to cycle to work at the moment!

staranise, I am completely with you about limited options. It is a buxmer! I know there is a 'squeeze', so the secondary schools are probably going to improve, but then the population is growing so it will be even more competitive...fills me with dread! However, if we stay and cant get anywhere decent, private will cost way more than £7k a year!

BTw janeyjampot , that is interesing in terms of appeal. as we both work, could we have a chance of winning an appeal for a junior school that we were closest too?

hoping i don't cause anyone major offence - but unless catholic, you might want to rethink woking for state secondary options.....maybe consider weybridge? I would worry less about catchments changing but do ask about birth rates for certain years. I reluctantly left sw london for surrey, but haven't looked back, commute fine actually can feel less stressful.

Hi surreyhousefrau. Which are the good state secondaries for weybridge? I've heard that Gordon's in Woking is excellent, albeit with small catchment!

I agree Woking is a bit dodgy unless Catholic, and in the right Primary.

testbunny - Heathside in Weybridge but tbh I do not know enough to be of use to you. On paper not far behind George Abbot and Howard of Effingham - two consistently highest performing state secondaries. It's hard isn't it, you can hardly look around secondaries thinking about how it will suit in 6 years time !

But I would suggest you do go and look! There are schools that look good on paper that I have heard from those who know (teachers) are not necessarily quite as good as they look.

Thanks everyone- really helpful. does anyone know about Gordon's in Woking??

Okay Gordon's gives priority to Military personnel, even for day places. You may need to live very close to get in. It is also very Military based, so I'd suggest you look at it rather than just the amazing results.

Thanks mummytime.

I will certainly will go and have a look at it, although Dh went to boarding school so he likes the look of it, unsurprisingly! the stricter the better as far as he is concerned!

I know people who love it, I know people who would never send their kids there.

thanks mummytime. I guess we will have to go and have a look. will also check out the Guildford schools. thanks everyone for your advice.

Hi, i haven't got much of advice, but I am in a similar position and would like this thread to stay alive for longer.

This question buggers me a lot! My DS1 will start Reception in September (4.5yo) and DS2 is 1.5yo. We live in South London/Croydon and our options for secondaries are pretty dim unless we have money to be in a catchment area of some good secondaries. The fact is, we don't have the money. So either we have to suck it up where we live, or move out of London into better school area. Yet, it is too early to think because I would like get an idea an idea how DS1 does at school - academically, behaviourally, etc. Then we are thinking either North Kent for grammars (if DS1 appears to be more academical) or Bishop's Stortford (if not academical). Either way, I realize the sooner the better, but there are so many factors holding back, that I don't think the time has come yet...