moving to UK for job in London - where to live, 3 kids...

[milenalee]

Hello,

We are US citizens who have three children who have been attending the local German speaking Swiss schools for the last two and half years. My husband found a job he loves in London and so we must move...

Our kids are 9 years old in 3rd grade which I think is 4th class, 10 almost 11 in 5th grade (6th class?), and 12 in 6th grade.

We don't have a place yet. I would like to use state schools but we could sell our house in Seattle and use private schools. Perhaps we should for the girls and perhaps a girls' school would be better. But it's not a must of course.

What I don't want to do is move them around a lot. It's already tough for them to move and start a new school. I don't want to have to move them again once they do start a new school, unless it's the natural progression and all the kids are new.

My son has something called auditory processing disorder and is somewhat dyslexic. His education needs are very different from his sisters but he is also clearly in elementary school whereas they are already in secondary. At least his needs narrow down the pool of schools to consider.

Where would you choose to live if you had three children these ages? Generally I like to walk places but do not need to live in a city, rather hate crowded cityness. My husband would rather not commute more than 45 minutes to an hour each way.

It will be at least two months before my husband can start working. He has to get the visa first. So even if we rent a place early we cannot apply to local schools? If he is resident and we are still waiting for the kids to finish their year can we then apply?

Thanks so much for any advice.

If I were returning to Cambridge I'd go for Waterbeach. You get more for your money because the school is not as popular as nearby Milton. Also Bottisham or Chesterton Village College. I'm willing to bet there's spaces.

Sorry and Impington village College.

Haha.. You will realized at the end of the day knowledge of many Londoners are as good as yours! For example Cambridge yes it has direct train to Waterloo but what if there are storms, snows and even some heavy rains? Trains will surely cancells and delays and no alternative to come to London. And Liverpool street and bank is 5 min walking. Discounting SW and some good SE (like petts wood) because of that? I don't understand. Come and go around all those areas by train and tube during rush hour.

Actually, Cambridge is a better station to come from when there are problems, because it is on 2 lines, Kings Cross and Liverpool Street, so when there are signal failures, you are not so stuck. (And Essex and Cambridgeshire are some of the driest places in the UK, if you are worried about heavy rain )

Waterbeach is north of Cambridge and just that bit too far for commuting imo, same with Impington. I would say to make Cambridge work you would need to be very close to Cambridge station, on foot or by bike, otherwise you're just letting yourself in for lots of extra hassle.

I think it depends on your priorities. In your situation I would much rather live in Cambridge and insist dh puts up with the commute, because the trade off is access to brilliant facilities for kids within a 5 minute bike ride. This week, for example, it's been the Cambridge science festival, with activities on all over the city, including some world class events. To be able to nip into town and access everything is brilliant.

However, other people might feel they would rather cut the commute down to 30 minutes and not have access to museums etc unless you take the kids into London.

Only you will know which option is right for your family.

Cambridge doesn't have direct trains to Waterloo.

For all the bad press about leaves on the line, etc, the rail network into London is well functioning with the odd bad day or emergency timetable.

I think it's easier to save 5 hrs a week commuting time and drive to Cambridge when you fancy the Fitzwilliam museum or the odd festival. Cambridge is lovely, but for me, it would be too far to be pleasantly commutable. And really, there are many towns and neighbourhoods with good facilities in terms of green spaces, swimming pools etc. I agree the Science festival is amazing. But we find it easy enough to drive there for it once a year!

We live in West Essex on the Central Line. My husband works in the city in banking. A lot of people in West Essex fit that profile because it is so handy to the City while being leafy and affordable. It's where the midlevel managers live, the people on 60 to 150K/yr a year live. If you are a 500K/year and upwards sort, then St John's Wood etc. is for you.

Well we are going to saffron walden. The girls will go to the friends school. My son tried at both friends and dame Bradbury's but he is too far behind and suffers from auditory processing disorder so he will go to st. Marys, the only state school with space for him. Anyone have experience with it? Two more weeks til we move.

hate to say this, but you might want to consider going to the dark side (which is net mums). Their local pages are busier than MN, and might give you info about a school like that.

I would agree with the Essex side of town going into either Liverpool Street directly or Fenchurch Street.

Bishops Stortford is a very nice town with excellent schooling. My kids attend Hockerill College and I'd highly recommend it, but they are boarders, and getting a day place there is very difficult. That said, all schools in BS are good. Commuting from BS to LS directly would take about an hour and season ticket is in the region of £4,000 pa. Check out National Rail Enquiries. www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Another recommendation from me is Upminster. Another nice town with excellent schooling, such as The Coopers Company & Coburn School and Hall Mead School. Commuting from Upminster into Fenchurch Street takes 25 minutes, and as it's also within the zone 1-6 network on the tube (District line), you can use the Oyster card, which works out at £6.00 per day return (Fenchurch Street to Liverpool Street would be about a 10 minute walk for your hubby). Season ticket itself from Upminster to FS would cost about £2400 pa. The benefit of an Oyster card is that you only pay for travel when you use it, so not paying when you're on holiday etc.

Good luck with your choice, OP!

OP, thanks for the update. That sounds like it's worked out really well. It's a lovely town. (Not that I know it that well). I think it's a real bonus that your DH won't have to commute across London. How long will his commute be?

It's such an advantage that the kids schools have been sorted. I know you hear all sorts about the UK educational system but there is no reason to be worried about your sons new school. I looked it up and it looks lovely. The ofsted report is good.

We moved from overseas at a similar time of year but with slightly older kids.

I'm excited for you hope the move goes well and that the kids settle well in their new schools.

Many thanks whythedrama. My husband's commute will be 50 minutes by train and maybe ten minutes getting to the train and then ten or less walking to the office. Just wish they had nice air conditioned trains like here in switzerland but at least no more struggles with German