Which are the best state secondary schools in London?

[rainbowworld]

We need to move house and a good local secondary school is our top priority.

Next most important thing is house prices - our budget is 700k for a four-bed house.

And finally, a doable commute to west London (central line) is desirable.

Ideas please!

Are you moving in time for the Yr 7 Secondary Transfer?

You might find somewhere at that price in catchment for Dunraven in Streatham, which also gives the option of Elmgreen, and within easy travelling distance of Kingsdale where you can try for a lottery place.

I believe Sunbury has a great secondary, where house prices are cheaper and it is West.

JoJoSM2: do you mean Grammars, though? If so, it depends on getting in, and in Sutton they are super selective (no distance criteria / people apply from miles and miles, the top scores get in)

I wouldn't move to Sutton on the off chance of getting into a grammar - as has been pointed out they are all super selective and you're competing with candidates who travel from all over the country.
Other options are Glenthorne and Greenshaw as well as Cheam High - all decent.
Rutlish - I'm intrigued that people would love to be closer...yes it is now outstanding but the catchment is Wbledon so it ain't cheap.
Croydon is a good option but nowhere near West London.

ujerneyson JFS has good results but out of all Brent schools I thought Wembley High Technology College has had the best for several years.

OP you could def afford a house in the catchment for Wembley High, although it's a pretty dead/ boring area. Nearest tube Bakerloo line, North Wembley station, or else Sudbury on Piccadilly line.

Not quite correct. Look closer at the entry requirements in Sutton. There are some local places at Nonsuch, Wallington girls and Sutton Grammar.

CamperVamp, grammars are good if you can get in. Otherwise, as a local authority, Sutton has the highest Attainment 8 average score per pupil in the entire country. It's also been consistently in the top 3 highest attaining LAs is the country (for primary as well as secondary) for years, which means there are many great non-selective schools too.
Additionally, it's one of the cheapest boroughs in London so for 700k you're looking at a spacious 4 or 5-bed with a big garden and a garage/or at least off street parking. Unfortunately, it's pretty inconvenient for West London.

Wallington Girls is only half super selective isn't it? The other half of the places are from catchment areas. (Unless that's changed.) Nonsuch possibly the same?

I see Tefal has already said the same

As far as I know all places at wallington and nonsuch are selective - but they make more places for those who pass the exam and who are in Borough

Sorry to clarify - all places at Sutton Grammars are super selective - places once the highly competitive exams are passed are then allocated on distance from school - you will not get in based on distance -a) if you didn't pass the exam b) if you passed but your score isn't high enough - HTH

Distance means you will be prioritised if you have the same score as a child who lives further away.

Each school has slightly different criteria with some reserving more places for local kids than others but this is the basic premise.

There are no places for those that haven't passed the SET with a high enough score and then passed the second stage in the case of Wilsons, SGS and Nonsuch.

Yes all places are selective and you need to pass the exam. My understanding of super selective though is that there is no catchment area. ie. Selected on score only and it doesn't matter where you live. That applies to only half of the places though doesn't it for Wallington Girls? The other half are selective within a catchment, so lower score required than the super selective places from outside the catchment to get a place?

I really can't comment on Wally Girls but it's not the case for Wally boys. Scores first and then catchment.
They have too many bright pupils now - from their perspective it just wouldn't make sense to take a local kid who is less bright than a non local one.

Yes Wallington boys and Wilsons are super selective.