King’s College School - where to live?

[kingsparent2020]

We have accepted an 11+ place at KCS and are now looking to move to the area.

At offers holders day we heard that around 50% pupils take public transport, mostly on SWR trains stopping at Raynes Park then taking the 200 bus. So we are looking down the rail line but also along the 93 bus which stops on the high street. We need good primary school for younger child. Does anyone have recommendations?

Many thanks

What kind of budget do you have? Putney is on the 93 bus route and has very good primary schools but it's not particularly cheap. Handy for King’s rowing as well.

There are excellent primary schools in Raynes Park and nearby: Hollymount and Dundonald nearer Wimbledon town and Bishops Gilpin (c of e) for example. Raynes Park and Wimbledon centre cheaper than the Village, though it is quite a pricey area overall.
We lived near Kings College and it's a lovely leafy family area, but very expensive there. The centre has good transport for getting into London central.

Yes as others say depends on budgets, some of Putney state primaries are excellent others are not and have tiny catchments. Wimbledon is cheaper than Putney

Most of the primaries in Merton are very good but do watch out for catchment areas. For instance to get into Bishop Gilpin you need to leave very close and/or be a church goer. Same applies to Holy Trinity.

The area around South Park Gardens in Wimbledon is very nice. Raynes Park is clues to the school. Coombe Hill primary is good and there are some slightly cheaper houses in the New Malden / North Kingston area.

I wouldn't head over to Putney. Putney High Street is very polluted and has awful traffic.

93 is a much more reliable bus than the 200 - I would look along that route going south eg South Park Gardens area, Merton Park or Morden. And also ask if there are places in any of the primary schools in those areas in the year you need.

There's a school vacancy checker for Merton on this page on in-year transfers.

www.merton.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/admissions/in-year-school-admissions-junior-applications-and-transfers

TheYellow - that’s such a useful list! Shows that even very sought after schools do have the occasional vacancy, and will help the OP nail down where she might get a place.