London secondary's

[ilkleymoorbartat]

If you live in "inner London" (talking up to zone 3), do you worry about what secondary school your kid is going to go to and gangs etc. What is your experience of these schools?

Did it make you want to leave London?

My kids are only in early primary school but this is already stressing me out.

Is it any different in other big cities outside London?

You'll be fine as long as your child has good supportive parents around.

To give you a quick info about me, I grew up around the then notorious Broadwater farm estate in Tottenham and pretty much every single one of my close friends lived either in the estate or very close to the estate and we all came out fine. Some attended Grammar schools like I did whilst others attended the comprehensives around that area which bar a couple were good. The two failing ones were closed and rebranded as academies and they are doing well now.

As I said earlier, my group of friends all came out fine and working really good jobs. The thing we all had in common was good supportive and involved parents. I did not even realise how bad it was till I moved away from the area. I still have friends and family members still living and raising kids in that area and the kids are thriving as far as I can see(a medical student and a final year Imperial student amongst the rank).

Most Teens are good kids it's just the very few bad eggs amongst them causing trouble.

Really interesting thanks @Elij00. I think it's very easy to become neurotic and fearful when raising kids in London. I was raised here but like I said I had a pretty sheltered existence and I really don't want that for my kids. I want them to be out in the world, but for me neither them nor me to be fearful about it!

ilkleymoorbartat....As you said it's really just fear partly caused by the scaremongering on various news outlets. Securing a good school for your child should be your main priority not you worrying about gangs. If you so happen to find the school of your dreams in the suburbs then by all means move but don't let anyone scare you.

NB: the suburbs in any country will always be safer than it's city

I think a fair few parents (often ones whose DC are headed for private schools anyway) who add fuel to the fire about how terrible London schools are (without really having a clue other than some 'random' chance encounters on public transport that have coloured their judgement).

And there may not be gangs at some of the outstanding schools (and private ones) but there will be 'bad eggs' wherever your DC go to school. They will just present differently.

I live in Rotherham. Nil worries local school is fine. 2k kids. Was previously outstanding then it went to special measures to go into an academy. Its fine. Offer day is Monday. I'm more anxious about bullying than gangs? However she can give it back so not concerned.
As for outside school loads to do she has a bike and lots of trans penine trails. I live more barnsley than Rotherham. If you own in London you can buy for like 400k in posh end of Sheffield where all the big posh schools are.

I live in a very non-leafy borough and area but both the schools my Dc attended were ‘Outstanding’

Not unusual: there is some statistic like a higher % of children are in Outstanding schools in London than anywhere else.

And on average London schools perform higher than the national average in achievement.

This was very true if my Dc schools.

Despite both having a high % of FSM, pupil premium and every other index of disadvantage.

There were kids in the schools involved in gang activity. Of course there were, there are estates where gang activity takes place within half a mile of where we live.

But just like my kids are not involved in that out of school, it didn’t affect them in school.

It was very easy to stay well away from the groups that are involved.

Those groups were not responsible for the (few) bullies, either.

Both schools were happy places, with a very mixed demography in all ways. Great relationship with diversity. The overwhelming majority of kids getting in with their education and lives and doing well.

The independent schools have kids with parents who are very tolerant of their weed and cocaine habits, and this happens out of London too.

My kids and their friends are generally at good Unis doing law and medicine and STEM and vet science and architecture etc etc.

I couldn’t be more pleased that my boys grew up with everything that London has to offer.

I did feel a bit nervous when they were in KS1 though. Soon wore off.

Why do I think London was great for teens?

Brilliant public transport, gives them so much independence and freedom.

Opportunities. A free music project run by professional musicians, with access to recoding studios: so much stuff like this, for every style of music. Or Youth Theatres. Or dance groups.

So much free stuff to do, that they could take themselves to. Museums and galleries. Free talks at hospitals or Unis or The Wellcome Collection for those wanting to broaden their STEM knowledge or interest.

At least 4 skate parks within east reach of our house.

Excellent parks. Lidos.

I know these things are everywhere but there is such a range, mass and choice in London.

Scouts (etc) groups within walking distance. I know scouts groups are everywhere but my nephews had to be driven to theirs.

Dense housing = tight catchments = friends within walking distance and close knit community.