Where is a strategic place to move to in south London for secondary options

[LDNmeetsSurrey]

We're currently in Purley (Croydon Borough) and will have outgrown our home in a couple of years; right about the time we'll be picking a secondary for our DD (our DS will be a couple of years behind).

We're trying to assess where is not completely bonkers financially yet is well placed for single sex (one for DD and DD) or coed options.

From our current location in Purley, we'd maybe (catchment has narrowed)) get into coed Riddlesdown Collegiate which seems fairly well respected, "outstanding" but is placed at 866 academically by Locrating and is quite a large school. Yet last year we would have been one street out so not certain by any means.

By comparison, Wallington girls (Sutton borough), is no. 192 and Wilsons (also Sutton borough) no.13 we could just about drive to (would be a pain of a commute though.)

We would still (I think) be included in the Sutton Grammar catchment from where we are, but I'm wondering is there somewhere else - Kingston perhaps - that would be more strategic to move to that would offer us some coed state options that are well regarded (Eg Grey Court School, up at no.335) as a back up but leaves the grammar option open, eg. Tiffin? The Croydon borough is also really struggling with a failed transformation of the town centre, a bankrupt council and crime that makes the headlines - so growth on a property here is smaller than almost everywhere in London meaning that gap will only widen if we delay moving for a few years.

Kingston is much pricier than Purley - but it's not as costly as missing out on a decent school and feeling compelled to go Independent (which it would be a real struggle to afford for two kids). Would that be a good location for multiple school options? Where else? Feel like I've scoured every league table and catchment map and now can't see the wood for the trees!

Tiffin Girls is in a class of its own I’m afraid, the police even have to get involved on open days to prevent parents blocking in local residents.

There is a private school at the bottom of my mums round, the parking is something else despite complaints and a warden. And i’ve seen parents at my dc state school go down the round that is access only & park across drives. Entitled people are everywhere

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky

Yes, I think we're about to a street or two out for Riddlesdown (the catchment is shrinking since they removed the selective element / feeder schools) but within Woodcote (I actually went to the primary many many years ago).

@Countrylife2002

You make an important pint and yes definitely considering it in the round (where to live and not just schools).

Problem seems to be, when you find an area you like (for example East Molesy) you then overlay the schools information (last 5 years catchment areas, decentish results and progress etc) and realise it's a blind spot and post likely many choose independent or have moved to that area after securing a place at a desirable school previously.

Living in Purley at the moment it's frustrating as you can get nice houses very affordable when compared with the rest of zones 4-6 of London, but...the town centre just goes further and further downhill - it's not a destination high street you'd want to walk to and spend time on. By comparison, walk around Teddington, St Margaret's, Reigate, even Crystal Palace (which when we were growing up was we felt was just an extension of Thornton Heath) and there are places to visit as a family and green spaces. But when you actually look at the school data it gets more complicated.

We had a bad experience with primaries: bought a house pre kids, looked briefly at the data, saw there was an ofstead outstanding within walking distance (0.24 miles) and thought nothing more of it. When it came to it, we got our 6th choice...2 miles away...and our DD was hit, sworn out and various other things and the school did nothing about it. Fortunately 6 months in a place came up elsewhere and we moved. Had I looked at the data, I'd have noticed the catchment of the school 0.24 miles eb and flow based in sibling intake, and realised where we actually needed to buy (3 streets away) if we wanted both the area and the school. I'm trying to learn from this for how we approach secondaries. Possibly over analysing!

@fonfusedm

Thanks, might need to take a walk around Worcester Park and New Malden. My only experience has been a not so scenic drive on the way to Kingston but sure there if you get out of the car and walk around there is a lot more to see

@Countrylife2002 I'm really curious where you picked in the end for your DD if Tiffin wasn't right for you?

Ps - I'm certainly not saying and environment like you describe is what I want for my child. Just gathering the information whilst time is on my side and I haven't locked in on another fixed term mortgage etc..

@Countrylife2002 yes I know that has been an issue. There have been changes in the local roads - permit parking now, so from what I understand from people who live on the roads off Richmond Road this doesn’t happen anymore.

I don't think you're overanalysing. It's v complex here.

We live a street away (about 0.4 miles) from an outstanding primary and had done for 10 years when we had DC. To my horror, I then realised that she probably wouldn't get in and that we weren't within distance for any others except a portakabin the council had hastily erected on the site of a local juniors (that Ofsted had had things to say about).

Things have eased since then but we ended up going private.

You can definitely be unlucky and it can even be a single year that the problem is acute. I've just looked and that school I mentioned, DD would have got into 2/3 of the last 3 years (when we applied it was 0/3). But if it's a year with lots of siblings, you're stuffed!

Tooting for Graveney (mixed) and Burntwood (girls). Balham for Cheatnut Grove, although feedback from there is mixed these days.

Don't you also want to consider what's a nice neighbourhood etc...

@LDNmeetsSurrey I love E.Molesy but yes discounted moving there.

Have you looked at the gov website and you can also see how places were allocated eg furthest distance which gives you an idea.

As another poster said you can’t overanalyse, it’s complicated. I want to faith schools and my dc will likely do that too which makes things a bit easier.

went!

@fonfusedm oh yes... spent lots of time on that, and Locrating which I mentioned above that draws on all of this and shows the catchment in a nice heat maps so you can see which streets the furthest distance could potentially reach

Where did you go for in the end @fonfusedm

@Mynewnameis certainly do - that's what I've said above :)

There are plenty of good or outstanding schools across south London. Along with plenty that are not.

My suggestion would be that you pick the area you want first, and then aim to be within catchment of the preferred schools in that area.

Secondary catchments tend to be bigger than primary but some still can be small. You can access the admissions from the year before on the local council websites.

There are already great suggestions

Bromley - but be aware of black spots. Langley schools have smaller catchments. There are also a few grammar schools.

Sutton - the boys and girls comprehensives, but also the grammar schools

But even then some schools appear good on paper but have complexities - for example Woodcote has had a change in headteacher under quite sour circumstances.

Langley has had some staffing issues.

Some children will be successful regardless of the school they go to - but we also want to ensure that we make the best choices for them and it can become a muddle of thoughts!

Thanks @Nanamuffin - that had been the approach I'd been taking this far, but every time I landed on an area, then did the schools part (including looking at distances) you realise in some areas even secondaries have tiny catchments and thus access to them becomes your ability to purchase a £1.2 million plus house as a starting point.

Came on here for some inspiration and it's been super helpful in some ways, but equally there isn't one approach and definitely conflicting views on the pros and cons of using results or thinking about grammar schools.

Lots of food for thought - thanks everyone who tried to help

East Moleseyngets you into Esher high - that performs ok I'd have thought?

You’re right re house prices & that’s one advantage of outer boroughs you get a lot more house for your money.
We are in Wandsworth where I am from. It’s likely we will go to Wimbledon or Kingston for secondary but I also work in a very good school that gives staff priority so can be a little further from the “catchment”. We need more space & have a ok budget but I want space for that! What is your budget? My friend who moved to WP payed around 700k.

@fonfusedm

What secondaries might you aim for in Kingston or Wimbledon if you don't mind me asking?

Budget wise, maybe £900/£950k at an absolute push. We've got a 3 (one box)) bed semi with about 1200sq ft now and would want to at least have 3 decent size beds and no less sq footage. Seems a lot easier if you're happy to get a 2 bed...

Wimbledon/Merton Park would give you access to Rutlish and Ricards plus the grammars. It does rather depend on budget.

@LDNmeetsSurrey

I work at one so don’t want to out myself but I would look at the below & as I said we are catholic which widens our options. We have a similar budget.

Ursuline
Wim College
Rutlish
Ricards
Holy Cross
Richard Challoner
The Kingston Academy

Locrating is good but not infallible.
My yr7 by the heat map is another 5 miles away from the furthest light yellow bit, one stop further on the train. But easily got in. My yr6 is going to the local all boys grammar.

Are you not close enough to schools like John Fisher or Warlingham or one of the Harris academies if they don't get in to wally girls (I went there, loved it) or Wilsons (brother went, hated it. All my male friendz were from wally boys but it might be a bit far).

BTW I sent him quite far because
He can get there and back himself by train despite it being 4 times further by car, unlike the other 10 nearest comps.
It's out of most grammar areas, nearer Tonbridge so only the really competitive grammars, meaning the top 25% haven't been creamed off only top 2-3%.
This links to more challenging teaching and Higher expectations, less btec alternative at gcse etc compared to the local comps.
He was close to passing so want him to be top rather than bottom in terms of average ability in the class for self esteem reasons.

@Boomboom22 yes close enough for the Sutton grammars, it's the non selective back up option I don't really have as most likely would be Woodcote, which I'm not keen on.

Others would be Riddlesdown (unlikely to get now), Warlingham (very average, never had a good rep). John Fisher might be possible but single sex so only solves it for one child.

I suppose the alternative is to take what I'd spend on trying to move to another area and spend it on Caterham school 🤣

Everyone i know that went to Warlingham either got a 1st or straight to a good career. They all developed an excellent work ethic.

Now my sil works there and yr7 nephew goes, it's good for all kids, sen and high achieving do well there.