Help choosing area for state secondary school

[MomofSS]

Hi parents

I will be moving to London soon and im having a hard time finalising which area to choose. Im supposed to select 3 boroughs to submit to my husbands company and while ive selected Kingston and Richmond, im struggling with choosing the third. Im looking for areas that have plenty of good state secondary schools for my daughter and the area is also lively and safe. My husbands work will be mostly work from home but may have some trips to bankside but we would want to prioritise on school. Ive shortlisted the following and was hoping you all could help me with your experience and pros and cons.

Ealing
Sutton
Merton (wimbledon)
Harrow

Please help this struggling mom
P.s also open to better suggestions

OP, have you read some of the many past threads on this topic? They might help. The advanced search feature will help you find them.

I don’t think Harrow has many decent state secondaries. Plenty for private, but not state.

Yess I found a lot on kingston and richmond but not much for the other boroughs

Where on Earth are you hearing that? So many outstanding state secondaries in the borough. Look up Nower Hill, Whitmore or Pinner High for just starters. Then there’s also Bentley Wood which is an all girls school a little further out that takes places on lottery.

you do have to live pretty close to the school to get a place though.

my personal experience is with Nower Hill which just retained its outstanding ofsted at Christmas. GCSE options cover the whole spectrum from childcare, hospitality and PE to astronomy, classical civilisation, citizenship, Latin and Ancient Greek.

Above average GCSE results generally and excellent progress 8, but the others Ive mentioned have amazing reputations too.

How old is your daughter? The outstanding state secondaries in Richmond are typically full so you would likely be offered a place at a less good school. I’m surprised if your husbands company is offering relocation advice that they are not offering to cover private school fees.

Should say that will likely be the case in other boroughs too. So if you want a state school you are better off finding which ones may have places which can be done by emailing or calling the local councils.

Yes I agree with this. Long waiting lists for the outstanding secondaries in Harrow.

Our experience was that all the Merton secondaries were acceptable. Depending on your child's needs one might be better than another (DD has an EHCP) but none are sink schools.

She has ended up in a school that has been absolutely amazing in meeting her needs, as well as those who are more academically able, despite an OFSTED rating of 'good' and not 'outstanding'. Look beyond OFSTED and gossip, and consider what would meet your child's needs.

Also, what the worst case scenario school is - if the only place in the Borough is their worst school.

Also close to Morden underground, a diverse community, DD travels on public transport without concern. Overground links as well. Plenty of solid inter-war family housing!

Thanks this is helpful to know.. my daughter isnt going to secondary till sept 2025 but I wanted to be in the correct area when the time comes

That sounds attractive, i could look into it thank you 🙂

We have found it excellent value!

Shes actually 10 so she will be going to yeat 6 next year but I wanted to be in the right area when we apply for secondary the year after. Yea his company policies are changing. We are trying to negotiate but the best they would probably offer is a year of private schooling

I was thinking of only east Harrow. Admittedly didn’t know Pinner was in Harrow!

I’ve lived here twenty years and never even heard of East Harrow! North, South and West Harrow are all places on the map, as is Harrow on the Hill (where the boys school is) but for some strange reason there is no East Harrow… (except as a constituency)

I’m talking about the borough of Harrow rather than Harrow town itself. What do you call the part of Harrow that’s towards Edgware and Stanmore?

Harrow Weald? Or further out?

Part I’ve highlighted yellow. That’s east Harrow?

Hey @MomofSS no suggestions better than the ones here but just to flag - if your DD is 10 (and turns 11 before August this year) and going into year 6 in September, you apply for secondary by 31 October this year. I'm mentioning this just because you mentioned 'next year' for applying in a post. You will need to be in your London address by the time of application in Oct 2024, ie in six months' time, for the best chance of a place.

Ohhh thats so important! Thanks for the heads up. We will be in London by June so hopefully will have chosen an area and be settled by then 🤞

Some very good schools in Haringey, primary and secondary, but with tiny catchment areas.

No it’s never called that. They’re called the areas listed. But anyway, we’re derailing the thread.

Nower Hill is in North Harrow (Headstone north on the map shown) Whitmore is in West Harrow and Pinner High is in Pinner.

Oops sorry I didn't notice your shortlist

Except it is for those of us who live here. As we’re referring to the borough rather than the town. We are in the east of the borough…

If she turns 11 before 31st August 2024, then she would currently be in year 6 and needs a place in year 7 for September.