Where to move: Ham, Teddington or Twickenham

[Hellenhellen]

Hi Mums,

I am moving to London in a month with 2 daughters, 8 and 12 yo and I am trying to choose from below:

1. Grey Court School - Ham
2. Orleans Park School - Twickenham
3. Teddington School - Teddington

My rental budget is £2500-3000 pcm. I will find the best primary possible around the above secondary schools for my little one.

I want my girls to be safe, and I would like to have some outdoor life. I went to Ham last month, and it felt a bit too quiet, whereas Orleans Park seemed a bit too crowded with the busy road.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to check on Teddington School, but I see there are some lovely riverside apartments around it, which I like.

I work from home at the moment, and I don't see that changing in the next 2 years, but it can change once kids can stay on their own at home.

I am worried about choosing with little information and getting stuck later because of the schools.

Any ideas or advice are appreciated.

I live in Ham and I'm closer to Teddington High Street than it sounds you are (Hampton Wick Station). I walk to Kingston along the riverside in 25minutes.
PS. Yes, this is not Istanbul so it will be quieter luckily.
PPS Ham Parade is sad it's not good enough for you.

@Hellenhellen you've done the right thing applying for September. If you are at the top of the waiting list you will have "first dibs [for an offer] on any places that are freed up during July" and, if you accept the offer, they will hold the place until September.

Thank you @Curdled, so even if someone leaves from year 8, let’s say in July, we can still be offered that place, right?
we were worried if there would be separate waiting lists, for Y8/Y9 or for this year or sep starts

No, just one waiting list.

Grey Court school is set in the most beautiful area, right by the river and Ham Common. This is a great school.

Remember, the Turing School site is actually on the Feltham/Hounslow Border, so it may be further for you to travel.

Orleans park has always been a good school.

If I were you, go for Grey Court.

@SmileLady she's already chosen Teddington.

Anyone living close enough to the Turing 80% admissions point to be top of the waiting list has to travel a similar distance to any co-ed school.

Exactly.That is also why they put the nodal point in Teddington .

Lucky you!
Please don't bother yourself trying to be helpful
thank you for your efforts.

Mums,
I appreciate your support during the complicated weeks I went through.

especially @Curdled @SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn , you made me navigate my thoughts and options and ladies @Sirine1708 @poppybuttons @Ketzele , your comments helped me clariy further..

I rented a flat in a beautiful riverside apartment and completed DDs' school applications on June 26th before the cut-off date for the waiting list. The council has confirmed receipt of our applications, and we will await offers (fingers crossed). We applied to St. John's Baptist Junior and Teddington schools near our new home. Our options look ridiculous on the form as if they are upside down - haha. DD1's options are Teddington, Grey Court, Orleans Park, and Waldagrave -we sound nuts!). Anyway, let's see how it goes. If we can't get into Teddington, who knows, we might be luckier in getting into a better school, and I won't mind giving her a lift for an upgrade. If we end up in a horrible school, then Radnor House will be the time to spend the savings.

Once the school is known, I will look into organizing some private tuition to speed up the progress, especially in English. I am happy that I managed to rent cheaper than Ham, so I have more disposable cash for tuition, petrol, and minicabs if needed.

Please check as you may be also in Kingston Academy catchment if this is Teddington Riverside, @Hellenhellen

@Hellenhellen there really aren't any horrible schools locally, just good schools that some people say horrible things about. Children in this area are very lucky.

Hi everyone, we are also considering moving in the area for the schools and the sense of community.

one thing we are a bit concern about is Heathrow airport. Can anyone advise on the pollution from Heathrow airport? Is this an issue affecting Teddington residents or is it still far less than in inner London? Sonor pollution isn’t really a concern for us. it’s mainly the air quality (ultra fine particulates) If anyone knowledgeable could advise we would be very grateful! Thank you

@LondonCityMum77 if you google London air pollution you'll find plenty of interactive maps, e.g: https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/annualmaps.asp.

It really does depend what you're comparing it to though. The borough has lots of trees and green open space. When planes fly this way they are taking off, not landing, so they are gaining height and their path depends on wind direction and their destination. People sometimes complain about the noise if the weather has meant more traffic than usual, but I've never heard of anyone complain about the pollution from the airport - it's usually cars people worry about. Compared to many parts of London its probably good. Compared to the countryside it's probably bad.

@LondonCityMum77 , this is interesting. I only considered the noise levels, which I didn't hear much during my daily visits to Teddington/Ham. ( I stayed in a hotel in Surbiton—I heard nothing there.) However, during my visit to Kew/Richmond, I thought the noise was annoying. If you find anything on air pollution, I would also love to hear about it.

It is just across the river, with direct measurements very close, and the walking path we need to go through Kingston Bridge. I wasn't sure about applying to Kingston Borough, worrying it could shade our application to Richmond Borough for Teddington School. DD also would prefer Grey Court over TKA if we have to travel across the river. do you think we should still apply to TKA in this case?

https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-map?lat=51.456357&lng=0.040725&zoomLevel=10

I found the above, and Teddington's score is 38 -Green/good (over 50 is considered moderate). This is so much better than inner-city London and many other London Boroughs, which are mostly over 50 and have moderate pollution.

....But even Hounslow (Heathrow area) is 44 😃and still better than inner London - if these numbers are correct

worrying it could shade our application to Richmond Borough for Teddington School.

It doesn't work like that @Hellenhellen

The system works on your list of preferences and availability for you of the space in the the school of your top preference. The system doesn't work on compromise assumptions. You will get Teddington School for sure if you live in Teddington Riverside. If you put GreyCourt second you will not get it because you will get your first preference. This year catchment for Teddington was including all Teddington, all Hamptons, Twickenham, a bit of Ham and Kingston. Smaller than last year but still covered it all. Half of my son's class is going there- all sporty kids

Oh, by the way, one personal experience: I suffer from allergic asthma, and when I visited Tunbridge Wells, I coughed for hours from pollens. I suffered less in the same week in the Richmond/Surbiton area. I visited my brother in the same week and drove from Surbiton to West Wickham. I remember saying my cough increased while moving toward him and lessened towards the riverside. I have no idea if there is any science behind it, but I felt better near the river and coughed/sneezed less.

TW scored 28 vs Teddington 44, so TW is supposed to be better air. My experience told vice versa. Long story short, personal experience really matters.

PS: My coughing is horrible. It takes some minutes, and I end up throwing up or in the A&E for Ventolin/Pulmicort.

Thank you @SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn . We are applying to Year 9, though. I hope to be within the top 3 on the waiting list for TS, but let's hope there are spaces.

Richmond and Kingston application forms are separate, so I had to choose 4 options in the Richmond application, and KTA wasn't on the list. So, If I apply to Kingston borough now, will KTA be our 1st choice on their list?

@Hellenhellen I think you'll need to put in a separate in-year application to Kingston.

Unlike Year-7 transition, the applications aren't coordinated between boroughs. Ironically, both boroughs use the same admissions team at "Achieving for Children (AfC)", an arms-length company owned jointly by both boroughs. But nevertheless, you'll probably still need to do two applications.

The schools won't know what preference you've listed them as, and the AfC admissions team won't care. If possible, they will offer you your highest possible preference from both boroughs. However, Richmond is obliged to provide you with a place, so will offer an alternative if no preferences are available.

Yes, if it is in year admission you have to apply separately@Hellenhellen

TKA is a small school so there is less chance that somebody resigns. Teddington School is large and definitely there is more mobility there.

Thank you @Hellenhellen @Curdled yes I’m familiar with these maps/site. The issue is that they don’t account for ultra fine particulates which are more hazardous and still unregulated. Apparently planes are a big sources of these… I’m trying to find a website which monitors these or get insights from someone in the known… @Hellenhellen ill let you know if i have more info.

hello Mums! UPDATE *

My younger DS is starting at St John's on September 4th, and it is confirmed. The school admission team was very friendly and helpful. I already feel like it is a good choice for my DS.

However, elder DS, who is starting Year 9, has had no luck so far. Richmond admissions wrote to me about presenting the daughter's case at the Richmond Secondary Fair Access Panel on Wednesday, 11th September 2024, should a place not be offered to them in advance of this.

We will have a phone call on Friday regarding this, and I will provide my daughter's school report in English.

Do you have any experience with this situation? Is there anything I should know or tell the officer on our call on Friday?

any advice is appreciated - thank you so much

Let us know how you get on.
They do have to provide you with a place. There won't be time for an appeal before Sep 11 so the FAP is your best bet.

Hi, OP

My eldest (a boy) is at Teddington, and will be in Y9 in September, so if you do end up with a place there for your daughter, PM me if you want to talk about anything.
My youngest is in the school year above your youngest, but not at St.John's, but she has a local friend who will be in Y4 the same as your littlest, and her father is Turkish - if I can help facilitate a playdate in advance, I'll try.

Welcome to Teddington!