Moving to SW of Greater London

[SapphireDenim]

Hi, hoping to get opinions from the hive mind. We are a family of 4 (4yo and 6yo) and we are planning a move from Streatham Hill out to SW of London for more garden, more green (grew up in Barnes and Yorkshire Dales), better state schools and easier commute to Kingston Hospital (need to be able to pitch up within half an hour out of hours) but also still need to be able to get into London quickly and easily. Neither of us work from home so school pick up logistics from stations is a major concern for us.

We love SH, great community, loads of extracurriculars, affordable house prices good commute into London and lovely primary schools. But it is starting to feel quite urban and unless we go private (£££), secondaries all feel quite urban too.

We’ve been looking at the loop around Kingston- Sheen, Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Hinchley Wood, Esher, E Molesley, Twickenham and Hampton. But we are going around in circles. And wonder if we have missed any other good areas? Budget is 1.5M. We also considered Weybridge, Epsom, Cobham and Walton, but were a bit concerned about the ability to get to Kingston Hospital within 30 mins from there on weekends.

Alot of the naicer places above have some compromise- no good state schools, long double drop off distances, slow/infrequent trains, stations miles from schools, raceday traffic, boring, flooding risk etc. Although agreed some factors are more important than others.

We are also getting our head round the idea of having to drive around everywhere. We live in a LTN currently and walk to school and then on to the station. The school drop off in a car is a major mystery to us. Do the schools have parking areas? Or drop off zones?

Similarly which of the stations are best for access to London whilst having adequate nearby parking? In case where we move to/schools is not within walking distance to stations.

We gather secondary state schools are the main issue in the area. And we are working out the whole feeder school system. Hinchley wood school keeps coming up for us. But would be interested to find out which other schools to consider? We are certainly impressed by the green playing fields on google maps. Also wondering about Esher COE High and Esher College?

We are hoping birth rate decline will play into our favour in terms of catchment areas. But also we are aware there may be an impact from private school VAT which may counter that effect.

We’re kind of hoping someone will come up with somewhere we’ve missed that is the answer to all our problems. 🤩 But also aware that likely we will just have to work out our priorities. We’d really appreciate any opinions from other parents that have made or are considering similar moves. TIA!

Esher College is a sixth form so not one to think about right now. There's lots of movement at sixth form between local schools and college.

If you have to be in Kingston hospital withIn 30 minutes on the week end most of those places are non starters. The traffic around Kingston is often nuts on the week end especially if you are in the one way system . The hospital is not near a train station

If that’s a non negotiable work backwards from that. Look at Ham, North Kingston, Norbiton and Teddington and maybe Richmond , but your budget won’t go far there. Possibly Surbiton

Esher college is outstanding, it’s a 6 th form.

Esher high school is ok. No more than that

This is true.

However, the hospital is near Norbiton train station, but that line is a slow commuter line about 25 minutes to Waterloo and always very busy! And no direct train to Surbiton from Norbiton so I would suggest that is too far. Good luck

I would consider HW school catchment and HW feeder primary schools as a good compromise. Esher station has a large car park and fast trains to London.

We moved from SE19 to Twickenham around 10 years ago. Twickenham has some great state schools. Orleans park secondary and 6th form, waldegrave school (girls only, but mixed 6th form). Both schools are at opposite ends of the high street but you can walk to both of them in under 20 mins . Lots of children from Twickenham also go to Esher college for 6th form.
You can drive to Kingston hospital driving through Richmond park in about 20 mins and 30-35 mins on the main roads.
1.5 million will get you a good sized 4 bed semi in catchment of either schools. The fast train to London is 21 minutes
The fast train to London, the great schools, bigger house and being by the river were the reasons we chose to move here from SE19

Just to add - Esher college is a long way off for your children - and while it is outstanding now - things do change. So as others have said don't use that as a factor in where you look. Who knows what the education system will be like 10 years from now...and you might move again...

Have a look at New Malden. 10 minute drive to Kingston Hospital and lots of trains into Waterloo.

Raynes Park?

Traffic in East Sheen is horrendous right now. Since the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and Sheen Gate (into Richmond Park) you cannot move on the Upper RIchmond Road - even 4pm on a Sunday is gridlocked. So I'd eliminate Sheen for that reason (otherwise lovely)

Barnes you get the least bang for your buck out of all the places you mentioned

Twickenham/Teddington is probably your best bet in terms of access to Kingston and schools - lots of excellent schools.

North Kingston (the bit between Ham and central Kingston) is pretty good and decent schools.

Further out than that - New Maldon/Surbiton - not quite as naice, but good transport.

Hinchley wood is an excellent school - very oversubscribed so you may need to live on its doorstep. Great area for bringing up kids - easy commute to hospital too.

Raynes park or New Malden. Train into London is fairly good, single sex secondary options at Richard Challoner and Ursuline.

North Kingston for Kingston Academy or Grey Court schooling, Kingston station is fairly good service if a bit slow. Could walk to the hospital.

Surbiton. Faster train service to town.

Beware the smell from the Hogsmill sewage works.

Also if you don't like noise check how loud the A3 is. I was surprised how far North and up hill of it I could hear the traffic roar. Sound travels if there is nothing to absorb or reflect the noise of 50 mph traffic.

I think North Sheen, but closer to Kingston would suit you best.

New Malden, Surbiton, (Roehampton Vale is relatively inexpensive)

Raynes park or New Malden. Train into London is fairly good, single sex secondary options at Richard Challoner and Ursuline.

Are you catholic OP?

I would work back from the schools so Hinchley wood is great as is the Kingston Academy, the ones that serve Twickenham.

We are hoping birth rate decline will play into our favour in terms of catchment areas.

I'm pretty sure Kingston & Sutton boroughs are seeing an influx so have the opposite problem. Makes sense as there are so many more options.

Thanks for the input everyone! Lots to think about. Looking at schools is certainly how we are thinking about it. But we’ve always found ofsted reports a bit useless in differentiating between good and outstanding schools. Nothing quite like some boots on the ground opinions! 😜

I know its very subjective and contentious. But which is preferable of hinchley wood, orleans, esher high school, waldegrave and richmond and kingston academies? And are some stronger for certain things?

Its very difficult to know how the kids will turn out when they are so young. But it would be nice to know which schools excel in academics, sports arts etc.

thanks again!

I only know about Kingston, know some parents who are happy. I think the head used to work at another good school in SW london.

i'm sure the catchment is very small though

@SapphireDenim , you can tell by driving around the catchment areas, have you driven around Lower Green behind Sandown Race course and then driven around houses around Marble Hill Park? HW is a good comprise with good housing and a good school with a 6th form if you want it.

I’m terms of nationwide standing - Waldegrave is 350th nationwide for state school results, Orleans is 460. Grey court in ham/richmond 338 , Hinckley wood 477 and Richmond 684. I didn’t mention grey court in my previous post as you need to live in ham which would mean a bus ride to Richmond station each day adding approx 20 mins to a London commute but the fast train to Waterloo is 20 mins.
Obviously, there is more to a school than results and if I was looking , I would pick Orleans park as they have good pastoral and sports, their a levels are strong andthey get a good amount in to Oxford and Cambridge each year. The downside is that the catchment is relatively small but you can see the maps of intake from the council website each year. Go for waldegrave jf you favour a girls only approach until 6th form. If you have bright kids you can also look at tiffin in Kingston which is a state grammar school and takes from all over SW London and surrey.

North Kingston would seem to answer most of your needs.

Primaries are generally good and will have spaces. - most people walk to school too. Secondaries are generally good too and you have the Tiffins if you want grammars.

River and Richmond Park are lovely

And you can walk to the hospital.

New Malden is good value if you want a semi detached house near Kingston Hospital.

Well - compared to Barnes or East Sheen.

Re: Sheen, it's worth knowing that you can no longer drive through the park from Roehampton gate to Kingston Gate, and Sheen gate is now car park access only.

you wouldn't get into Kingston academy in New Malden would you