Where to live in Parli (Parliament Hill school) catchment?

[Runningshoes99]

We are considering a move as we are in a suboptimal spot for secondaries. My eldest DD has just started year 5 and we are looking to move within a year. I’m looking at the area around Parliament Hill school as having visited I got such a good vibe and think it would be a lovely school for my two DDs. Not a cheap area though I know! Can anyone advise me on the nicest streets / areas to target within the vague catchment area in terms of young families, community feel and walkable amenities (I think it’s about 0.9 miles from a Parli, but obviously we’d like to be as close as possible to be safe.) I don’t know the area well at all. The streets south of the heath seem a lot better value than Dartmouth park and Kentish Town, is that because that area is less nice and to be avoided?! Also - I guess we’d just have to take whatever we can get in terms of primaries as moving two kids in-year, but does anyone have any intel on those (I have heard Eleanor palmer is very sought after but any others / any to particularly avoid?) finally I have a youngest DS - what are the options for boys in this area at secondary longer term- would we be too far for fortismete for example? Any intel would be very welcome!! Thank you!!

Hi, my DD has just left Parli. It is a good school, not perfect but definitely would recommend. She left with good GCSE grades.
South of the heath is an area with a higher concentration of council housing so prices would be lower.
A lot of Parli kids live In Tufnell Park and Archway area too. We live in Holloway and DD got in after 3 weeks of term. Bear in mind, that was before numbers of kids started falling (generally not just at Parli)
For a boy, Acland Burghley is still popular. I know several boys who went to William Ellis, enjoyed it and got decent grades.
There's a lot of decent primary schools around and a lot will have spaces due to the falling birth rate.

I know the area and schools well. Parli is probably the best option for a girl around there (unless you are looking at Camden, which is stronger academically). While it's possible to be in the catchment for both Fortismere and Parli, it's not a given and a risk...you would probably end up crossing your fingers on a waiting list.

Tbh I would say that Acland Burghley and Fortismere are really similar schools - kids can do well there and have big contingents of engaged families who really care about their kids' educations, but neither are without disruptive/challenging behaviour, and teaching can be hit and miss.

In terms of where to live - the streets around Dartmouth Park are very expensive of course. Streets around Tufnell Park are still very nice and you do get more for your money, but I am not sure how dicey this would be with catchments for Parli and Burghley. You could call the schools and ask?

@bluerust thanks so much for the advice. Yes I preferred Parli for my two, who are more artsy/ practical than academic. I will look around Dartmouth Park and Tuffnell Park - do you live in those areas? Is there a good family/ community feel? I'm going up to ahve a proper look around next week, would be great to have some pointers of where the best places are to explore in terms of parks, coffee spots etc!

@CamandIs very interesting to hear your experience! Ideally I'd prefer to stay closer to highbury and Islington as I know the area better and have more local friends etc but it feels like it would be high risk to be a mile or more away even bearing in mind what you say about falling birth rates.