Schools in London

trilbythecat

Dear MSEers,

Apologies if this is a subject that's come up before...I've just been offered a very good half-time opportunity in London at the University. Unfortunately I've got a 2 year old and a 6 year old. I'd like to take this opportunity, but as an American who has been living in the gentle counties of East Anglia, I'm a little ignorant about the London school situation.

I've heard plenty of horror stories but I wonder if there is sound and level advice on relocating.

I'm not naive. Right now I work in a prison, and many of my students are the worst kind of young person London produces. Some of them, at 16, have a hard time holding a pencil properly. However, I also notice that some of the inner city schools have Ofstead reports that are better than the suffolk school my daughter attends now. The fellowship is for two years, and I doubt I would be staying until they reached secondary school.

On the downside, the fellowship does not pay that much, and I reckon a rent of more than £1000/mo would be difficult to acheive, especially as a single mum.

Many thanks for any advice in advance.

silvercar

At that rent you are going to have to live outside central London if you want your children to have their own bedrooms or a garden.

Do you have friends / family to be your support network?How would you feel about commuting to work if you children were being cared for near where you live?

trilbythecat

Currently it's a two hour commute by train, so that would make a 12 hour day. (When I applied for this position, the lab was located about 3 miles away from my house!) I have a great childminder here and my mother-in-law and husband have offered to help, but a) it's a complicated situation and b) I can't leave a 2 year old for that long.

I did ask if the lab would let me work in London one day per week and from home the rest of the time but they weren't encouraging.

Outside central London ... are you talking zone 3 or 4? My plan is to work school hours, so a commute of 45-60 minutes would be acceptable, though it would make me nervous in case one of them threw up at school and needed taking home.

sooz

trilbythecat wrote: »

Outside central London ... are you talking zone 3 or 4? My plan is to work school hours, so a commute of 45-60 minutes would be acceptable, though it would make me nervous in case one of them threw up at school and needed taking home.

I doubt if you could find 2/3 beds & garden on that budget in zone 3 or 4 it would be anywhere near a decent school. I think they meant more like 5 or 6, or even outside the M25

olly300

sooz wrote: »

I doubt if you could find 2/3 beds & garden on that budget in zone 3 or 4 it would be anywhere near a decent school. I think they meant more like 5 or 6, or even outside the M25

Even in zones 5 and 6 where there are decent/sought after schools the rent for a place that is of a decent standard where you will be happy living with active children will be higher.

Plus you need to factor in council tax.

Have a look on RightMove for the rents in areas of schools you are interested in.

chazsucks

Erm I'm not sure how you would pay rent with that and 2 children?
I'm currently looking for a 2 bedroom place to rent in south west London (very near the outskirts) and the rent is all around that.So any nearer to London and you're screwed

JayZed

Primary schools in London are pretty varied, trilby. Generally speaking, the better schools are in the posher (and more expensive) areas, but that isn't always the case: there are some excellent schools in less posh/expensive areas. Where I live (north London, zone 3/4 borders, average neighbourhood) we're lucky to have an outstanding primary school (and also some good parks and playgrounds nearby).

You'd probably be looking at around £1,200 a month to rent a decent two-bedroom flat with a garden around here, but you could probably get somewhere for under £1,000 if you look hard and are prepared to compromise on some things. So don't be disheartened: while it's hard to find the right combination of good schools and affordable rents, it's certainly not impossible.

Doozergirl

The cost of living in London is quite a lot higher than outside. They pay increase you'd need to justify it would need to be quite considerable. In fact, I wouldn't take my children into London to live at all.

I hated bringing up DS in London - we moved before he hit 3. People there are generally less tolerant about you having children and if work is far from the kids then it will take ages to reach them. I lived 7 miles from work - it would take 17 minutes to drive late at night but would always take 45 minutes and could take an hour and a half some mornings in the car.

The quality of life outside of a major city is infinitely better, the living is cheaper, safer, more friendly and much less stressful. We have a choice of good schools here and even being a few miles from school I can be there in 7 minutes at any time of day.

If we'd have stayed in London we'd have sent DS to private school. It's a struggle to get your kids into a decent school because of catchment areas being so small. If a school has a good ofsted report, you can guarantee it will be oversubscribed by far higher levels than they are where I live.

I grew up in London, went to a fabulous little Primary school but I know my mother fought to get me in there. We didn't have a garden though and looking back, I spent a lot of time looking out of the window. You can't always be at the park.

fc123

I second Doozergirls post.

We lived in an affordable area but ended up paying for school, though having a 7 yr gap meant DD was in an OK state primary as we couldn't afford 2 sets of fees plus DS had a scholarship which helped.

We relocated out of London and the icing was free school. Rented bang next door to something half decent (not great) and couldn't get her in at all....despite the LEA implying that all one had to do was move and apply.

After 4 weeks into a new term (1st year in secondary) we gave up and ended up paying as the only school offered was a 'failing' one miles away.

The same could happen in London, You call LEA, they say move then apply, you carefully choose area and school and then cannot get the kids in....they offer something miles away or on that is 'Improving'.....the new word for Failing.

Similar thing has just happened to a family member recently.Relocated. got the house based on nearby school to find it's full up with a long waiting list.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

Our area (SE zone 3) has decent family homes with gardens for £1000 pcm but not great for commuting as nearest tube link is a bus ride away which can take forever in the traffic....or you rent walking distance to overground rail which isn't as quick.

suze_g

You may get tax credits which will help with your income. I live in London and my children go to a fab primary. There are plenty around. Best to have a look at Local Authoirty websites in the areas you are thinking of.

adecor

You will certainly be able to get a 2/3 bed house under £1000 in Welling/Bexleyheath/Sidcup area. Welling is zone 4 & the others are 5. Schools are fairly good & they still operate the 11+ so there are grammar & secondary schools. You haven't said where in central London you are going to be working as this can make a big difference as to where you should be looking to live/travel time. From Welling to Charing Cross the journey takes approx. 45 mins during rush hour & about 35 mins to London Bridge.