Where do I need to live in order to get my child into one of London’s best secondaries?
It’s widely accepted that it takes skill and planning to get your children into London’s best state schools. Some schools demand impressive exam performance at 11 plus (solution: tutoring from about Year 3), others insist on devotion to a faith (solution: go to church, a lot) while others focus entirely on postcodes. For the latter, the only solution is to buy a house in the relevant catchment area. Anyone applying to secondary school this October for entry in 2023 is cutting it very fine if this is their strategy – but most people will be planning further ahead than that. So here’s our guide on where to buy a house for five of London’s best state secondaries.
Waldegrave School
This is the holy grail of girls’ education in the borough of Richmond. Every year, 216 girls are accepted from within a catchment area that covers most of the borough – and even stretches east as far as Putney, Wandsworth and Hammersmith. That’s the official catchment area, but everyone knows that in reality you need to live within about two miles of the school gates. So this detached house overlooking Ham Common is a pretty good bet: built around a large courtyard, it has lots of entertaining space on the ground floor and three bedrooms upstairs. It’s available for rent at £923 per week through Winkworth Barnes 020 8878 7966.
Camden School for Girls
Distances are tougher for Camden Girls, north London’s alma mater for Emma Thompson, Fiona Millar and Geri Halliwell. You really need to be no more than half a mile away to be sure of a place, and family houses don’t change hands all that often around here. Flats are easier to find, however, and can be very spacious: this two bedroom apartment in North Villas NW1 is about 0.3 miles from Camden Girls (chance of success = high) and it has an open-plan kitchen plus two bedrooms and a separate study. It’s for sale with Winkworth Kentish Town 020 7485 9210 for £625,000.
Fortismere School
At Fortismere in Haringey, the last non-sibling to be offered a place in 2022 lived 0.48 miles away from the school. House prices in Muswell Hill traditionally rise steeply in relation to distance from this coveted secondary. This five bedroom house in Fortismere Avenue N10 is not only a handsome example of Arts and Crafts style with lots of period features and a large garden, but it’s also just 0.22 miles from the school gates. Snap it up now for £1.65m with Winkworth Highgate 020 8341 1988.
The Charter School
The Charter School in North Dulwich is popular with parents all over southeast London – but buying a house in Dulwich is a pretty good bet for lots of schools. This five bedroom house in Melbourne Grove SE22 was recently refurbished to a very high standard; it has stylish parquet flooring and has been extended to the side return to create a large family house. It’s for sale with Winkworth Dulwich for £1.2m.
St Marylebone School for Girls
St Marylebone School for Girls may allocate a large number of places to churchgoers, but 40% of places are reserved for girls living nearby. By this they do mean extremely nearby, and family houses are few and far between in this part of central London. However, looking slightly west to the Hyde Park Estate could prove a winner – this three bedroom flat in a portered mansion block in Seymour Street W2 is stylish and well-located; it’s for sale with Winkworth Paddington for £1.495m.