Where next to live? ED too pricey

[LondonMix]

In what way is Ivydale better than Goodrich? I think ED state schools are very good and certainly no reason to leave the area.

[rjr]

LondonMix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> In what way is Ivydale better than Goodrich? I

> think ED state schools are very good and certainly

> no reason to leave the area.

There are loads of factors obviously, but in summary:

Ivydale - Ofsted Good, pupils/teacher 21

Heber - Ofsted Requires Improvement, pupils/teacher 19

Goodrich - Ofsted Good, pupils/teacher 39

And just from speaking to parents whose children go to these schools in ED, general opinion is they're ok, but nothing to write home about. Not to say that ED doesn't have great schools, because Fairlawn has amazing results, happy parents and Outstanding ofsted report. But we can't afford to live near there.

And the post was originally about cost of housing, which is why we moved. We wouldn't have moved based on the schools alone but ultimately were priced out the area.

[Bovine Juice]

Agree with most of rjr's post, though couple of minor points. The High Street in Penge is scruffy, though the number of pound shops is always exaggerated (there is one). However all the signs are positive at the moment. The Goldsmiths has been open a year as an Antic pub and Antic have plans in for another (a pub/cafe/restaurant) in a current large High Street unit. Plus Late Knights are opening in the Alex pub soon - it's across the road from the amazing Alexandra Nurseries (plants, coffee and vintage place on Parish Lane), so that'll be a veritable pub crawl of decent boozers to go in.

Plus I agree Kent House is lovely (it's my local station) but postcode aside, it's still Penge really - 2 minutes from High street.

[LondonMix]

rjr-- I'm aware of Heber's ofsted scores which is why I was asking about Goodrich vis-a-vis Ivydale. Goodrich has a higher value add score (which is a measure of how pupils progress in their education) than Ivydale (which I believe is a very good school). Suggesting as you did twice that ED primaries in general are lacking and naming Goodrich specifically therefore struck me as incorrect. That's why I asked and now I realise you had no real objective basis for saying so.

When you said:

"On top of that, the aforementioned pet human was naturally shifting our focus (garden now trumps proximity to good coffee, good state schools trump distance from central London)." It made it seem that schools were one of the reasons you were leaving ED.

I'm only taking the time to point this out and provide data as statements like yours are how playground rumours about schools spread in the first place and its rather unfair to those working so hard to provide local children with a high quality education.

[LondonMix]

Also Fairlawn in in Forest Hill not East Dulwich...

[SebsC]

Just read this....

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/news/dulwich-capitals-top-spot-house-price-growth-record-863-cent-rise-over-two-decades

[adsyb99]

Jeremy,

Few months have passed now, but we've taken the plunge and really glad we have, so thanks for the adivce. We were able to sell our 2 bed flat in ED and buy a 3 bed house in Crofton Park (with some additional funds), and so far it seems great. There's some really good pubs/bars/cafes and as you said Honor Oak and Brockley are also on your doorstep. Hard to explain, but the people around seem very friendly too. When you go into a cafe or pub or pharmacy and the staff seem to know their customers. Didn't see that much in ED.

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Crofton Park is quite nice. Some good pubs and

> stuff. Nearby Honor Oak and Brockley are pretty

> good areas too. I'd say go for it.

[Jeremy]

Glad it's working out for you.

Yes I think since ED has become more popular, it has also become a bit more transient, with many people sticking around for only a few years before moving on elsewhere. Bit of a shame in some ways.

[poppet27]

Yeah, the transient thing is so true. Even 5 years ago there was a very strong sense of community in ED; everyone seemed to know each other and you'd recognise faces & neighbours. Felt very refreshing. I still think there is a community feel here, but it's far more fragmented and people drift in and out as they are inevitably prices out.

I notice the talk at my bus stop has gone from newly qualified teachers and graphic designers comparing notes, to suits and talk of Canary Wharf, second homes and school fees. That's life though I suppose.