The London locations have been highlighted for having ‘clusters of great schools’ based on key Stage 2 (SATS) and Key Stage 4 (GCSE) results, as well as relatively affordable house prices
London areas have been named among the best and most affordable places to live in the UK with great state schools, in a list compiled by a national newspaper. The countdown showcased 20 hotspots around the country with “clusters of great schools” based on key Stage 2 (SATS) and Key Stage 4 (GCSE) results, as well as relatively affordable house prices.
Research suggests one in four British families move location in order to find the best schools for their children, and finding the right school in an area with good housing and enough local amenities to meet the needs of everyone in the family can be a challenge. And with droves of families pulling their children out of private schools due to the introduction of VAT (value-added tax) on fees, the competition to get children into best-performing state schools is tightening.
The survey carried out by The Telegraph considered the areas where children are more likely to be allocated to their parents’ chosen school, rather than an underperforming one. So which two London hotspots made the list?
Sutton and Cheam
Sutton and Cheam in South London have been cited for having “plenty of good school options” ranking sixth in the country overall, with its consistently well-performing state secondary schools topped by Harris Academy Sutton, which was rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in 2023, in all categories. Greenshaw High School and Glyn Secondary School in the borough also achieved “Outstanding” ratings, as did Cheam Park Farm Primary Academy and St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School.
The area also has well-regarded grammar schools including Sutton Grammar School (a boys’ selective school), Wilson’s School (a boys’ selective school), Nonsuch High School for Girls (a girls’ selective school), and Wallington County Grammar School (a boys’ selective school), Wallington High School for Girls and even Chinese-speaking school centres.
With average house prices of £518,000, the constituency is one of the most affordable in London for first-time buyers and The Telegraph cites local amenities such as the pub Shinner and Sudtone and the Greyhound, and Oru, a co-working cafe with yoga.
Ilford South
Ilford South in East London was the second place in the capital mentioned by The Telegraph in its study. Although lacking the hipster appeal of other East London dens such as Dalston or Walthamstow, the newspaper said that Ilford South has a “combination of good schools”.
Schools in the area rated “Outstanding” include Newbridge School, Loxford School and Highlands Primary School, as well as Fullwood Primary School, Cleveland Road Primary School, and Ark Isaac Newton Academy.
Exam results in Ilford South are ranked 31st in the country overall, and the area has been given a boost by the Elizabeth Line, while house prices are not unreasonable at £445,694. Locals can enjoy Indian restaurants that have stood for generations on Ilford Lane, and cafes on Cranbrook Road.
Commuter hotspots
Two other south east areas within easy commuting distance of London have also been cited in The Telegraph’s list. Slough in Berkshire is “unfashionable” according to the paper, but with average house prices of £404,554 and well-performing state schools such as Castleview Primary School and Baylis Court Secondary School, as well just as a 22-minute commute into London, it may be worth considering. Slough also has a host of grammar schools such as Herschel Grammar, Langley Grammar, Upton Court Grammar and St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School.
Dartford in Kent was also cited as a good schools area for families, situated in the London fare zone – making rail travel to the capital affordable for commuters. House prices in Dartford average at £397,231 and its impressive schools include Dartford Grammar Schools for boys and girls, plus Leigh Academy Wilmington.
Last week, two London schools were named among the best in the country. Every single child studying GCSE English and Maths at Hampstead’s Henrietta Barnett School achieved a Grade 5 or above in the 2025/25 academic year, according to data released by the Department for Education, being one of just 11 schools in the UK to achieve the result.
Meanwhile, boys at Wilson’s School, in Wallington, took it one step further, with 100% of pupils attaining a grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate – which measures performance across a wider set of core GCSE subjects.
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