This is GREAT... thank you so much for the extra insights everyone. We're definitely going to focus our search on the nightingale triangle now (DH likes the architectural style of heaver properties, but I'd rather be closer to schools, other families, restaurants & shops etc)....

Rental costs BTC are inflated because of the local state schools, if you have already opted to go down the private route it's pointless paying these ( in fact v few parents in my childrens years live just off Northcote) as previous poster said Nightingale triangle seems to be the main feeder, together with the toast rack and Magdalen Estate, if you were to decide on Heaver or the Tooting end of Trinity Road you would probably be allocated the Garrards Road site for Broomwood which is v popular and then move to the Upper school on Nightingale Lane or Northcote lodge for year 4 onwards, there are buses that run between sites.V best of luck finding your home. X

'You lot'....?

Yes. Heaven help any of you lot should ever get on a bus.

I've never come across people not doing play dates because of where they live. Almost everyone drives so it's not an issue.

Thank you that's a relief to hear. Nightingale (or maybe heaver) here we come!

Whilst there are plenty of BTC families at both schools there are also families who live on the Heaver Estate, Nightingale area, Toast Rack, Magdalen Estate, Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Clapham Old Town, Clapham Park and a few over towards Streatham too. Plenty walk or cycle to school. Or drive!

We went to the broomwood open day and asked this and they said they wanted you to be within 1 mile. But now I think about it there's a difference between 'as the crow flies' and 1 mile walking. So would be interested to hear about this too!

(I guess I could call the school but I've heard they sometimes 'tell you what you want to hear' ). We're in SW18 but it's walkable across w common on nice days.

Can anyone advise on where most families at broomwood or thomas's clapham live - are they all BTC, or some further afield? We're hoping to get a place at one of these (put names down for others too, but too late for the 'first come first served' ones apparently), and given that our house (rented) is due for renewal too, so wondering if we should move nearer the schools. Not to help us get in (though that would be nice!), but for playdates etc. Seen a recent thread re hornsby house (which we're too late for) on this, so was wondering the same

Thing is, houses BTC are so expensive, am wondering if there are any decent 'clusters' of parents in other areas, where we might get a bit more for our money? Do any familiies start BTC, then move further away as their kids grow? Or is BTC really the best bet?