Our Guide to Ealing
Education in Ealing
Ealing itself lies in the centre of the London Borough of Ealing. A town with its own identity (as has Acton to the east, Hanwell to the west etc), and a distinct commercial and residential hub. This guide looks at anywhere within walking distance or a short bus ride of Ealing Broadway and its station.
The vast majority of Ealing’s primary schools are good and many are oversubscribed. KS2 standards are well above the national average. While some school buildings are elderly and forbidding-looking from the outside, what goes on in the classrooms is often inspiring and well-regulated. There are new build schools too – some academy-run, others local authority initiatives.
Ealing’s secondary schools are generally well-regarded and consist of a mix of academies – the majority – and maintained schools, as well as a few top-ranked independents. Secondary school admissions can be complex to navigate as schools with religious admissions criteria – and therefore the most exacting entry requirements – are among the most popular in the area.
As elsewhere in London, pupil numbers have fallen in recent years and several new senior schools have opened meaning there is less pressure on places than previously but informing oneself and doing the homework still pays off. Schools with the best reputations are over-subscribed and putting in the research – both at primary and at secondary level – is advisable. It is never too early to visit schools and to acquaint oneself with the finer details regarding admissions numbers – second and even third choices may become important if, for example, a given school year has an unusually high number of applications from siblings or looked-after children.
Living in Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing stretches from Southall in the west to Acton in the east, Park Royal and Wembley to the north and Chiswick to the south, making it one of the largest and most diverse of London boroughs and the third most populous. It is divided into seven districts: Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall.
Ealing itself sits snugly in the centre and has the biggest shopping area, is a local and national public transport hub, is well supplied with parks and is, without doubt, the most sought-after – and most expensive – of the residential districts in the borough. It is served by three tube lines and mainline train services – the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow makes it especially desirable for frequent international travellers.
By road, Ealing is also well connected. London’s inner ring road, the North Circular, bisects the borough and two main arterial routes are on our doorstep: the A4 and A40, each taking you into central London and out (by way of their connecting motorways) as far as south Wales and Birmingham.
Ealing has celebrated its status as ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ since the mid-nineteenth century and is reputed to have more green spaces than any other borough. The areas around Ealing Broadway are leafy with generously-proportioned Victorian houses, built when the railway arrived. While many are now divided into flats, others survive as family homes and often boast large and luxuriant gardens. A little further out from Ealing Broadway are more modest, quiet roads with comfortable terraced or semi-detached houses, cafes and useful shops.
This central area has, in itself, several satellite ‘villages’. Pitshanger to the north is full of young families – its shopping street, Pitshanger Lane, was previously voted London’s best high street by The Great British High Street. Northfields is an up-and-coming area a walk through the park away from Ealing Broadway station though it has its own Piccadilly Line station too. Likewise, Ealing Common and South Ealing – both again with their own stations, shops and quiet leafy streets – are popular with young families.
Ethnic diversity has long been a characteristic of Ealing. Middle Eastern and Polish food shops abound and in central Ealing alone you can eat upwards of 20 world cuisines – to say nothing of the excellent meals now provided in many congenial pubs. Ealing has long contributed to national culture and industry. Most famously, Ealing Studios – the birthplace of many much-loved films – is still a busy filming hub. At its heart is Pitzhanger Manor, built by and for Sir John Soane, the architect of The British Museum. The Questors Theatre has a rolling programme of plays and courses. The Who began life in Ealing, as did Marshall Amps, and Freddie Mercury studied art at Ealing Art College.
Looking for the best schools in Ealing? Our education consultants can help.
The Good Schools Guide’s education consultants successfully help parents from all over the world find the best schools for their children. Our UK team is spread across the country, each expert with their own specialist areas of knowledge. If you would like us to help you find a school place or are keen to know more about your family’s education options in Ealing, we are ready to help. Read about our education consultancy services or get in touch – consultants@goodschoolsguide.co.uk.
Your thoughts on education in Ealing
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