School Change

HeatherH

I've been getting conflicting information from everywhere, so hoping to find some clarity here.

Next year, me and my son are moving, not too far, but enough to be under a different council and needing a different school. We're moving in august 2011, so we're just needing to switch for the beginning of an academic year.

First I read on the castle point website that I needed to talk to the current school, which then told me to ring the southend borough council, who then said you need to speak to the council you're moving to, so we rang castle point, they then said that you need to do a completely new admissions thing and that you'll need to speak to essex county council.... they then said that things are changing after december and that it's southend council that will then deal with it.... full circle much...

So I rang up southend again and told them what essex county council had said, they sent me a form that was irrelevant as it was for moving schools within the current southend council area, I rang back and was then told as you're moving in august, you wont have to do anything til May next year!

So I'm really worried that if I leave it til then, someones going to suddenly say, no you should've done X.Y and Z and that I'm going to end up living in one place and commuting to my son's current school while they sort it out!

Any advice welcomed

kazmc

Hi there
When I changed my daughters school from a Bromley to a Bexley (different councils) one I just made an appointment at the new school to be shown around and then wrote that school a letter accepting the place and then wrote another letter to the old school advising that she was leaving and that was it!!
The schools deal with everything else.
I moved my daughter mid year though but not sure if that would make any difference and it was primary school.
Hope it works out for you

The whole thing took a week!
If they have space at a school they have to offer you the place.

silvercar

You need to concentrate on the new education authority and the new school. They are the ones that will be able to offer places and know where there are any vacancies. You need to research carefully before you commit to moving, it may be that there are no places at decent schools nearby...

peachyprice

Unfortunaltey Silvercar it doesn't work like that in Essex at the moment, all admissions are done through the central Essex LEA. It seems OP is being given the runaround because that is all changing in December, so no one really knows what to do with her.

However, places aren't usually offered so far in advance alot could happen in 10 months and no matter how sure you are that you will be moving next August I don't think the LEA will offer a place now based on that, the advice to wait until May is probably the correct advice.

Give Chelmsford a ring and ask them if you can at least put your son down for a provisional place, at least you will then be in the system.

HeatherH

Thanks for the advice everyone,

I can understand them not wanting to do anything til next year, I know that it's a definite move, but they don't. I'll leave it til the new year after the changes have set in, and see if I can get any further.

Thanks again

Lunar_Eclipse

HeatherH wrote: »

Next year, me and my son are moving, not too far, but enough to be under a different council and needing a different school.

Are you aware that your son does not need to change schools?

I have no idea whether it would be your preference or practical for your son to remain where he is, but thought I'd mention it as I would not automatically relocate my children if we moved areas.

Having said that, unless he is already at a secondary school, a move now might be easier than separating him from key friends later.

peachyprice

HeatherH wrote: »

Thanks for the advice everyone,

I can understand them not wanting to do anything til next year, I know that it's a definite move, but they don't. I'll leave it til the new year after the changes have set in, and see if I can get any further.

Thanks again

I'm interested to see what changes will come about in the new year, I have to apply for my DD's secondary school next year, I wonder if it will make it easier or more difficult to get your first choice;)

HeatherH

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Having said that, unless he is already at a secondary school, a move now might be easier than separating him from key friends later.

Bit of extra info

My son's just turned 6, so he'll be going from yr1 to yr2 next year, I don't like the thought of moving, never had to do it when I was younger, so it's not a decision made lightly:o.

My reasons for moving is (these are a few of many) that the area I live in is slowly degrading, and I live in a flat where noise proofing is practically non-existent. My dad is a landlord and he has a 2 bed house property which will be vacant next year, the area is a lot nicer and I intend to stay in the property for many years to come (been told it's my inheritance).

Distance between current school and the new area wouldn't be possible, it would mean having to leave home at 7 to get there for 8, and as I do not drive (working on it) it means I'd have the extra expense of bus fares which would be £5 a day. The new school would be 10 min walk up the road.

So when taking into consideration the above, his age, and the fact that his best friends are not his school mates, I'm hoping that I'm making the better decision.

Heather

sueeve

You think they wll miss their friends, but that's very short lived.
My children moved at ages 5 and 7 from Somerset overseas, then at 9 and 11 to a European country with foreign language, then 18 months later to SE England, to commit to one language for secondary school, although elder daughter nearly into year 8. No problem, except that they had too much confidence for the school to appreciate

Lunar_Eclipse

HeatherH wrote: »

So when taking into consideration his age, and the fact that his best friends are not his school mates, I'm hoping that I'm making the better decision.
Heather

Agreed. I'd make the same decision given the circumstances; good luck!

Lunar_Eclipse

sueeve wrote: »

You think they wll miss their friends, but that's very short lived.
My children moved at ages 5 and 7 from Somerset overseas, then at 9 and 11 to a European country with foreign language, then 18 months later to SE England, to commit to one language for secondary school, although elder daughter nearly into year 8. No problem, except that they had too much confidence for the school to appreciate

This made me chuckle. My childhood was similar; moved several times and thoroughly enjoyed my diverse life, both at the time and upon reflection as an adult.

Would love to do the same for my children, but they have been born with more of the stability vs adventurous genes. Eldest will start secondary school next year and for me, it is certainly not a question of going to the local school without a second thought, but an opportunity for a lifestyle change whilst searching for the best environment for the child in question. I drove her 3 hours away to look at a fantastic grammar school a few weeks ago; she thought I was nuts!:D All my friends thought I was too, which actually saddened me a bit, firstly because they didn't see the upside but only the downside and secondly because they obviously don't know me that well.;)