Allocation of Secondary School Place - when do I need to have moved in by?

smileypigface

We are moving to the catchment area of a particular secondary school - does anyone know the timescales involved in the sending out of the preference documents to parents. I am keen to keep things as simple as possible by being resident well before the forms are sent out.

Also, my elder child already goes to a different secondary school locally - by moving a mile up the road we will fall into the catchement area of this other school. 2 years ago I appealed the allocation of school that was made for her - but failed - I had appealed for her to go to this other school. Once we have moved am I able to apply to have her transferred to the closer school or are we stuck with the one she is at now?

Many thanks for any information.

bumpybecky

suggest you call the school and ask them as it varies from area to area.

bunty109

Where I am, applications need to be in by mid-October for next year so it would probably help to be moved by that date.

Also, there's a chance that regardless of where your catchment school is, that you could ask this other school if they have a place for your daighter. Schools often have turnover of pupils who move away with their families and in the years above year 7 there would be nothing to stop a school from offering a place to a child from out of catchment (again, this might vary in your area). You might then get your next child in under the sibling rule if they have one.

Best thing is to call the school and see!! Just explain you are moving nearer and want your daughter to attend there and is there a place....don't mention the previous appeal etc as it isn't relevent.

silvercar

I know in hertfordshire it is 31 October of the previous year.

As far as moving someone already at secondary school, she would still have to wait until a place becomes available. It may move her up the waiting list it may not, depends on the school policy. Similarly having a younger sibling there may help and may not.

chmmy

Yes, the friday before the october half term, was around the 22nd October. The forms were given to us by the primary school, or from the school on their open evening in Sept.

You'll need to get a copy of the admissions criteria for the high schools admissions into Year 8, 9 etc. Some schools might have a waiting list, others have sibling priority, others on proximity to school.

Carmina_Piranha_3

it was just before the half term for us - and then you get a decision in march the following year.

inkie

Depends whether you are moving within the LEA or from out of it into it. Most areas now have a single application process where you receive a preference form where you indicate the chosen school in rank order. This is sent home from school rather to your address, so, as long as you live in the LEA, your child will come home with one of their forms. If you live in a neighbouring LEA as to wher your child presently goes to school then your 'home LEA' will post you their form (you can still apply for school in the other area), but this again will be on one form and then everything is sorted out from that (rather than mkaing applications to indivisual schools). The exception to this is if you applying to a religious school and usually in these cases you still need the LEA form, but additionally the information which the school require - this would be obtained directly from the school.

Penny-Pincher!!

You can apply to any secondary school you wish but this will not guarantee a place at any even if you live within the boundaries for a particular school. Priority here at secondary school is given to siblings, children with special needs then a fight for the rest of the places.

PP
xx

smileypigface

Thanks for all the replies - and all the useful information.

Best get myself over to the house-moving forum for some advice on getting the move sorted!!!!!

Thanks again.:D