Moving Schools

pollyanna24

If I do have to move to a new area and have to change my girls school, how difficult is this? I know the area where I live at the moment, the schools are so oversubscribed.

Do schools have to keep places for people moving into the area? I'm terrified of them not getting places or one of them getting a place and the other not. They have to go to the same school as there is only one of me and I can't pick them up from different places.

peachyprice

No, they don't have to keep places for people moving into the area, or even put them into the same school. And unfortunately your 4yo would need a place in the hardest year to get into.

Most people, if they are offered two different schools take the places and put the other child on the waiting list and wait until a place comes available, obviously this can take weeks or months.

Alchemilla

Ring the admissions hotline for the county. They ought to be helpful in giving you an idea of how many places there are at which schools.

Just moved DD school and it was super easy.

Counting_Pennies_2

No they don't keep back spaces for people moving in. In our area there aren't enough spaces for the people living here in the first place, and people go to schools that are much further away from where they live or much less ideal due to Ofsted results.


I would suggest you look at the area you are looking to buy in (don't trust the estate agent, look online at Ofsted for reports and the historic ones to see if problems have arisen or have been in the past, then call admissions at the Local Authority for the area)


You will be able to find out if there are any spaces in the schools you are interested in.


Until you have exchanged I think it very rare for a council to save a place for you in a school.


Happy house hunting

FBaby

You will have to do your research carefully. I moved with my now husband and didn't consider for a second that I might not get a place for my children in the local school as it was less than a mile away and a very big school. Thankfully, the other school was very good too, but logistically, it was a nightmare for 3 years.

Don't really just on the ofsted reports, they can be very misleading, and schools can change a lot in only a year or so. Go and visit them, ask about their admission policy, google the school for any news reference.