Logistics for a family move re school

Jhoney_2

Hi all,

I was just considering the above and wondering how you clever folks planned for transitioning kids from one school to another when buying in a new area.

Obviously you would probably move in during a half term etc, but how did you accommodate the whole application process e.g home visits?

In short, I guess the question is when in the year do you move to get the school element right? I don't understand the in-year option at all and one would obviously not want to be farmed out to a school just because it has places available.

Sorry if that sounds stupid, but I cannot make sense of it?

My little one attends a consistently 'outstanding' school, so want to ensure that a move will not be detrimental to their education.

Any advice appreciated.

TIA

Brighty

Unfortunately, you need to be living at the new address before they will even look at allocating a place. You will then get a chance to pick and rank the schools you want, but if they're all full, you'll get a place at the nearest school with places, potentially not a good one. Best bet is to find the good schools and then ring them to ask if they have places, then go from there. I don't envy you having just gone through the same

Brighty

Jhoney_2

Thanks Brighty, I'm relieved you understood my post!

I did think about renting near to one of the several schools in the location I am looking at, but not ideal. I have family in the area so could do that for a while and put everything in storage etc, but hardly MSE!

So assuming the move to new address, you ring the local council and they send you a form to rank your preferences?

E.g you move in June 2016, you contact them and say you are in their authority and want x school as preference 1. Does that get looked at along with the other applications made by parents submitting within the previous Jan 16th cut off for the September intake?

Presumably all places are already allocated in April, subject to checks/parent acceptance.

LittleMax

What school year is your child in? and what school system ie when would they be looking to change primary to secondary or middle to upper etc.

Jhoney_2

LittleMax wrote: »

What school year is your child in? and what school system ie when would they be looking to change primary to secondary or middle to upper etc.

Currently Y1, so a long way off the natural changes but hoping to move sooner than that e.g next 6-12 months latest.

LittleMax

Jhoney wrote: »

Currently Y1, so a long way off the natural changes but hoping to move sooner than that e.g next 6-12 months latest.

So the allocation of places is irrelevant, as that is for children starting primary or secondary school.

Before moving I would contact the local authority and find out which schools have spaces in year 1. Those will be your only choices. You will be able to go on the waiting lists for other schools, but will then be a decision you would need to make further down the line about whether you move them if they get settled.

I would be looking at the allocation of places last year for secondary schools and making sure you buy in the right area for applying for good secondary schools. (that is assuming you not planning on moving again in next 5 years). Get the information from your local authority and don't rely on the new feature on rightmove (it just tells you where children in that area currently go and is not accurate as distances can change each year.

Jhoney_2

Thank you so much, that makes a lot of sense.

I couldn't understand how that could be relevant and how to make it 'fit' with the schools timelines!

Great advice and much appreciated.

ainswod

Brighty wrote: »

Unfortunately, you need to be living at the new address before they will even look at allocating a place. You will then get a chance to pick and rank the schools you want, but if they're all full, you'll get a place at the nearest school with places, potentially not a good one. Best bet is to find the good schools and then ring them to ask if they have places, then go from there. I don't envy you having just gone through the same

Brighty

We are moving soon and will have the same problem. Have been told it will be 15-20 school working days after they have completion letter from my solicitor before the process of him getting a school place is complete.

Do you know what is supposed to happen if you are moving a long way and not practical for them to go to the old school? Surely you can't keep them off school all this time?

mrsmazza

We moved and 1 of my children changed school. We kept the other child where he was as he only had 2 terms to go ( 30 mile school run, twice a day ).

The school we wanted said verbally that they had a place but no guarantees. Also they wouldn't consider any application until we had completed and they needed proof.

6 weeks after we moved my daughter had her place, it was over Xmas so that slowed it down.

Jhoney_2

mrsmazza wrote: »

We moved and 1 of my children changed school. We kept the other child where he was as he only had 2 terms to go ( 30 mile school run, twice a day ).

The school we wanted said verbally that they had a place but no guarantees. Also they wouldn't consider any application until we had completed and they needed proof.

6 weeks after we moved my daughter had her place, it was over Xmas so that slowed it down.

Proof is understandable, but would have thought exchange would be enough since you are legally bound to the property/sale? e.g if there is a delay with completion and you are put up by relatives or b and b etc.

Lots of helpful things to consider everyone. Thank you.

silvercar

ainswod wrote: »

We are moving soon and will have the same problem. Have been told it will be 15-20 school working days after they have completion letter from my solicitor before the process of him getting a school place is complete.

Do you know what is supposed to happen if you are moving a long way and not practical for them to go to the old school? Surely you can't keep them off school all this time?

You get offered a place at the nearest school that has places. In some areas that could be fine, in others it may not be the school you want. If you don't like the school offered you go on the waiting list for an in-year place should one become available.