Moving Schools, how do you do it?

neneromanova

We're looking to relocate back to Swindon. We need to clear some debts first and then we can move, so about 3 years time. but I want to get my ducks in a row for when we do just in case I have to apply in 2 years. (sorry, i'm rambling).

DD1 is going into year 4 in September. Hopefully we'll move the end of year 6 for her so she starts secondary school when everyone else does. How do I apply for a place in the secondary school that I would like her to go to? Obviously everyone will be applying to the schools in the September/October of year 6. DD2 and DS will be easier as they'll just get a school transfer. But I'm stumped on how to sort DD2.

Anyone know the answer?

cr1mson

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20071/school_places_and_admissions/424/secondary_school_places_and_admissions

Alice_Walker

The link above covers the salient points, but make sure you put down as many schools as you can. If your school of choice is full, then you'll be considered for the next on your list. If you don't put any additional schools you'll just be allocated whatever is left at the end.

I'm not sure what you mean by a school transfer, are the other two at schools with links to one in Swindon? If not they'll have to apply for a school in largely the same way as your daughter, and they will be allocated the first on your list that has a space.

The website should detail which schools are oversubscribed and the criteria each school uses for allocating places. If you're outside catchment you won't be considered under that criteria until you actually move into catchment.

jog

I don't think you can formally apply for a place until you have an address in the area. Or if you do fhildren living locally will br prioritised over others out of area. When we moved a few years ago we couldn't apply until we'd exchanged contracts on our new house and were therefore committed to the house purchase.

You could visit the schools and get your short list ready for when you apply. It would also be worth checking with the schools their admissions criteria as accadamies may have their own rules.

Good luck

jackomdj

Where in Swindon are you hoping to move. Be aware that some of the schools are extremely over subscribed and you have to live fairly close to the school. I would agree with others about going to visit the schools, as they do differ vastly. You say you are moving back, I assume from this that you have friends/family in the area who can tell you about some of the schools?

neneromanova

Thanks for the replies. So don't do anything til we move/exchange contracts? That will hopefully be after Easter 2019. *fingers crossed*

We're looking at moving to the Shaw/West Swindon area as we used to live there before moving away and it was a nice place which was easy to get everywhere we wanted to.

pelirocco

As a previous poster has said , there are schools in Swindon that people deem to be much better then others and are very over subscribed . Im not sure if even living in a catchment area guarantees a place , a lot of kids travel as far out as Cirencester

neneromanova

That's what I'm afraid of.

Spendless

I'd move your plans forward so you're moving at the beginning of year six into catchment of your preferred school, and can make the application then, otherwise you're running the risk of not being able to get into any preferred schools and being allocated which isn't as popular.

neneromanova

Are you able to appeal a place like you would if you applied with everyone else?

Spendless

neneromanova wrote: »

Are you able to appeal a place like you would if you applied with everyone else?

Certainly but appeals are pretty much about 'has the school applied the correct admission criteria'. Saying 'well we didn't live there at the time' might not make much difference if they've got a shed-load of kids who also didn't get in because there were more applicants than places.

Popular schools are oversubscribed for a reason.

A couple of years ago I worked with someone who was moving house/area whilst her son was in yr6. She had to apply from her address she was moving on. Son was 102 on the waiting list. Once she moved she was further up the list, but still not in the first few places and he didn't get a place. If she'd moved a year earlier and had been able to apply from their new address he'd have been in.

We do live in areas that have catchment as the first criteria though, not everywhere does, so you could move and still not get a place as has been previously mentioned.