Applying for school - waiting time

[Claudia13]

Does anyone know how long does it take to get into school after applying with the LA in Bromley?
My year 10 daughter is out of school due to relocation and LA require so much paperwork and now after one month gathering all the papers I am wondering how long will it take still.
I will put Bullers Wood for first choice. does anyone have something to tell me about this school please? I am new in this area and know nothing about schools here.

[Frikadellen]

Hi Claudia I cant tell you for the LEA that your applying for but we have just changed our dd2's 2ndary school and it took a total of 34 days for it all to go through HTH

[HandMadeTail]

Bullers has a very good reputation, and if you live fairly close to it, you will have a reasonable chance of getting a place, I would have thought, as girls on waiting lists for grammars etc will probably give rise to some movement on the waiting list.

It's a language specialist school.

I was offered a job there a few years ago, on the graduate trainee scheme, which I ended up having to decline due to personal circumstances, but I spent quite a lot if time observing classes before that happened, and I thought the school had a lovely atmosphere.

[Claudia13]

Hi HandMadeTail. Thank you for your reply on Bullers Wood. I called them to find out about vacancies and they didn't tell me anything, everything is with LEA. Not possible even to visit the school. I was out of the country and just moved to this area. Sort of waiting on the school thing to resolve and then rent a place, near the school. My girl is year 10 and she loves art. Does anyone know which school, Heyes, Bullers, Ravensbourne or Darrick Wood, would be the best choice for arts? I mean, some schools, give no importance to arts whatsoever. i don't know any school and i'm thinking - Bullers, Heyes, Ravensbourne,... Don't know really. There are two schools in Orpington where I won't live. This is complicated business! Does anyone there know these schools in Bromley area, and could give me a tip on which one is best? TKS!

[HandMadeTail]

The best thing would be to look at their online prospectuses (prospecti?). I know Ravensbourne used to be an art college, but I don't know what this means about the school, now.

I think that you should choose the school, then move, then apply, as you are more likely to get the school you want by living close to it, certainly at this late stage, when all offers have already been made.

Incidentally, Darrick Wood is in Orpington.

[Claudia13]

Thank you HMT.
This would be the ideal course of action but, my child is out of school now and I will apply anyway and then move. If it happens (unlikely), that we're living close to school, fine, otherwise, I will need to move again in 6 months time.
I forgot Darrick Wood was in Orpington and I'm not sure this area is bad anyway. I don't know the Bromley well. In a way, it is easy in america where you go to the school of your neighbourhood. If you don't like the local public school, go to private. Schools a big and there is always a place for your child. My daughter is British and is my desire that she goes to college here. That's why I'm here. It;s good to be back but I feel a bit worried with this difficulty in finding a vacancy.

[FlyingElephantJK]

Hi,

My daughter is moving from a primary into secondary next year. Got to know Bullers Wood school's previous catchment distance in miles: 1.5m(2008), 1.9m(2009), 1.8m(2010), 1.67m(2011). Anyone has any idea on 2012 and 2013? Thanks in advance.