Getting in Yr8 mid-term?

[Tournesol]

Hello,

My sister lives abroad and is considering coming back to live in London but is very worried about getting her 11yo into a good secondary state school.

Her flat is in Dulwich so she is looking at Kingsdale and Harris Academy (and another one in Streatham but can't remember the name) but when she spoke to Southwark council they said she couldn't apply until she was in the country and that there were big waiting lists. They were thinking of coming back in summer 2014 and hoping for a place in September 2014.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Do you know of anyone who got into one of the good local schools in Y8? Also anyone know where they might get a default place and if it is that terrible?

I am desperate for them to come home so really want to be able to reassure them! Thanks in advance.

[Tournesol]

Thanks for your reply, very helpful and somewhat reassuring for her hopefully.

I was just looking up schools in the area and it was Dunraven in Streatham that was the other one she considered, and it seems that it is currently under capacity so I wonder if a place there might be more realistic? I see it has a less good Ofsted than the others but still seems pretty good!

[louisea]

Ask the local authority whether it is possible to apply as soon as she has a return date to the country on the proviso that should a place be offered they will be able to return earlier. When we returned to the country (July 2001) we had a slightly complicated application process as we knew our return date but were applying to very oversubscribed faith schools. We gave details of our registered temporary address and of the permanent address we were moving back to 6 weeks after arriving back in the country. Both local authorities (after some nudging) admitted that we could apply in the April providing that we could take up the places within 2 weeks after an offer was made. Fortunately for us places came up in the faith schools so we weren't faced with having to accept a place at the local academy and return a couple of weeks before the end of term in the overseas school. Unless you push, local authorities aren't always forthcoming with alternatives.

On the other hand, maybe we were just lucky.

[Evageorge]

Your sister will not be able to apply until she is resident in England. The best schools will have long waiting lists, but they tend to shake down, because those in front of them don't take up their places. Your sister's child could always go to the school they get into first, and then move, when they get to the front of a waiting list.

[MiddleRageSpread]

I don't think Dunraven is under capacity, it is wildly over-subscribed and gets excellent results and is considered the school of choice in that area.

In the same area she is looking there is also Elmgreen and Charter, also considered good schools.

It all depends on a place becoming available and her being high enough up the waiting list to get it. Waiting lists are worked out on the same criteria as the admissions process. Would she be able to move before the end of the summer term? Then she could have her name down before people leave (move house or whatever) at the end of the school year and have a chance of any places that come up.

Dulwich is a huge area, but most of the surrounding secondaries are good - Dunraven, Elmgreen, Charter (excellent school, very popular), Kingsdale (admits on lottery rather than distance), Prendergast, Haberdashers, Forest Hill, - is her child a boy or girl? there are also good single sex schools. Sydenham for girls (in the other direction), Harris ED for boys, or girls, for example.

Deptford Green used to be undersubscribed, but is becoming very popular and is accessible from the area. Harris Crystal Palace might be accessible.

She can go on as many waiting lists as she likes, so could go on a list for any school on the bus routes through Dulwich.