Moving house - best time to move to get Year 3 place?

[MovingHouseToBr]

Hi

My daughter is in Year 2. I am going to move from North London to Bromley.

Good schools are full and cannot increase Year 2 class size.
I've noticed that some junior schools have more places in Year 3 than linked infant schools have in Year 2.

For example, Highfield Infant has 90 places in Year 2 but Highfield Junior has 96 places in Year 3.

When is it the best time to move in the area and apply for Year 3 places (e.g. January,July,September)?


Many thanks

Maxim

[LIZS]

Depends , in our area you have to apply separately for a place at Year 3 as per Reception applications process, unless your child is attending one of the relatively few primary(R to year6) schools , rather than infant/junior. So the first deadline would be January. Have you spoken to LA?

[MovingHouseToBr]

We will have to use in-year application form.

[LIZS]

ah ok - www.bromley.gov.uk/info/13/primary_school_admissions/72/making_a_primary_school_place_application/3 I guess your decision depends on whether you can secure a year 2 place by In Year admission. If the attached infant school to the junior of your choice is currently full , would you have to reapply for a Year 3 place ? Are your plans flexible enough that you could move at short notice were a place to come up.

[MovingHouseToBr]

Are your plans flexible enough that you could move at short notice were a place to come up.

Yes, but as far as I know, there are no free Year 2 places (at least in good schools).

If the attached infant school to the junior of your choice is currently full , would you have to reapply for a Year 3 place ?

It seems good infant schools are full. I called some of them and they do not have places. I think we could have chances to get a place in a good junior school if we move just before applying for Year 3 place, but do not know when to do it. Therefore I've created this thread.

[Shattereddreams]

I have a friend at high field. I think the infants get priority on junior entrance as do siblings.
But if there are 96 places then I would assume you could move in on doorstep.
Catchment for infants is usually around one mile as crow flies.
For such a particular school, I would phone both them and Bromley admissions.

[Shattereddreams]

Ps doorstep for highfields would be v expensive, plus for rentals you would be up against all normal infant rentals... And langley secondary rentals. So you wouldn't be the only one. This particular area is very sought after.
I admire your planning

[LIZS]

but you'd still need a year 2 place if you moved earlier than the summer so you might have to settle for one at a "less good school" short term and also apply for your choice for Year 3. If you leave it to the summer to even apply presumably Year 3 class spaces will have been allocated by then and the "good" school full again even with larger classes as other kids transfer.

When is the deadline for submitting In Year applications for Year 3 and when does the allocation take place ? I suspect those received after the application dates will have lower priority. Presumably you could submit a Year 3 application form where you are now and see what you are allocated. If your dc was already at a local school that may give her a better case for a place at one of the schools it links to should that be among the admissions criteria or to appeal .

[MovingHouseToBr]

I admire your planning

It was idea of my wife :-)

[MovingHouseToBr]

When is the deadline for submitting In Year applications for Year 3 and when does the allocation take place ?

Good question. I wrote to the council.