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Original poster

how to find a place in oversubscribed school mid year

135 replies

Spanielmad · 09/08/2017 15:48

Hello, we might be moving house in the coming year - to south Buckinghamshire. My kids are about to start Y6 and Y8. If we move in the middle of the school year how are we supposed to find school places? Pretty much ALL 'good/outstanding' secondary schools and grammar schools are oversubscribed. So even if we find a house near a good school how do I get my kids in??
thanks !!

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Sittinginthesun · 11/08/2017 14:38

Gerrards Cross is a stone's throw away from s.w. hearts. Loads and loads of people do that commute - I know people in Rickmansworth with children in Gerrard's Cross private schools who do the school run twice daily.

Seriously, look at Herts. Part selective, over subscribed, but lots of distance places too.

GU24Mum · 11/08/2017 14:27

PS: Don't live in Woking if you are commuting to Gerrards Cross - you'll have a long a tedious drive!

GU24Mum · 11/08/2017 14:26

If you go for the Windsor schools, they have middle schools so will have a start in Year 9 which may be easier to get in. I'm sure you'd still need to live on the doorstep but at least you'd be there at the start of the process for Y9.

LowlandsUni · 11/08/2017 13:41

Unfortunately as Bucks is fully selective there is no such thing as a comp (except for a small school in Winslow), let alone a 'decent and high achieving' one. However the quality of the Uppers varies widely from the very desirable like Waddesdon to, well, some of the others.
The 11+ forum can be a bit terrifying, but most parents are not that loopy and most people probably never even look at it! There are some very knowledgeable people on there though who could help with specific issues.

tiggytape · 11/08/2017 12:52

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 12:46

thanks for the link Hedwig - it seems the majority of people there are concerned about these darn tests and are fighting and praying to get a grammar school place. My word, how different it is in other areas of the UK! What a rat race it seems!

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 12:45

I think - coming from a non-grammar area - that turoring to death seems pointless. If the kid passes the test because of tutoring he/she will surely struggle in the school? I don’t mind a bit of revising but very much believe grades are not everything. A decent and high achieving comp it is if they don’t pass (and if they don’t pass, surely they don’t fit).
Ickenham/Ruislip might have good schools but since its closer to London it seems the house prices go up too!

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Marv1nGay3 · 11/08/2017 12:14

I think Ickenham/ Ruislip areas have some good secondary schools And it is a very short commute to Gerard's Cross from there?

GreenTulips · 11/08/2017 11:32

But you can learn how to do IQ tests - you can train your thought process-

I think you need to look at the books and decide for yourself

intuition · 11/08/2017 11:22

As I recall Borlase and Windsor boys have yr 9 intake so could be an option for Sep 2018

Herts is pretty close to GX and St Clement Danes is apparently excellent.

In south bucks most parents tutor to death for 11+ from at least yr 5 if not 4. It's a nightmare and if you can't afford the tuition, even with a very bright child, you are unlikely to pass. It's totally unfair.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 10:42

Greentulips, I read in many places that the 11+ is now ‘tutor-proof’ (as far as that is possible) and it seems more like an IQ test going by the council’s brochure. The council says that prep tests sold in the shops are no good but they would say that wouldn’t they .

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 10:38

Yes, indeed... I just realised that Henley is actually Oxfordshire already.
Reading area maybe, or Woking, but that is a bit further out. Work is around Beaconsfield/Gerrards Cross and we don’t want to commute more than around 40 mins max. Ideally less...

Yes, I have seen that catchment and distance is what will work. I saw Borlese’s goes by catchment/distance and then score. That’s why it s so hard as its clear we need to move first, but I don’t want to move without knowing they can go to a good school. Which seems an impossible wish, LOL!! Crazy county, Bucks!

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GreenTulips · 11/08/2017 10:27

WH smiths sell the books that help with entrance exams - looks really difficult! I was surprised a time the leave they need to know.

Worth a browse if you consider that route. I can see why they tutor.

LowlandsUni · 11/08/2017 10:26

I'm sure you have worked this out already but Bucks only allocate by distance, not score. A pp suggested this and some areas do work that way, but in Bucks if you meet the magical 121 score then you are just as qualified as someone on 175 (subject to sibling or looked after children or whatever else rules).
Bucks is a long narrow county so being over the border doesn't necessarily mean being further away for commuting purposes.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 10:16

can’t afford private I’m afraid. Yes, it seems Chesham is not oversubscribed although their website says Y8-9 are oversubs...

Good to know its a decent school!!
thnks.

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 10:15

Thank you! Yes, we are working to accommodate the youngest mostly as he needs stability. He is extremely bright though so am hoping that the right school will get that genius out of him, ahem, LOL

Yes, LowlandsUni, I have heard stories about extremely competitive parents who tutor and prep their kids for years. Sounds very scary.... Have looked on the county site and it seems there are some late admission tests and some mid-year immediate tests to do.

Intuition - really?! gosh, well, yes I will have a look but the whole point of the move is to reduce commuting time so I doubt we’ll get far across the county borders and I imagine the same problems arise if you’re close to Bucks? we might look at Berkshire (Reading way) and Surrey (Woking) or Henley (oxfordshire) but so far seen just more of the same oversubscribed schools...

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MotherofSausage · 11/08/2017 10:09

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teddygirlonce · 11/08/2017 09:59

When I say Year 6 application, I mean for secondary school.

If you're youngest is the one who needs security more, work to accommodate his needs first and you may just find that those of your other DC just fall into place (stranger things have happened).

Good luck!

LowlandsUni · 11/08/2017 09:57

Remember Bucks take the top 25-30% (after appeal) so you do not need to be a certified genius. However children do benefit from prep and you are competing with some (but only some) people who have tutored and prepped for years. The main transfer tests are sat next month (needed to register by June) but there are procedures for those that move into the county - see the Bucks website and the 11+ forum.

intuition · 11/08/2017 09:53

I live in south bucks and have 2 boys yr 8 and 10.
My advice is to look at Hertfordshire or oxon.
Avoid Bucks!! If you've missed the 11+ you are just making life too complicated

Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 09:42

Grammars to consider are Burnham, Borlase’s, Chesham, maybe Henry Floyd. But no idea whether we would pass the test - both kids pretty bright though, both either top or near-top sets.
Some comps that might be worth checking out: Clement Danes, Vyners, Great Marlow, Gillots, Chalfonts Comm.

I will try to avoid at all cost to having to move schools twice, one upset is enough for them. Staying where we are (2 hours away) is still an option.

You guys are a goldmine of info. thnks

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 11/08/2017 09:38

Teddygirlonce, that sounds ideal - to move now and beat the school application deadlines. But we can’t yet. Jobs not ready yet, house not sold, we must wait....

But I have learned from you all that sooner would be better than later as even a late Y6 application is better than a mid-year7 application. So as soon as we can - I’ll try to be ready. Now is the time to figure everything out... where to move to, which schools to aim for, finding out what an 11+ test is and whether we could pass it, what to do if schools are full, considering to stay where we are, etc etc....

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teddygirlonce · 11/08/2017 09:17

What about turning the problem on its head and moving now if possible? Could you rent short-term? It might mean your youngest could do the usual Year 6 application on time to preferred choice school and you never know, you may find that a place is available for Year 8 too for your other DC (with families moving probably doing so to avoid in-year moves if possible).

Original poster
Spanielmad · 10/08/2017 23:09

and yes ofsted and pinches of salt , I so know! But its the first port of call - second step will be to visit and have a sniff around... ;)

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