Advice on moving area and applying for secondary schools.

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Can I ask for some advice?

We have two DCs 10 and 8. For various reasons DH and I have decided to explore moving house. We’ve considered moving to Devon (we are Surrey) but recognise (and from great advice here) that this may not be the right move for our DCs.

So we are now considering a move closer to home but to Hampshire. The reason being that it’s closer to work for me and we will not have to have a huge mortgage for the house we would like.

We would need to sell our home, and possibly rent if needed. I called Hants school admissions for some advice today about DS year 7 application for sept 2021.

It felt like it’s a very difficult task, we’d be on wait lists from March which feels really hairy given that if we stayed in our current house we are in catchment for an outstanding secondary.

Are we being totally rash to consider this? Personal circumstances have meant we can only consider moving now rather than a few years ago.

Or do I just need to suck up the issues with the house I am living in and the priority is the kids secondary school?

Would really welcome anyone’s thoughts and opinions- it’s incredibly helpful just to write this down.

Thank you

Hants school admissions are usually pretty good. I would go ahead with it. Whereabouts are you think of moving to?

Thanks for your reply. We like Petersfield / Liss / Liphook so far

I think Y7 is a great time. It gets much trickier when children get to Y9/10 as GCSE courses are starting, spaces are difficult to find and friendships groups established.

It’s tricky, once they’re in the school system it’s almost impossible to time a move right.

We’re hopefully moving, and had hoped to be in before the November deadline (for people who have moved) - looking less likely now due to the bank taking its sweet time. But moving now means changing primary mid year 6, which as DC said “isn’t very sensible “. But then at least would know some people when start year 7.

The secondary school we want in new area has been undersubscribed historically, so I’m going to put it on our form even if our move is delayed and hope for the best.

You may well get a place at Bohunt even if you haven’t moved yet. Appeals have have had a good success rate there too. TPS has been very oversubscribed so you would have to take your chances with the waiting list.

Thanks all. It’s very difficult and ultimately you want to do what is the most least disruptive for the DCs.

Ionacat - what do you think of Bohunt? Do you have any experience of it at all?

I don’t personally only from talking to people that do. It’s a very well thought of school, and I’d happily send my DD there if we lived in Liphook. I’ve worked with the head of school when we were both worked in a different school and would have a lot of confidence in him - I enjoyed working with him before. I know a few people who sent their kids there and they were very happy with it. The downside is that it is very big which doesn’t suit everyone but then the plus is that there is so much going on.
Other places to look at in regard to schools if you like East Hants would be Alton and Alresford as even if the schools were full, I suspect you’d get a place at Eggars, Amery or Perins - all fantastic schools and they generally have space and I’ve never heard of people being sent outside the area to Basingstoke or Bordon. But I would ask that question of Hants admissions if we lived here where would we get a place if the schools are full. If you are in Liphook/Liss/Petersfield and Bohunt/TPS are full, you could to end up in Oakmoor which is a bit mixed but upcoming or Horndean which used to be great (I don’t know these days though) or Woolmer Hill in Haslemere which is good. (Surrey though.)

If you get this moved to secondary education, there are quite a few regular posters there with knowledge of the Hampshire schools. Or start a new post there with Hampshire schools, you’ll get some good responses.

Thanks Ioanacat, that’s really helpful information. I really do appreciate you taking the time.

I’ll repost in the school section.