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Original poster

No school places near me

85 replies

Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 08:46

Hiya
As title says I can’t get my daughter into a school we’re we live so have decided to move over the summer holidays . We need a place for year 6 in September. Does anyone know any primary schools that need pupils ? Anywhere in country as we have no ties here. You can PM me of your don’t want to reply on here . Thanks

OP posts:
MercurialMonday · 22/07/2022 10:08

How are you going to secure a rental property with no income?

That's a good point - we've always had the job first before moving.

If you're currently working might be best to see if you can move across county borders and commute for bit till get a new job - though depends on distance how feasible that is.

Smartiepants79 · 22/07/2022 10:09

See the £700 a month rent is going to immediately discount a lot of places.

Maireas · 22/07/2022 10:11

Ok OP I've sent you the name and postcode - good luck

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Primary education
SheilaWilde · 22/07/2022 10:15

I would look at areas where you can afford a home you'd be happy to live in, then work backwards. This house has several 'good' schools (primary and secondary) within walking distance. Walking distance to town. Shrewsbury is a 'nice' place and not too big.

Most schools will have broken up for summer but some might still have staff. Ideally I'd contact schools today in areas you can rent and ask if they have spaces. You can also look at the school data on the local council's website to see the capacity vs 'on roll'. Although this won't tell you if they have yr 6 places. Or ring the council of areas you're considering to see if they have yr 6 places. But without visiting somewhere first wouldn't you be concerned you're jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/40031491

EV117 · 22/07/2022 10:17

Therefore I've decided to move areas and I'm looking for a school for y6 in an area that will have renting options nearby and is on reasonable public transport. It will also need to be accessible on foot/public transport for the secondary school.'

Its still completely bonkers. The UK isn’t the biggest of countries but just asking for schools anywhere is just plain nuts.
Why not start by asking if there are schools within 50 or 100 miles? Rather than entertaining the idea of moving from one side of the country to the other for one year of school. Bizarre.

Thecatisboss · 22/07/2022 10:19

I also live in South Yorkshire.

The secondary school with the best results in Barnsley historically is Penistone Grammar (though it's not a grammar school!) all the primary schools in the area are good or excellent - I think there may be spaces at Oxspring, Thurlstone, Millhouse etc. which are small village schools close to Penistone.
Penistone is a fairly expensive place as well due to the good schools.

I think the other secondary school in Barnsley with good results is Horizon which is a fairly new school.

Original poster
Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 10:19

MercurialMonday · 22/07/2022 10:05

It wasn't a massive upheaval for our children when we moved.

We thought it would be a huge thing for them as they were settled and happy at their primary were shy and often disliked changes so we were very worried about moving them but they were really excited about it all and settled really quickly.

That’s what I’m thinking ? Kids move house / school all the time . Don’t know why some posters on here think it would be such a massive upheaval and negative thing to do. Especially as I’ve said several times we have no ties here !

OP posts:
Original poster
Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 10:23

Ok so it seems like Yorkshire might be a good option which is a coincidence as I was thinking about there. My family
lived there when I was younger so visited a few times and loved it . Thanks for all the help everyone 👍🏼

OP posts:
Original poster
Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 10:25

@SheilaWilde
thankyou I will have a look at Shrewsbury to as have thought about here to in the past. We can get the train from here it’s not to far so can come and have a look round .

OP posts:
Maireas · 22/07/2022 10:29

Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 10:23

Ok so it seems like Yorkshire might be a good option which is a coincidence as I was thinking about there. My family
lived there when I was younger so visited a few times and loved it . Thanks for all the help everyone 👍🏼

I think that sounds like a good move for you. Good schools, affordable housing and easily accessible.

MercurialMonday · 22/07/2022 10:29

SheilaWilde is right - we usually have rough area due to job then use www.rightmove.co.uk/ for rents/house prices indication of schools - then dig deeper into schools.

Honestly when we factor in commutes, housing costs, minimum housing needs and school catchment there actually only one or two areas left with one or two houses in.

Y6 I'd focus on secondary schools.

House price calculator: Where can I afford to rent or buy? - couple of years out of date but shows large part of England is out with rent £600 but many places left.

Original poster
Threebutterflies · 22/07/2022 10:35

@MercurialMonday
yes ive been looking on right move . Just thought some people on here might actually work in a school that has spaces so I can narrow it down to an area to look at houses. Jobs I’ll do anything really as I’m not in a skilled job so can do anything like shop work / bar work etc . We have lived in this house for ten years that’s why the. Rent. Is so cheap as it’s never gone up . Problem is with that the landlord does not jobs/ improvements so it’s falling apart now .

OP posts:
Louise0701 · 22/07/2022 10:45

Yorkshire is huge so bare in mind not all areas will have affordable housing and/or good schools.
You wouldn’t be able to afford to live in Fulwood but the schools are good. You’d be able to afford to live in Page Hall but the schools are horrendous and you’d likely have your house vandalised daily and be intimidated by the neighbours.

LIZS · 22/07/2022 10:50

Bear in mind public transport in rural areas can be patchy.

Bluevelvetsofa · 22/07/2022 10:56

Don’t landlords and agents want to see evidence of regular income?

I think you need to look at rental values and see what you could afford and see whether there are jobs you could do in that area, before looking for schools. You’re actually looking for two schools. One for your daughter’s last year in primary, then a secondary school for September 23. You need to apply for that early in the autumn term and that’s when schools have their Open Evenings.

RudsyFarmer · 22/07/2022 11:00

You’re going to need to apply for your daughters secondary school place really soon so personally I’d be moving into an area with a great secondary., forget the primary in order of importance!!

NoodleSnow · 22/07/2022 11:13

Friendly reminder to school staff to be cautious about what you share on social media. This isn’t the first post I’ve seen this week asking for names and postcodes of schools. It’s a really bad idea to have your Mumsnet account connectable to your place of work.

MercurialMonday · 22/07/2022 11:19

I'd still focus on secondary school as you have more control with choice if you get there in next few months for application deadlines - they'll be a place in a primary somewhere and it will only be for 9 months.

I have lived in a Yorkshire city which was great though house prices were expensive in bit we were and we moved on for work - and are nearish to Shrewsbury which is lovey - so you do have some great options.

MercurialMonday · 22/07/2022 11:21

11 months - less than a year anyway while secondary will be hopefully at least 5 and cover important GCSE exam years.

Bumpinthenight · 22/07/2022 11:26

There isn't a class size limit in Year 6 (or the rest of KS2) so she should be able to go to any school in any catchment so the country is your oyster.

I wouldn't head to Shrewsbury/Shropshire if you need access to the rest of the country. All roads seem to go North-South rather than East-West and it is also tricky (and expensive) to travel by train.

AliceMcK · 22/07/2022 11:42

Definitely look at Yorkshire and Lancashire for lower living costs. If I was doing what your doings I’d do a search on Rightmove for rentals across these counties, find house/flats you can afford, then look at the area re transport & schools. Do a checklist as you go to see if they fit your requirements and then start making house then school enquiries, you may struggle with schools if they are closed but you could try the LA school teams as some do keep records of school class numbers and might be able to tell you which school have spaces available in yr6 in September.

You may find bigger towns or cities better for transport. I don’t know Yorkshire well but Preston and Blackpool have good public transport and not too expensive. A quick search in Blackpool brings up several properties in your price range.

problems I think you will encounter -

private rental with no job
Finding decent rental in your budget
inadvertently moving to a rough/dangerous area.
transport - not everywhere has decent public transport
finding work - if you have a “I will do anything to pay the bills” mentality I think you will be fine but you might not get the most flexible job or £s

Good luck

LIZS · 22/07/2022 11:46

Blackpool is quite deprived , not sure it would be a good move when you have many other options like Leeds. You need to narrow down in your mind what sort of area and priorities you have.

Louise0701 · 22/07/2022 11:47

Just had another thought; if you don’t know what job you’ll end up with yet, you’ll probably also need to look for a school with wraparound care.

Spacemonkey2016 · 22/07/2022 11:47

I find it absolutely bonkers that you've pulled your daughter out of school, without a plan in place. Is there any way you can speak to her current school and get her back on the books? Then formulate your plan of finding her a new school and moving? My DS is only finishing reception so maybe I'm being naive, but surely you find a new school place before ending her current one? I don't think moving schools is bad, but the way you appear to have gone about it is utterly reckless. I hope it works out okay for your daughter...

SheWoreYellow · 22/07/2022 11:57

Spacemonkey2016 · 22/07/2022 11:47

I find it absolutely bonkers that you've pulled your daughter out of school, without a plan in place. Is there any way you can speak to her current school and get her back on the books? Then formulate your plan of finding her a new school and moving? My DS is only finishing reception so maybe I'm being naive, but surely you find a new school place before ending her current one? I don't think moving schools is bad, but the way you appear to have gone about it is utterly reckless. I hope it works out okay for your daughter...

In my opinion, a child who is desperately unhappy and possibly being bullied is better just pulled out, if the school can’t or won’t help.