Confused about how to move house

[PondWatering]

The thing holding me back from a house move is schools. I don't particularly rate the schools my children are at (one year 2, one year 7) but they're fine and I haven't wanted to unsettle the 12 year old unnecessarily.

I can't afford to stay in catchment (and actually think a different secondary would be better anyway) but i can't work out how you move house with children! What if i find a house and the schools are full? Do i move them to a new school in September that has places and then cross my fingers about selling?

It all seems so risky. Please offer me your wise words!

how far are you planning on moving?
Can your 12 year old stay in their current school for a bit after you move?

We moved about 25 miles from my children's previous schools.

Once we had exchanged contracts on the house, I applied to all of the schools in the area. At that time my address was still old address, but I gave the new one.

We were allocated a primary place before we moved. But secondaries were full. We had to appeal. Third appeal was successful. Kn the end DS (Year 8) went half a term with no school place after we moved, while waiting for a place.

Thanks @Pterodacty1 . When you say he didn't have a school place, did you homeschool? Was it stressful? Or does it now feel like a distant, worthwhile, memory?

I quite deliberately told the local authority I was not home schooling. I'm aware that if parent agrees to EHE, then the LA don't have to find the child a school place. We wanted him in a school (but there was none, all within 1h travel time were full).

It was no bug deal for us really. DS left his old school when we moved Feb 2023 and started in his new school April 2023. He was in Y8. But we knew he was bright and would catch up, which he has. He looks back on those 3 months fondly - he got some quality relaxing down time, which did him good since he hated his old school. DH WFH part time during this time, the other half of the week DS was home alone. But he was fine.

Actually sounds lovely!

Similar ish story here - different ages and I agree it is more worrying for secondary age.

We moved two years ago when DC were in Y5 and Y1. I investigated local school options before moving, but you can't know where there will be space. We actually chose this town over a neighbouring one due to there being more schools, more chances etc.

You can't apply for schools until you exchange contracts, so there is a big advantage if you can arrange a nice gap between exchange and completion - we had ten days which was fine in the end. As soon as we exchanged contracts I filled in the online form on the councils website to move schools, listing four schools in order of preference (I have already visited 3 out of 4 of them to aid my decision). They got back to be after about 2 days and confirmed that he had a space at our second choice. I contacted the school and agreed a start date - all very smooth for my Y5.

My Y1 has additional needs and an EHCP so it was a different story 😱😱😱

My friends son was out of school for 16 weeks before a school place suitable was found ….he wasn’t home schooled ….he was 14 so in terms of childcare wasn’t an issue…stayed home alone…in terms of education he causation up fine….but it had an effect on his mental health..,,very lonely being at home with no mates