To ask, is it too late to move in the Summer Hols and hope & wish for a school place in Sept?

[Mavalagel]

We are moving from an area with extremely over subscribed primary schools, to an area with even more over subscribed primary schools!

I know it sounds like complete madness but we need to be closer to our older family members so the move must happen.

I am so completely confused about schools admissions though. We have to apply in the Sept-Jan in the year proceeding the child's entry to Reception, in order for us to make an application from a local address.

However the waiting lists go by 'closest to the school' and not when you registered. So, could we move in the Summer Holidays before our child is due to start reception, and be pretty certain that we will get a place? I'm going on the fact that there is always movement on these lists because so many families won't be taking the place they have been offered. In this area lots of families will have a state school down as a back up but may intend to go private for example.

Advice and thoughts on this would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

It is a huge gamble tbh. Most places will be turned down between March and July as that is when private schools places need to be confirmed and inductions take place. You'd pretty much be relying on no-shows in September and even then it may take time for these to be followed up. Also others could also move into the area and be placed ahead of you (siblings for example) If you move and apply in situ at the normal time but are disappointed with the allocation you would still be on the same waiting list.

My DD was allocated a place and then we moved 2 weeks before she was due to start! I just got in touch with the two local schools. One of them told me I had to contact county, the other invited us for a look around and a chat! The second was where she ended up going! We even got the original school to but back the uniform!

This was 14 years ago though and I imagine things are different nowadays! I would still risk it myself!

Unfortunately this school won't even look at your application until you have a local address!

Waiting lists are indeed ordered by admission criteria irrespective of the date on which you apply. However places are allocated in March to all those who applied on time first. Most offers which are unwanted would in fact be rejected between March and July (which is when private schools tend to want their fees) and then those on the waiting list, which will include late applicants, offered in order.

Your problem will be that moving in August you are effectively replying on no-shows as the majority of unwanted offers will have already been rejected and re-offered.

August would be far too late to move in that case. I don't think there will be maypny no shows for a very popular school.

So the best time to move would be before offers are made? Relying on the second round of offers is too much of a risk I think.

My SS has just moved in with us. We had a school place sorted within 5 days.

Basically the sooner you move the better your chance. There is a deadline in Jan for proper admissions. All applications between Sept and Jan will be treated equally even if you move in 2 days before the deadline. Then from March if any places come up they will be offered to those on the waiting list in the same priority order (siblings/distance first usually) as they appear.

There may not be any places on the waiting list however, and obviously the later you leave it the less likely it is that a place will come up. I'd move as soon as is practicable.

So if the school is popular, it will be technically full right now - offers been accepted etc.

You may get someone moving, and maybe a noshow or 2. The quicker you get a local address, (on the school gate if possible) the more likely you are to be offered these odd places that appear.

If you move in sept, oct, nov those places will only come from people moving - and other families may be above you on waiting list (sibling etc).

But that aside the local authority needs to find you some school place promptly, but may not be closest school (or same school for siblings).

Such a drama...

I should have been clearer, we are making plans for next September. We are working out how late we can leave it before we have to make the move.

DD's school is extremely oversubscribed as it is the only outstanding school in a town of satisfactorys.

We were number 2 on the waiting list during the summer holidays, dropped to number 1 on the last day, only to be shoved back to No.2 on the first day of term as somebody moved closer. So it can happen.

They eventually got in on the 16 Sept, DD on the 18 Sept.

I probably wouldn't put myself through the stress again though!