50/50 childcare - Moving

[Nimbus1999]

Hi, I’m weighing up moving to a new area which would be 20 mins / 12 miles away from where my ex lives. We have 50/50 custody on a 5522 basis. One DC wouldn’t have to change schools (already travels to the area) but the other DC would have to change (new school is outstanding).

Does anyone do this? Does it work? Is 20 mins too far? Would it be totally unreasonable to uproot everyone to move 12 miles? My DC is due to start secondary school next year so I would try to do it before the start of the school year.

What a terrible attitude - how would you like someone taking your child away from you because they assumed you may (potentially completely incorrectly) move away at some point in the future? If he is a good dad he should continue being in their lives as frequently as now

That's a ridiculous statement, based on no evidence or facts.
As someone who is doing 50:50 for the past 4 years, it really only properly works if both parents live sufficiently close by so that kids have one area where they develop their independence and social lives.

@Nimbus1999 is it a through school or are you in a middle school area? I am confused as to why the secondary in the new area would have a year 6 waiting list otherwise.

Or did you mean their current year 7 list after a term? Be aware that some areas automatically remove children from waiting lists after that first term.

May be worth finding out how many successful appeals there have been and looking at entry stats to see what criteria they went out to in the last few years and if they were full.

Yes it’s an all through school from infants. I know it’s not an exact science but I thought if I find out how many children are waiting for places in year 6 (it’s a new area so lots of people moving in), it might give me a rough idea how popular it is.

They do take 120 kids from out of area though, not all kids are coming from year 6 (only 60).

So the secondary “bit” has two forms and the primary four forms?

If they will tell you how many people got a place from the waiting list in sep-Dec 23 in year 7, that would be helpful.

If they accept 120 kids from outside of catchment, is there anything stopping me putting in an application based on my current address to see what happens?! I’m sure not likely but could be a very slim chance if the other 120 places were not filled. I’d have to put in a mid-year application to start in September 2024 (you can specify) and then only move if she definitely has a place. All hypothetical though of course with the ex coming too / agreeing!

The primary has 2 forms (60 kids) and the secondary has 6 forms (180 kids).