would we be being unreasonable...

[SarfEasticated]

if we stayed in our current flat until Jan, got our dd into the nice school over the road, and then moved to a bigger cheaper house out of the catchment area? The new house is in the middle of school dead-zone, with no schools close by at all, so we would struggle to get into any of the 3 nearest ones.
We have lived in this tiny flat for 10 years, DD is now 4, so we aren't fly by nights, we would still be able to walk DD to school as it is near to the station we use to get to work, so no negative environmental impact.
What do you think mumsnet jury..

I think that sounds sensible. If you've lived there for 10 years then you're hardly cheating the system to stay put for a few more months. Do you have any younger dc? The siblings rule for getting a place often only applies if you live in catchment, so there is a danger of you having 2 dc at 2 different schools.

No, you would be acting in the best interests of your child and that is the correct thing to do. Do be careful about the siblings rule.i

Thanks everyone:) We only have one DD, which is why I'm really keen for her to go to the school where some of her nursery friends will go, and one she is familiar with too.
No we don't own the house but we are desperate to move. We had got a buyer for our flat, found another house somewhere further out, and found a nice school too, but that purchase took 6 months and eventually fell through, so i think we need to stay put for now. .