Moving house between children's school starts - affect on primary place applications?

[tricot39]

Hi

We are thinking about moving house to the other end of the country in 2012.
We would like to rent a place to stay while we apply for a primary school place for DS to start in 2013. We would look to buy a new house as soon as possible.

Looking at the rentals on offer it is not at all clear that we could rent in the same catchment area as we might end up buying. There is a good chance that we would move after DS has started at school if not after he has been allocated a place.

While this might be OK for DS (assuming we are still reasonably close to the school once we buy) what will happen to DD's place? The schools seem to be very oversubscribed/full from catchment children so will DD have a good chance of getting a place, or do we have to go elsewhere and then get a transfer for DD? Do I ask schools about this or ask the Local Authority?

It all sounds like a nightmare to me!

TIA

I think it depends on the admission criteria. If catchment children have priority over siblings out of catchment, it might be difficult to get them into the same school.

It will depend on demand each year, is the school always over subscribed? Our local school is always over subscribe, but out of catchment siblings tend to get a place.

Admission to schools is turning into a nightmare.

As RackandRuin says, you need to look at the admission criteria. If you look at the LA's website there should be a primary schools admission booklet or similar which will give the admission criteria.

If the LA operates formal catchment areas they may put out of catchment siblings ahead of in catchment non-siblings, or they may put out of catchment siblings behind all in catchment children. Of course, whatever they do now, it may have changed by the time you need a place for your daughter so there is no certainty.

If your daughter ends up at another school there is no guarantee you will be able to get a transfer to your preferred school. The admission criteria are still used to determine priorities.