Moving house. Would we have to forfeit our school place?

[Sasso]

Recently relocated to London with two kids aged 14 and 11 and moved into a rental property. We are buying a house a mile and a half from where we live and will complete next week but we plan to remain in our rental property until the end of this school year.

However, older daughter is number 1 on the waiting list for a very desirable school near to our rental house. The school says there?s a possibility a student will leave at the end of year 9 and she could therefore be offered a place in year 10. What would happen if she were offered a place before the end of this school year while we were still in our rental property to start in September by which time we would be living in our new home and out of the school's catchment area? Would we have to forfeit our place?

No, I think once you've been offered a place and accepted it, that's it - it can only be withdrawn in the event of fraud.

An offer cannot be withdrawn simply because you move. However, the risk you face is that the LA will decide that the rented address was a sham to get a place. If they think your application was fraudulent they can withdraw the place.

Thanks for the feedback. As we fully intend to stay in our rental property until the end of the school year while we do work on our house, and have already informed our landlord of this, I think we shouldn't have any problems proving this to the LA.
Obviously if the place becomes available over the summer, then we won't be eligible for it.