Gordano School Admission

[Grabovsky]

Hello Lovely People!

I'm currently based in West Bristol and my daughter is in year 5. We are planning to move to Portishead, and (hopefully, eventually) buy a property there. We don't want to move earlier than summer 2024, but of course we need to apply for a secondary school place in October 2023.

My question is, how difficult it is to get into Gordano school via in-year application? Does anyone have a suggestion how could we get her a place there from next September if we not yet live in Portishead?

What I want to avoid at all costs is having to attend a school in Bristol when we already live in Portishead.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

You would need to use the address you live at now for applications, which would obviously very unlikely to get a place at Gordano given it is oversubscribed and has not allocated outside of catchment for 4 years at least.

If you don't want to move until end of Year 6, you really are at the mercy of waiting lists, which are held according to the admissions criteria - so moving as close to the school as possible would be advised!

Given the distance and moving LAs, North Somerset should offer a school place when you move, but it may not be in a school of your choosing.

You can apply for schools in North Somerset by listing them on the Bristol LEA application form because there is an arrangement between the 2 authorities.
I do know people who travel to St Katherine's in Pill from Bristol as they have offered out of catchment.
You need to check what North Somerset's policy on moving house is asap. Do they need a new address before October 31st or before places are allocated in March for example.

Thank you for the responses!
This seems to be a bit too much uncertainty. We will probably move earlier and find her a primary school place in Portishead.