When to move for schools

[bubblesduck]

My daughter is approaching 2 years and we live in an area in London with good state primary schools but few state secondary schools so I'm wondering when we would need to move to be in the catchment area of a good state secondary. We need to stay within commuting distance of London due to work.

I'm keen to move before she starts primary in order to avoid her having to change schools partway through primary, but is that over planning things as it's way too early to say what kind of schools my daughter would fit into / whether the secondary schools will still be good schools by the time we start applying / maybe my daughter will dislike her primary and want to move anyway / too many other potential life events between then and now to plan this far ahead?!?

What did you do or what do you plan to do? Interested to hear your thoughts / tips / experiences around this.

You need to apply the beginning of yr 6. Loads of people move around yr 4/yr 5

London has some excellent states though but they may be not near you etc

We moved when dd1 was 2, to a road around the corner from an outstanding primary, and also within catchment distance of a top girl's comp. It worked out well and dd1 got into the primary and then secondary without any issues, and both schools have kept up with excellent results and ratings.

It did limit us quite a lot in our initial search, as a lot of areas with top primaries don't have great secondaries near, or vice versa. And people told us that the secondary could suddenly get much worse and become undesirable during the time dd1 was in primary, or that the catchment might get smaller so we might not be able to get in after all. But it didn't - both schools have a solid middle-class intake, and have been sought-after for decades (I remember them both having that reputation as I grew up nearby). The house we bought was very comfortably within the last distance margins. I didn't worry too much about whether the dcs would suit exactly the type of school, as I felt they were solidly academic with good enrichment opportunities, and that should suit most dcs unless there were specialist interests or SEN.

We have friends who made the move for secondaries in Yr 4 or 5. They ended up either travelling back to the old primary on the tube (stressful with multiple kids), or transferring to a different primary and leaving friends they'd made since nursery. Some prepped for the grammar schools (extremely time-consuming) or went private for secondary, and I was glad that our pre-planning meant we didn't have to go down that route.

That's good to hear your pre planning worked out so well! It is exactly the route I'm hoping to do but wondered if I was over-planning. I am also finding it hard to find areas with a decent primary + secondary. May I ask what area you went to in the end?

As for moving when she gets to year 4/5 - I did this when I was a child and although children are resilient and adaptable it was a bummer having to make new friends just for 2 years and doing it all over again at secondary, so I'm trying to avoid it if possible.

As for moving when she gets to year 4/5 - I did this when I was a child and although children are resilient and adaptable it was a bummer having to make new friends just for 2 years and doing it all over again at secondary, so I'm trying to avoid it if possible

Loads of dc do it & ime of London schooling it's very transitory so you can have lots of new dc in yr 4 anyway plus they often mix the classes up. And there is a lot of change at secondary with dc going all over.

The other option as you say is move for both primary & secondary but it depends what secondary options are available to you eg faith schools, grammar, selective streams etc. Plus schools can change their admissions criteria and you can lose it.

My dc are catholic as am I so it means we had more London options as distance is less of a factor.

Best boroughs for state secondaries are probably Richmond, Kingston, Barnet & Sutton

I’m not in London but we moved before DC started primary. Same as a PP, we picked an area in catchment of a good primary and secondary. It’s a nice area and the schools have good reputation for a long time. It also worked out for us in that the secondary didn’t became bad. We moved house again but within catchment of the secondary. (Still walking distance to the primary). So DC didn’t have to move schools or make new friends. When we moved, we only look in a very small area with the aim of not needing to move school.

I would say preferably year 4 at the latest. Our friends house sale is still dragging on from last school year, child is now in year 6, and application deadline fast approaching

The birth rate in London is dropping dramatically and Primary schools that used to have long waiting lists are struggling to attract enough pupils each year. In Richmond and Kingston (for instance) 14 classes have been removed for the 2025 intake and more class closures will be consulted on for 2026.

What this means is that its much more likely that you'll be able to get into a Primary school of your choice.

What is interesting is that the impact isn't yet felt in Secondary schools. Catchment areas are still shrinking despite the peak birth year having joined secondary schools a couple of years ago. I think its kids in current Year 9 who were born in the peak birth year. In-year school applications from families moving into catchment areas appears to be filling the gaps...

So ... there is a much better chance now that you can move any time during Primary school and still get a place at your first or second choice Primary school... but that is not the case for secondary. You need to have moved before the application closing date (end of Oct) in Year 6.

What this means is that it's much more likely that you'll be able to get into a Primary school of your choice.

No it doesn't mean that, falling rolls means mergers and school closures and reduced PANs, which is why despite fewer applications there was a drop in London parents getting their 1st choice for primary. The very top schools are still oversubscribed but the ones underneath are suffering from lower numbers. It impacts budgets if schools aren't full. It still needs to filter through to secondary but again the top states will still be popular if not more so.

Indeed for the school closures and reducing PAN. We are losing primary schools here and many 2 form entry primaries are now 1 form or mixed years. Secondaries have already become easier to get in. Our catchment secondary is very popular and last year is the first in many years where kids from feeder primaries but outside catchment can get in. (Not in London and we have proper catchments). I don’t imagine secondaries closing given how large they are. I would think more likely we will see PAN reduction first.

School funding is per pupil so they can’t afford to run with low number of students.

School funding is per pupil so they can’t afford to run with low number of students.

Exactly, some parents think it's a good thing that the class of 30 is now 20 but that's not a good thing as it means less resources. You want a full school.

That's an interesting point. Would the impact of lower birth rates be offset by higher demand for state schools from parents who are no longer able to afford private schools? Or does the latter only impact a small number of students relative to the decline in birth rates?

We're in Tufnell Park. Our primary is still oversubscribed despite birth rates dropping - from looking at the figures, although lots of schools in the borough are closing/merging, they were never the very popular ones and the sought-after ones are still hard to get into (and remain full) so I would still be cautious when it comes to distances and aim to be within a comfortable margin.

Honestly I'd stay put for now. It's getting easier every year to get into great schools in London but the pay back for this is some schools are struggling due to low numbers. At best this means a constant turn over of new children.

In my eldest DCs state school (1 form, OFSTED outstanding in 2024) half the class (15 children) had left by end of year 3. All for genuine reasons of moving away or to private schools. Thankfully, as it's so good, they have been replaced (so the school isn't at danger of closing) but it is a different class. Your child may not be that bothered about moving school themselves in year 4 or 5. I know mine wouldn't be bothered.

Secondary schools can change so much in 7 years, and heads change all the time. This can be a good and a bad thing. I'd be very wary of spending ££££ in moving costs without visiting a school.

I went to two secondary open days last week and the 'famous' outstanding school was very cold and clinical. Limited curriculum, bored looking pupils and unenthusiastic teachers. A school that couldn't be bothered as it knows it will be oversubscribed for years to come. The second school couldn't have been more different. It slipped down the rankings the last 10 years but got a new head a few years ago and the academics have improved year-on-year and are now better than the first school. This school was warm, teachers were fantastic and pupils enthusiastic but most parents are still clinging onto the views of 10 years ago (that the outstanding is amazing and the other one not so good).

My DCs talents and preferences were pretty clear by year 3-4, and at this stage it is obvious what kind of environment they will thrive in, but you can't really decide what secondary would best suite them before they have even started primary.

What I'm trying to say is, if you have a great primary near you, and you like your house, then stay put. Make your decision on where to move nearer the time and make sure you visit any secondary school before you do so.

Would the impact of lower birth rates be offset by higher demand for state schools from parents who are no longer able to afford private schools? Or does the latter only impact a small number of students relative to the decline in birth rates?

From what I have read it has had little impact in London but before VAT private schools were prohibitively expensive for the majority. At my local 6th form a lot transfer for private schools so this trend may increase & perhaps over all fewer dc may join the private system because of COL, higher mortgages etc but a lot who can afford it now can afford it regardless if that makes sense.