Moving overseas for a year and keeping a place at a state school

[taroj]

Hello, we are planning to move abroad for about a year, and come back to the UK after that. Our son is in year 3 of a state primary school in Heartfordshire, and if possible we would like to keep his place as he wishes to return to the same school and friends when we are back. Do you know it is possible at all to keep his place while our son is away for a year, or do we have to give up the place, and go through an in-year application process to re-enter the school when we are back? I know the school has a long waiting list, and it is not easy to secure a place by in-year application.

Surely you should speak with the school. I'd imagine the answer would be no.
What guarantees have they that you'll return and why should they keep a space empty that another child could use?

No if he's not attending and you're not in the country they won't keep his place open. Depending on the area and if the school is undersubscribed his place may or may not be available when you return.

You will need to give up the place and reapply once you are back in England.

They can't keep the space for a child who has left. While the school may say they'd be delighted to have your son back, they have to take children who apply according to normal rules

No they wont do this. Even in private school did imagine you’d have to pay for the full year to secure their place.

Definite no no

As others have said, no you can't do this, and if there is a waiting list why would you even think it would be a fair for a school to have a place and not give it to a child who is waiting to get in?

Unfortunately no you can’t do this.
We were considering going abroad for 3 months when DD was in Y2 and we were told she would lose her place.
A friend of mine who fled DV hoped to get her sons place back after 8 weeks but couldn’t despite the circumstances
If the school is popular the chances are they will fill the place quite quickly and you would have to apply for an in year place like everyone else

Thank you all for the information! It really helps us to make our decision about timing of our move. Many thanks again.