HELP - thinking of moving to the area but worried about getting primary school place for son

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Dear all - I'd really appreciate any help as getting really anxious about school / moving options. I currently live in Hackney and have a DS who has just turned 4 and a DD who is about to turn 1. We live in a small 2 bed flat which we're are bursting out of (second bedroom is tiny so DD in with us and still up every night) and house prices in the local area have gone insane. Also DH has just landed a job in South London so we're considering a move South. However i'm worried about getting a place for my son in a local primary school. We're looking at houses around Honor Oak Park and Forest Hill but realistically we won't be able to move until this Spring / Summer so will have missed all the school application deadlines. Has anyone managed to get onto a waiting list and get a place at the last minute? Or the following year? I'm wondering if we should consider renting somewhere to get the school place then think about buying at a later date. Any help or advice would be really appreciated :)

I do know people who got in on the waiting list either through a bulge class or by moving very close to a school. So it is definitely possible.

The only issue with renting and then buying at the moment is that prices seem to have gone bonkers. Not sure how long it will continue.

It is lovely round here.

We did go down the path of renting near good school and buy later. When we were looking at houses, Lewisham council was incredibly helpful with how high we would be on waiting list of we rented house X. When Lewisham council said, we would be 2nd on the waiting list for first choice school and 1st on the waiting list, we went for the house and signed the contracts. We applied using 'Late application form for reception class' and got on waiting list quickly. We got keys early August and there was already a letter offering place at school.

People move in and out of London all the time, so if you are high on the waiting list, you have good chance. (people don't accept offer or change mind later so places do get freed up before reception class starts). So you better hurry up and apply well before September class starts even though you missed January deadline.

Good luck!

I also am moving to the area for uni this summer. Want to move to New Cross area and need a school for my 6 year old son - he'll be going into year 2 in September.

I'm going to look at Kender Primary next month - anyone recommend this or any other schools in the area?

Thanks :)

I also am moving to the area for uni this summer. Want to move to New Cross area and need a school for my 6 year old son - he'll be going into year 2 in September.

I'm going to look at Kender Primary next month - anyone recommend this or any other schools in the area?

Thanks :)

We are considering moving and renting in this area. Can you recommend any good state primary schools?

Also, what is the process? Do we first get the flat and then apply for a place at a school or the other way round?

Thanks!

You need to get an address first then apply for a school. What age is your child? It's generally easier to get a non reception / KS1 place than a reception one.

Pretty much all the schools in the local area are very good so there's lots of options.

I know people with kids at Horniman, Fairlawn, Eliot Bank, Kilmorie and Francesca Cabrini and all seem happy with them. Depends which part of Forest Hill / Honor Oak you want as there's more good schools about like Dalmain, Stillness, etc.

Lewisham Council is helpful so you could ask them how far a certain address is from a school.