School process

[Whathefisgoingon]

My child will turn 4 in Feb 2024. Based on what I’m reading, we have to apply for schools THIS year - is that right? 😐

I didn’t go to school in the UK, so I’m not sure on the process.

We are currently renting and I don’t plan to stay here, nor do I really want to send my child to school here. Do we therefore have to move to wherever we want to be before we apply for schools?

Yes, essentially. Your application is processed based on the address you're living at, because places are allocated using criteria that can depend on distance from the school and/or whether or not your address is in the school's catchment area if it has one.

If you know what area and school you would prefer your child to attend you should check the admissions criteria for that school and Local Authority to check what specific criteria are used. Then you can work out where you would need to move to, in order to facilitate a likely admission.

You will apply for a Reception place next academic year, the deadline is usually mid- January, so January 2024 (that’s the final deadline, you can submit application earlier, applications open in the September so sept 2023). You will then be informed of the place in April 2024, and your child will start Reception in September 2024.

Yes, your child's reception place needs to be applied for this autumn, the closing date is Jan 15 2024.

The address you apply from needs to be the child's permanent address at the time, so if you want allocations to be done from another address, yes you need to move by then. Some LAs have a slightly later date that you can update your address by, to allow for moves, but you would need to check on that as if differs by LA.

Thank you. So what happens if we get him in to school here, then move six months down the line. The switching process must be different to the application process, but how are you guaranteed a place anywhere? Are you allocated somewhere or do you still have to apply?

The whole thing seems really chaotic.

If you move after your child has started school, then the Local Authority has a duty to offer you a place in the nearest school to your new address that has space. You can be put on the waiting lists of schools that don't have space at that point in time, and so you could then later be offered a space at that school if one becomes available and your child is next on the list according to the admissions criteria for that school.

Or alternatively, if we apply for schools this autumn and have then moved by the time he’s due to start?

If you move after January 2024 you contact the LA of new area who will allocate you a vacancy but may not be at a school you would choose or nearby. If this is after September 2024 it is an In Year application. You can go on waiting lists for any preferred schools which are full.

Your new LA would have an obligation to find you a place somewhere; you would not be school-less. However, if you move after the final address change date, then your application is termed as late and would be processed after the on-time applications. This means you would get allocated a place from what is remaining after on-time applications are offered, so it may not be in a school of your choice. You can go on waiting lists for other schools at any time, and lists are ordered in accordance with admissions criteria, not time on list.