Junior school application - looking for any any and advice on unique situation

[Jamesb1989]

Hi all

I have a very odd position and need some advice.

My son is currently in year 2 at infant school. The school splits at year 3 to their junior school site. We therefore need to technically apply to the council for a place at the junior school, however as we are a feeder school he gets priority. The only group of children above the feeder school on the priority / allocation list are “looked after kids”.

We are currently well within the catchment area, however, we are potentially moving house to slightly further away (only 1 mile but probably outside of catchment).

Any advice on when we should aim to move? We will apply for his year 3 place before 15th Jan (national cut off date for application) with our current address. Should we try to delay everything until March time to be super safe but then risk collapsing our chain.

Sorry if that doesn’t make sense and appreciate any advice. Thanks!

We had the same situation (8 years ago) and because we lived in catchment WHEN THE PLACE WAS ALLOCATED and we were able to prove it that place was secured. I rang the schools authority at the time and they said that if we moved after application and before allocation then we could lose the place. I don’t know if that would apply now. Ring them. They were really helpful when I did.

What is the exact wording of the criteria? If it is "attends feeder school" then it doesn't matter where you live. If it is "lives in school catchment area and attends feeder school" then it matters.

Additionally, consider if the school is oversubscribed. If the criteria is in-catchment feeder, out-catchment feeder, then does it matter that you are out of catchment? If there are less people who live inside the catchment area and attend the feeder school, then if you are just outside it you're still likely to get a place.

Our school also splits to a separate one in year 3 and the kids are guaranteed a place at the junior school, I think you will be fine with your current plan

Hi all thanks for the replies , the exact wording is

1 - looked after / previously looked after children
2 - children attending school name infants at the time of application
3 - children with an evidence exceptional social / medical need of themselves/close family member
4 - siblings of children at school name Infants / Juniors at the time of application & start date
5 - children of staff
6 - all others, with the closest first.

Then it doesn't matter where you live. If the exact wording is "children attending school name infants at the time of application" you meet that criteria regardless of where you live.