Getting a place in a popular primary school in Yrs 2 and 4??

[testbunny]

Hi there

I have already posted a thread in 'secondary schools' as we are looking to move out of London for secondary. My question is; how easy will it be to get our children into a primary in Yrs 2 and 4 even if we are in the catchment? Could both children end up at different schools?

Thanks very much

It really depends where you move to

Hi,

I'm thinking Surrey, Guildford or Woking

As MrZ said, it really depends on the school and the LEA. Probably best to ask a school direct when you've narrowed your choices down a bit more.

I got 2 children into a school in London in years 2 and 4 - it was a church school though that helped I think.

I actually wanted them in a different school which they got into at Christmas and Easter after we moved here in the summer. It was a one form entry school. Agree the best way is to speak to the LEA, but also the schools direct - they have the best idea of which parents have told them that they are leaving.

Depends where you move to.

If schools are under-subscribed, there ought not to be a problem. If schools are over-subscribed, you could well end up with places in two different schools. If you move mid-year, the Fair Access Protocol should get you a place somewhere, but it may not be the schools you would ideally choose.

You can appeal for places in the school of your choice. It will be easier to win an appeal for the Y4 place because the infant class size rules won't apply. That may mean - depending on the school's admission criteria - that, if you haven't won an appeal on your younger chid's behalf, they might at least move to the top of the waiting list.

Read the current live threads on primary appeals for a discussion of infant class size rules etc.

Thanks ladies for this. I will contact the LEA.

BeattieBow I am thinking that it may be easier to get into London schools, rather than Surrey schools, later on, as families are more likely to move out rather than in??

Year 2 admissions tend to be more difficult because they can potentially be infant class size regs cases, and therefore the only criteria to win is prove a mistake was made. In a in-year case that is highly unlikely.
So my advice would be concentrate on the year 2 admission more than the year 4 initially. The year 4 may have to go to appeal but there is bigger chance fo success then.

thanks admission. I will ring up a couple of primary schools we have got our eye on, on Monday.

I think people always move out/on. Jobs change. I got lucky with school No2 because no one ever moves out of that school so to get 2 school places was miraculous. I know someone whose been waiting for 2 years for a place in a different year group, and she has a looked after child - so she is top of the list. If you get one of your children in first, that puts your second child higher up the list of priorities - it's inconvenient for a while doing 2 school runs, but increases the chances of getting in.

speak to the schools and get the best information you can. It helps if you can rent in a catchment area to start with - that gives more flexibiliy. I rented a tiny flat with my children in order to get them into this school.

BeattieBow - What year group is your friend with the looked-after child waiting for? If it's in KS2 she should think about appealing, as infant class size regs don't apply and she only has to convince the panel that the disadvantage to her child in not attending the school outweighs their disadvantage in admitting an extra pupil.

it's y1 - and apparently they've already got 31 children in that class, and there's another person above her on the list (another looked after child who lives closer).

I should say that I've got my y4 child in as child no 31 in the class - persuaded the headteacher on the basis that someone is leaving the class in the summer, so it is a short term increase in class size.

Hmm. Then it is far more difficult for your friend, because she is still within the scope of the infant class size rules. She could still appeal, but the bar will be set much higher.