East Sussex In-Year Admissions - Danehill/Chelwood Gate/Forest Row

[ludixon]

Hi there,

We're buying a house in East Sussex. Danehill would be our local school. Our eldest is in Reception at the moment and as we are out of area, we will be transferring him to a new school.

Back in March, the school told us they had spaces. But now the situation has changed because they are expecting a bumper admissions Reception group for the new school year in September.

The school has mixed class year groups and although there are only 8 in Reception at the mo (the year group our eldest is in) they have dished out 17 places for the new Reception class, making a total of 25, rather than the usual 24 (12 spaces per year group).

Is this year a bulge year? Are people in the area finding that Reception classes are over subscribed for the coming year? Or are there are lot of people that 'go private' but hold on to places until the last minute.

We are moving in June, so can't wait for things to shift around before September and see if people take up places that have been offered to them.

#panicking!

Any insider info HUGELY appreciated.

Lucy

If the admission number is 12 they should not be admitting 17 unless either the LA has agreed a change in PAN or there have been a lot of mistakes.

Whatever the reason for the overadmission, it is irrelevant. You will be moving in June and therefore applying for a place to start in Reception immediately. The admission number is 12 and there are only 8 children in Reception. That means there are 4 vacancies and they must, by law, give a place to anyone who applies. Unless all 4 vacancies fill up by the time you apply you will get a place.

The school may not be aware of its responsibilities but I'm sure the LA is. You apply to the LA for a place, not the school.

Thanks! I've left a message for the LEA, will have to wait until we exchange before I can do anything anyway. Only 4 weeks of nail biting to go.

We are not far away in east grinstead and September is going to be a massive intake compared to last year. Some schools here are doubling their intake this year!

Hi, I just wanted to wish you luck. We moved to Chelwood Gate in December and my youngest is at school in E.G, I have now applied for a place at Danehill, im still waiting to hear back from the LEA, Danehill have told me the yr group I need is full so Im keeping my fingers crossed and constantly checking my hotmail for the decision! lol. Its seems a very good school and I can see why its full.

Hi Beech21

We're moving to Chelwood Gate too!!!! Hopefully we are exchanging this coming week on our house purchase on Beaconsfield Road. My son is going into Reception, and hopefully (there are a lot of 'hopefullys!') he'll have a couple of weeks before the end of the school year. What about you? I also have a 2 year old and a 3 1/2 year old. LEA says there are places, so hopefully (!) we'll be ok.

Would love to chat! Not sure if I can message you privately - will give it a go!

Thehen - it is the same round here. Sooo many people without a school place, and we get to put down six options! We're leaving a very good, but enormous, school. Not sure how DS1 will take to it, as his year group is bigger than Danehill! Fingers crossed!