Admissions in a new borough.

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

We are finally moving to a new borough within the next few weeks.

My ds1 is currently in reception and we will keep him at his school until the end of term.

I've spoke to the new boroughs admissions department and they 'can't' tell me anything until I have actually moved into the area.

The 2 schools which I'm interested in admission criteria is
1 sn, fostered children
2 catchment area
3 siblings of children at the school out of the catchment area
4 distance from school

Would ds1 be put at the top of the list as he would have no school in the new borough, or would it depend on the criteria he meets? Eg, distance?

And of course, that's obviously IF a place becomes available.

Any info would be fab

Thanks

I think they have to allocate him a place somewhere, anywhere with space. You might want to put him on a waiting list for a school you prefer if you don't want the school he is given.

I believe, and I may be wrong, that if you ask for a place at a specific school and they have a place he could have, he will get it.

And if they allocate a school over 2 miles away they will have to provide transport for him.

Being without a school in the new borough does not give you any priority. If there is a waiting list your position will be determined purely by the admission criteria.

You are entitled to keep your son at his current school if you wish. You do not have to change schools simply because you are moving to a different borough.

Assuming you do want to change, the admissions department is being unhelpful. They should be able to tell you which schools (if any) have places. If one of your preferred school has a place you can apply to your current borough for a place at this school and they must give it to you. You cannot apply directly to the new borough until you have moved.

If your preferred schools don't have places, the new borough should offer you a place at the nearest school with places available. If there are no places available within a reasonable distance, their Fair Access Protocol should kick in. That means your child can be admitted to a school that is already full, but it doesn't necessarily mean you will get one of your preferred schools. Generally a place allocated under the FAP will be at the nearest school that the LA thinks is best able to cope with an additional pupil.

Thanks for your advice.

I assumed they would go off the admission criteria, just wasn't sure if he would get priority with having no place.

It's certainly not a problem for the time being him staying at the school he is at. He is on the waiting list for our two preferred schools but at our current address he's currently 2nd and 6th.

And I obviously don't expect them to put him where I want him to go just because he doesn't have a place in the borough.

Thanks for your help though.

And is year 1 still 30 children to a class?

ICS covers YR, Y1 and Y2 so will still apply. How far away is the old school from the new address?

What will be his old school and new address it's 2.4 miles. But one of the reasons we're moving is to get him in a better school.

So I don't mind him staying there for a bit as he's settled etc, but I do want to change schools.

But I'm realistic about things and I know I can't get a place if there is none!

If the new borough can't offer you anything nearer than his old school and it is over 2 miles away by the shortest walking route, your son will be entitled to free transport to and from school until he is 8 years old. When the child reaches 8 the distance to qualify for free transport goes up to 3 miles in most cases.

Thanks again.

And thanks prh you have me some great advice last year re an appeal. Very helpful - although not successful thank you though.