School catchment areas-help!!

[honoraryhaggis74]

Hi. Am currently in a small village in Scotland where we have one primary school and your kids go there, simple. Am hoping to move back to England before the next school year and am a bit befuddled as to all the catchment area stuff. The place I am looking has a school 1mile from the house, (the lady in the house at the mo says all the children there go to this school) There is another school 0.8miles from the house which would be better, I know there's not much difference but when you don't drive every little bit helps hehe, but it comes under another town/city as far as I can see. Is there any chance do you think of my children attending there instead? Do I need to email the LAs to find out? Thanks :-) My head is in a spin!!

Many councils have a map on their website showing which school are in what catchments. If your don't, contect the school admissions team at the council.

All the info should be on the relevant council web sites - admissions rules, stats for previous years and whether catchments apply etc

Also be aware that being in catchment doesn't guarantee you a place. The Primary my DC went to is oversubscribed within catchment even after if was bumped up to 3 form entry!

Are your children needing to go to school now or this September or are they younger? If they are already of school age then it will depend where the spaces are. Remember too that some children start school earlier here so they might be in different year groups. Children who will be 4 by August 31st will be able to start reception this September. The schools are also less flexible in delaying children who are young for their year group.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that applications for the main round of Reception allocations in England close today.

As it sounds as if you have not exchanged on a house nor have a rental agreement in place, you will not be able to apply in time. When you do have an address, you can apply, but your application will be treated as "late", which reduces your choice as you can only be considered for a place after all on-time applications have been dealt with.

Secondly, many places in England do not have formal catchments, in the sense of priority admissions areas. And even if they do, it may come down to distance from the school. Catchment also means actual admissions footprint (ie what distance from the school do pupils actually come from). This varies year to year, but should give you some sense of how close you need to live to stand a realistic chance of a place.

Thanks everyone. I have 2 older children who started school in England and were moved years as of when their birthdays are so have experience of that. They have left home. My other children are 9 in Feb, 8 in Nov and my youngest is 5 in Sep...ideally need them all in same school as well...sounds like a minefield for school admissions!
This is early stages for moving, haven't seen the house in person yet....just wanted a bit of a heads up on the system :-)

You apply to the LEA you'll be living in, regardless of where the school is situated. I live near 3 borders and crossing them in any direction for a preferred school isn't uncommon. The likelihood of your getting a place at the school of your choice depends on many variables, so impossible to advise. But I will say that I moved from Scotland and got an in-year admission at pretty short notice to the Outstanding school I'd picked out for DS with no problems, so although there are many potential nightmare scenarios, sometimes it does work out the way you'd like. Look up as much info on the schools in question as you can, then you'll have a better idea of what you'll be dealing with and can maybe ask more questions here.

This will be classes as an in year transfer. The only question will be whether or not the school has a place available. If it does you will get in regardless of catchment areas. If it doesn't they won't offer you a place even if you live next door. Your chances of getting three children into the same school are low but you may be lucky.

Check with the LA for the area to which you are moving. You may need to apply to them or you may have to contact schools direct. If you apply to the LA they must find places for your children. If you have to apply direct the LA will only get involved if there are no places available within a reasonable distance of home. In that situation the LA can force a school that is already full to admit an additional child. So you will definitely get places for your children but they may not all be in the same school and I'm afraid it may not be schools you would choose. If you don't get places at your preferred schools you are entitled to appeal.

It sounds as if your oldest is in yr 4, middle in yr 2 (if they are currently 7) and youngest is currently preschool due to start reception in September. If you can find a place for your older two then your younger one might jump to the top of the list as a sibling - depending on the admission criteria. Probably best to ring the two schools to see if they currently have space - not a guarantee but a good indication of whether you might be lucky. You could ask if you could look around when you view houses. Some areas are full to bursting whereas others have space, you won't know until you ring or email them.

Thank you so much everyone, you've been a great help....always hard work when you move from one country to another even though all in the UK. Thanks x