Timing a school move?

[ShoeWhore]

We're trying to relocate at the moment, ideally over the summer holidays.

However in order to apply for school places in September, we need to have an address sorted by early-mid June, I think. Despite our best efforts, things aren't progressing as quickly as we'd like with our house sale and I'm not as sure as I was as to how feasible this is going to be.

There are clear advantages to starting the academic year with everyone else. Trying to work out how much of a disaster it would be if we didn't move until the autumn and they started at new school after half term say or even after Christmas. I guess the other option is we press ahead regardless, rent in the new location and leave the current house empty crossing our fingers everything goes through.

We have a few more weeks for things to sort themselves out so fingers crossed it all comes together. But I want to think through all the possibilities - it calms me down in the face of all this uncertainty! If anyone has any experience or thoughts to share it would be very helpful.

Ds1 is going into Yr6 in September if that makes any difference - although into middle school so we don't need to worry about secondary admissions.

I don't think not starting a new school in September is crucial enough to start adding complications with temporary rented accommodation IMO. Assuming you are confident that your DC will get a place in the school of your choice via mid year application. We went though our last house move some years ago hoping that it would go through in time for our DS to start reception in the new location but it ended up that he had to start reception in the old location and move schools the following Easter. Not ideal but worked out ok in end.

I wouldn't bust a gut to be in place for September 2nd, but would absolutely make sure you're there for the secondary application deadline at the end of October.

Isn't the deadline mid October? I could be wrong..

Hi - we are in a similar position. Dh's job starts in September, we are relocating four hours away and we have a house we want to buy but are having trouble selling ours.

I don't know whether to approach the school in the village where the house is or wait, as we have no idea if we will get the house. I would avoid renting if at all possible as we could then end up buying in a different location and be in the wrong place for the school we'd chosen for the dc.
OP - I wouldn't be too bothered about starting at the beginning of September, but I guess you do need to be there by secondary application date. Not a problem for us yet, thankfully, as dc will be in yr2 and 5. Good luck!

Thanks for your replies. As I said, thankfully there are no worries about secondary admissions as it's a middle school system where we are moving. So ds1 will be going into middle school where he will stay until the end of Year 8. So thankfully that is one less thing to worry about!

I should maybe relax a bit about September then