Applying for primary but hoping to move counties

[Stuckonthebaby]

My DC1 is due to start primary next September. We currently live in X county but are actively looking to move to Y, to be closer to family. As yet nothing has come up that we want to buy but hopefully it will soon.

In the meantime we have to apply for schools by January, yet we don't want to feel pushed into buying ahead of that as we're looking for a 'forever house' so are of the mind that if it takes a year, it takes a year; we aren't in a rush to move.

But in the meantime I am confused about how to apply for schools. Having spoken to Y council, they seem to think I should apply via X council but apply for school near to me now and schools where we want to move.

Now aside from not knowing which schools to apply for until we find the house, (our search area is broad) what if we get a place there, but then can't move in time (she seemed to suggest catchment areas don't always apply). But then what if we accept a place here, then move later in the spring/summer with no school place in the new area?

This seems a bizarre approach to me and I am utterly unsure as to what to do. Should we rent to secure a place where we want to live as an interim measure? Should we apply here and deal with it later if we manage to buy a place before the school year? But then what if they don't get a place anywhere?!

We do have the option to go private but would like to avoid this if possible, but then I have no idea how the admissions process works privately and if that would even solve the problem!

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!!

You must apply through the X county regardless of where the school is. Realistically unless you are only moving a very short distance from one side of the boundary to the other you are unlikely to get a place at any school in Y.

If you are offered a place in Y you will need to send your child there from next September regardless of where you are living.

You will not be offered places in both locations. You will only be offered one place. If it is where you are currently living you will need to apply to Y when you move. You will then get a place there. However, as you will have missed the main admissions round it is unlikely you will get a place at a popular school.

Renting may not help. County Y may regard that as a misleading application, in which case they will use your current home address and ignore the rented address.

Given that you don't know when you will be moving you should apply for schools near your current home. When you move you can apply to county Y. Whatever happens you will not be left without a place.

Having just moved myself, I would say get your skates on and move straightaway if you want any certainty whatsoever with the school you will eventually go to.

Councils will only consider your current address and you will have to be where you will be permanently on the application deadline.

It doesn't matter if you rent or buy aslong as the address you apply from is your main permanent residence and that you can prove it.

You need to establish a hit list of schools and understand what the distance criteria is for places and plan your move accordingly and also contact them to ascertain whether you have any chance at all of a place if you were to apply outside of the main round of applications (this is risky as there are no guarantees someone will leave anyway although some areas have more movement than others).

IME it is best in a new area to go where there are at least a few good schools nearby rather than 1 that is amazing. It makes sense aswell not to position yourself very close to a school you would not accept.

I would get your skates on, sell up and rent near your family and near a handful of decent acceptable schools. You need to get your permanent address sorted and the proof eg. Bills and council tax by January 25th deadline. if you don't you will have to apply from where you are and get a school based on current house.

Thank you all. If we don't move in time I'll just have to suck it up and apply locally and see what we get. In the meantime I'll enrol him at the private school so we have a back up if we're not happy!