Moving to London part way through primary. What's going to happen?

[Mrsfrumble]

We're currently living in the US, and planning to return to London in the summer of 2016. DS turned 4 in October, so will be starting year 1 in the 2016/2017 school year.

We're hoping to return to Islington where we'd been living for 11 years previously and have many ties, but we were and will be renting, so are not exactly sure where we'll end up. As we would have done our application for DS's reception place last week had we not moved here I've been thinking about our return and how it's all going to pan out with regard to schooling. Does anyone have any experience of moving to London (specifically Islington) between academic years? How does it work in terms of contacting the LEA and being allocated a place?

DH thinks it's daft to worrying this far in advance, but I think we need to consider the worst case scenarios of them having no places at all, or being given a place at a school that's inconvenient for us. I have a horrible feeling that there was bit of "baby boom" in 2010 so may be a bulge year...

We're not in Islington but a similar place south of the river. Here it is much easier to get a place from y1 onwards as there is loads of movement. I have a child in y1 in a very sought after school and there are at least 3 children moving away soon or at the end of the school year. Further up the school even more leave. There is a really big turnover. Reception places are a nightmare though. All these people who move out to Surrey etc then seem to have a nightmare finding school places!

"We spoke to the vicar before we left London, and he said that he would vouch for us as long as we also had a letter from a church here in the US to say that we've been regular attendees (which we are)."

He isn't allowed to do this unless you meet the objective attendance criteria, if any, in the stated period before the application.

If you come back next year there is a good chance DD will meet it anyway but please do check - what if that vicar transferred elsewhere in the next few months? Of course you might not be able to change things easily but if a month either way made the difference...

I think the vicar meant that with his reference and one from our pastor in the US we would meet the criteria, rather than he'd lie for us! We specifically asked him about it before we left because we originally planned to be back in London in time to apply for DS to start reception.

I do know someone who is on the admissions board for the church school, so I'll check with her to be sure when we're next in London for a visit.

Thanks to everyone for the advice (and for not pulling any punches!). I feel a bit sick with anxiety about the whole thing but I guess DH is right; that there's not much we can until we get back so there's no point in worrying.

It's true there's no point worrying but there is every point in planning so that you don't make decisions that aren't going to work. You need to plan that you might have to home-educate or pay for private school for DS for years 1&2, and factor that into your plans. It's possible that you may get an acceptable place for DS but much more likely that you won't. It is true that the sibling priority works both ways and the class-size restrictions are relaxed at year 3 so it may be possible to persuade your preferred school to take DS once DD has a reception place.

Damn, I don't think I've ever started a thread with such a depressing outcome before. But thank you everyone anyway; I think I'd been kidding myself that we hadn't totally buggered things up for DS by moving here and staying longer than initially planned.

Although the church school was our preference, I want to make it clear that we would have been happy with a place at most of the other local primaries. I think location was probably more important actually. Although we could possibly stretch to school fees for a year or 2 it seems as if the local private schools are going to be stuffed full as well, and as I say, I really feel I'd be failing DS if I tried to home educate. Bugger bugger bugger.

Sorry, Mrsf!

With respect to the vicar, the church criteria have to be objective ie x number of attendances in y time period and/or baptised or christened for a certain time period. Each school is slightly different as to numbers of each but the point is that it's not a character reference that vicars write, it's a confirmation of the facts.

As an example, here's the policy of a c of e school in a different area if London:

webfronter.com/rbkc/stmaryabbots/

The admissions policy is linked on the front page.

I agree with a PP rent at the doorstep of desired school (more chance with 2/3 form entry), you may not get in right away but as soon as a place comes up your ds will be a priority.

Contact Hill House too. It's not particularly convenient for you location wise but pupils come from all over including Islington. They are accommodating and not greedy about reservation fees and deposits. Definitely worth a chat.

I think everyone's being far too pessimistic. Islington actually has a surplus of places (not necessarily in the primaries you'd want, but still) and there is loads of movement. People move to cheaper areas often midway through primary or decide they want to go private, return to their country of origin etc etc. I think you're far better off in a bustling London borough than in the countryside where the population is quite static.

My kids' school is always oversubscribed in reception but there are always quite a few places popping up for various reasons along the years. I'm sure it's the same in other ones.

Thanks Yonic, it hadn't actually occurred to me that I could just look up the church school's admissions policy on their website .

I've had a look and the vicar was right; we need confirmation from clergy of at least fortnightly attendance at the parish church for 2 years, with a footnote saying that parents who have been attending for less than 2 years because they have recently moved to the area need a reference from clergy at their previous church. So a letter from the pastor at our church here in the US will cover us.

That does provide a small glimmer of hope at least.

Does anyone know anything about Rosemary Works in Islington?

Ok, glad you checked!

Honestly, I work in a place where people are always rotating in and out of London. They all get school places. People massively exaggerate the difficulties - as I said earlier, it's a big city, people move.