Getting DD into good Primary at age 6?

[overseasexpat]

Hi I am currently living overseas. My daughter is 3.5, I am keen to move back to the UK ASAP but due to DH work commitments etc prob cant make it till DD is 6ish. I am originally from London but due to the crazy house prices considering Bath / Bristol / York type places. I will probably attempt to rent or buy in the catchment area of a good state school as well why wouldn't I? Good enough reason as any to consider living somewhere! Question is do I have a chance in hell of actually getting in ? Its not like there will be spare places. Anyone got any advice ? From what Ive heard even the less sought after schools can be oversubscribed? Ive been away for quite a few years so never dealt with the UK education system. What happens if all the schools are full?

It will just depend where you go. I in a similar position and there are spaces at both schools I want my dd to go to. But sextuplets could move there tomorrow and there will be no spaces.

Some lea's will tell you where there are spaces and some won't.

My advice would be don't worry about it at all till you are there. It's not going to change anything.

Even if you moved into a "good" catchment you could be allocated another school some distance away if that was the nearest with a space in the right year. Most areas won't let you apply until you are resident or have legal commitment to be so. Chances are slightly improved once child is entering year 3 (academic year they turn 8) as infant class size restrictions no longer apply.

You could try phoning some schools you like the look of to see if they have any spaces before you made your application.

I really wouldn't worry about it until you have a likely location and date. We live within a mile of 6-8 primaries. All are fine or better. Spare places fluctuate by week / month. It can't easily be predicted. I know other areas where in the same radius 4-5 schools will have spaces

I would work backwards using the LEA school catchment maps - ring LEA in each county for links/copies.

Firstly find an amazing secondary
School, secondly look for good primary schools that feed into your chosen secondary school. Thirdly ring the primary schools you like the look of directly and arrange visits to those with spaces. Immediately after arrange to look at rented properties near your preferred school.

When you have signed a rental/buying contract, the school can allocate you the school place. It can take ages to get to the point of signing contracts when buying and it's quicker to get to contract signing point with renting, particularly if you have all references to hand.

Look at the parent portal website for a general overview of each school.

What's your budget for house buying?

My kids are at an outstanding school and maybe only 2/3 of the classes are full. Kids leave/arrive all the time due to relocating/various needs

There is movement in many schools, but you might find you have to travel to another school for a while till a place comes up. If she will be 6, she isn't far off year 3 and the pressure on places eases then.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/secondary/12/html/801.stm

Link to Bristol secondary league tables. Obviously there's more to a school then it's results and Ofsted inspection.

uk.yahoo.com/searchset

Bath schools

www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/secondary/11/html/816.stm

York

Type in the name of each school you are interested in for an overview dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk