Moving house and choosing primary schools.

[rhocfan1]

So I recently chose 4 schools near our current home I'd like my daughter to attend in sept full time one of which is the school she's already at (she's in the nursery) but we recently found out we may be moving March/April time..I don't drive so chances are she could get into a school this end of town but we are moving the other end of town so it would mean a long walk in the mornings..could I rush the move and change preferences on the application or am I now stuck with the schools I've chosen?..it'll be fine if she gets to stay at the one she's at currently as it's actually the catchment school for the area we are moving to but I know a place there isn't guaranteed. Is there an option to change the schools I've put down? When exactly will the decision be made? I'm assuming before March/April. Thanks

Yes you can change your choices any time up to deadline day on jan 15th.

Oh wow that's not long! We may not be moving until March time..I don't know what to do for the best now..if she gets into a school close to where we live now and then we move is there an option to change her schools then or will there be a waiting list?

I'd call the LA and have a chat with them and be honest. In our area if you move between Jan and allocations day you are obliged to tell them or you can be accused of playing the system!

I never said I wasn't going to tell them but it's going to be a mutual exchange and nothing is set in stone as to when moving day may be..if at all. We both said March/April time but by that time If she gets into a school down the road from where we live now (15min walk from us) and then we move in March come September that 15 min walk with be a 40 min one. Wish I drove, then it wouldn't be a problem but I'm not sure what to do for the best. I need a definite yes about the swap really before I contact them but it'll be to change one of the schools for one that's closer to where we may be moving so the other 3 will remain the same..

Just to clarify. The move is because of neighbour problems. It just so happens that the school she's currently at is the catchment school for that area which we didn't know until after we'd viewed the house and said we'd like to swap. I wouldn't ever play the system. If that was the case I wouldn't have moved out of the catchment for that school in the first place which we did 2 years ago.

You need to put in your application based on your current address. When do you hear the results of the placements?

Then tell the LEA your new address when you know the move will happen. But ring them now to make sure this is right. The last thing you want to do is get this wrong due to the problems it can cause. Being accused of playing the system ECT. The best thing is to keep them informed all times.

Thanks mig. We made the 4 preferences based on this address and then shortly afterwards we found a possible mutual exchange. I'll give them a call tomorrow. I need to know we are definitely moving but the moving date won't be known for at least 6 weeks after we put in the applications to swap..it's such a pain!

Check with the local authority and ask them for their written policy on what happens when people move house after the deadline for on-time applications.

My local one, for example, allows you to change your address if you move by a certain date in February and this new address will then be used to determine your school application. If you move after this certain date in February, then the original address is used for the offer you get on national offer day but the new address is used in relation to waiting lists after that. Clear as mud, eh?!

Anyway, my point being you need to ask the LA what happens in your area, because there are no clear national rules on this.

So if I do move house in March and she's already been given a place in a school down this way can I put her on a waiting list for a school in our area? If she doesn't get a place before September in a school near us am I allowed to keep her off school until she does get a place because tbh I don't want to be sending her to a new school, have her settle in there and then say Jan they give her a place in a school near our new home and then I have to uproot her again..I don't know how it all works. Sorry for all the questions..