Secure primary school place when moving to Manchester

[FrankDrebin]

I am looking for an advice on my best steps when moving to another city for work reason. My new workplace is in Manchester and I currently live in Chester. My children currently go to reception and year 2, and from September 2019 they will move one year up. An area in Manchester where we want to live has no spaces in nearby good schools.

Can I put my name on the waiting list at Manchester City Council while still living in Chester, and only move when places become available ?

Is it possible to get a place at a full classroom ?

It appears that all goods schools in popular areas are oversubscribed and I fear I would be allocated a place in a school a long distance away.

What area are you looking at? You also need an address to apply from as they measure place on wait list by distance.

If you stay in Chester you will be unlikely to get a place at a school you want as they allocate places on distance (generally) so you will be very far down any waiting list... It's hard moving when you have kids in school - IMO you just have to bite the bullet & do it... I recently moved away from Manchester with kids in Y6 and Y2!

Where do you want to move to?

You will need an address before you apply.
No school will allocate whilst you're still living in Chester.Sorry.
Pressure on waiting lists in Manchester is still severe so you might be waiting a while.