Please tell me about waiting lists...

[babymakesfive]

Hoping to move back to the UK after many years overseas, and enroll my DC in local schools.

Some local councils have been really helpful and told us how many children are on waiting lists for various schools for years 2 and 5 - my kids' years. I know that various factors come into play, such as proximity to school, sibling preference etc, but in reality, how likely is it that my kids would get into a school if there are over 5 kids on the waitlist for their year? The schools in Winchester have as many as 25 kids, even for year 5! We don't want to settle on an area that has massively oversubscribed schools, and for our DC to only be accepted into the worst school in the area.

A couple of decent schools (in very expensive neighbourhoods that we wouldn't ordinarily choose) have said that at the moment, they so have spaces. I'm guessing we wouldn't need to be in immediate catchment for those if there is no waiting list? If we live a mile or so away, would that limit play date opportunities? We're not finding anyrentals within budget in the areas that have available school spaces, so it's proving to be a real headache!

Lastly, there's a chance we'll have to stay overseas until October (work reasons). How hard would it be for DC to start in a new school, a month into the new term? I know that with Covid, everything is off kilter anyway, but I'm trying to ensure that the kids don't feel completely at sea/have no chance of making friends, especially after such a major life upheaval.

Thank you so much in advance, the UK school system is entirely new to me (I went to school here, but that was back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth!)

If a school has a waiting list of 5 (or any number), like you say your position on entering the waiting list will depend on all those factors. Also if one child gets a place, the other is likely to move up the waiting list. It's worth considering you can appeal for a place, but this is very unlikely to be successful in year 2, because infant class size regulations apply. You might have a bit more chance in year 5, especially if your yr2 already has a place, but this will be time consuming.

If schools have spaces, you can have the space however far away you live. I would imagine there is always going to be some children living further away, and if you are willing to put in the work (driving etc) I don't see it's a massive problem. Although a bit more challenging in that if you pick another child up by car you would need a second car seat.

Posted too soon, I would probably go for schools with spaces, even if you can't live that close. If you choose near a oversubscribed school, you may still have to travel for a place and have a school you like less. Also I know this is complicated, but do consider secondary. It's not far off, and arguably a good school is more important then, as it's harder to support them than in primary.

Yes, things like distance and catchment only come into play if there is a waiting list. If there are spaces, they must go to anyone who applies.

Waiting lists are held in accordance with the admissions criteria (usually looked after children, siblings, maybe religious, then Distance etc.) rather than first-come, first-served. This means you can go down a list as well as up, for example if someone applies who lives closer than you or meets a higher criteria. This also means that you could go in at a higher position on the list, e.g. the school with 25 on the waiting list, if you came higher in the criteria than 23 of them, you could be third on the list. Assuming that distance is one of the deciders, you won’t know that until you have an address though.

When we moved back to the UK, for the school they are currently attending...

DD1 entered WL for her year at No.9. DD2 was No.2 in her Year group (as if beginning of September). Within the first week of term, it became clear that 3 children had left DD2s year group. She was offered a space. That moved DD1 up to No.1 (over the 8 children who lived closer). DD1 was then admitted by the Appeals Board. She was the first pupil to enter her year group since Reception. In most year groups 2or3 left each year to be replaced. No other child can be admitted from the list until 2 leave her year group now.

This is not an exception school by the way... It gets reasonable results, the children ar happy and the teaching is good. But it's not top of league table or has Ofsted raving about it. It's just normal.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

When we moved back to the UK, for the school they are currently attending...

DD1 entered WL for her year at No.9. DD2 was No.2 in her Year group (as if beginning of September). Within the first week of term, it became clear that 3 children had left DD2s year group. She was offered a space. That moved DD1 up to No.1 (over the 8 children who lived closer). DD1 was then admitted by the Appeals Board. She was the first pupil to enter her year group since Reception. In most year groups 2or3 left each year to be replaced. No other child can be admitted from the list until 2 leave her year group now.

This is not an exception school by the way... It gets reasonable results, the children ar happy and the teaching is good. But it's not top of league table or has Ofsted raving about it. It's just normal.

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful.

@BendingSpoons

Posted too soon, I would probably go for schools with spaces, even if you can't live that close. If you choose near a oversubscribed school, you may still have to travel for a place and have a school you like less. Also I know this is complicated, but do consider secondary. It's not far off, and arguably a good school is more important then, as it's harder to support them than in primary.

Thanks a lot, very helpful info x