What would you do? Moving house and no school spaces

[Longheath8]

We have been trying to move for ages. We have been so so unlucky. And now we are in the exact position we want to avoid. Our child is in reception and we still haven't moved. Staying in our current house is not an option. Would you...

1. Move to a house locally so child can stay in current primary. Be prepared to move again for secondary. Current secondary is a special measures school. Has been for a long time. Poor results and poor reputation. The positives to this are being able to keep her where she is for primary. But the negatives are that we would quite possibly need to move again. And we would then be moving her away from friends when she is that bit older.

1. Move to the next town along. Different country. Very good schools. Its part of the reason why we wanted to move there in the first place. Drive her to her current school and put her on the waiting list for two schools in new area. This council allows 3 extra pupils in each class when they get to the juniors. So worst case scenario she would move over in year 3. That would mean though that we would have one year where her and our youngest were at different schools. It would be a pain. I also worry about moving her after 3 years at the school.

1. Move her straight away into the only school that has spaces. It is a new school. 15 students but will eventually be a two form entry school. Currently in temporary buildings but will move to new build school in a year or two. I'm worried about her being in such a small, new school. I worry about her missing out being part of a proper school community with older students etc.

This is such an emotional decision for us. We tried so hard not to be in this situation and I feel so angry and upset that we are in this position through no fault of our own. But every option seems so risky. I would really appreciate some very objective opinions.

I wouldn't do option 1. I think you will find it trickier later with friendships etc and have the hassle and expense of moving. I would get a feel for the new school and either go with option 3, or option 2 and cross your fingers for a waiting list place before her younger sister starts. I do think there could be some positives to 3 though e.g. small class sizes (although this can be problematic too). Also with COVID, I don't think the school community means as much.

I would take a step back and think that with suppotive parents, she will probably do pretty well in any school at primary age. You can look at clubs etc to make other local friends. So I wouldn't worry too much about doing things wrong for her.

I would move to where you want to end up living with good secondary schools. Moving at primary school is much easier than secondary, most of the emotional is felt by the parents, rather than the children, small children adapt reasonably easily.
You will stand a better chance of getting a place on a waiting list if you live locally. Not ideal but a place might come up quickly.

Move and option 3 and put on the waiting list for the other schools, if it doesn't work out she can move at juniors.

Ask schools in option 2 how much movement they get and how long the waiting list is. Then probably go for that option. Moving schools is fine.

I think we can get very worried about moving kids in primary, but really they will be fine. I would plan to move in primary but now she is in school there is no rush.
I would not go for the new school option, in a coupel of years, great, but not right now.

I would go for a variation on option 2.
Find your house, the one you want in the place you want, within the reach of a decent secondary.
If that takes one month, fine, if it takes 2 years, fine.
Once you have a house, apply for places. Ask to go on the waiting list for any of the schools you would be happy with.
This waiting list is not done by who comes first, but by who is the highest in terms of requirements, so once you live there, you may be top of, or close to top of the waiting list. It would be pretty unusual for not one single place to come up in 3 different schools, over 2 years.

Once your younger child is in the school, you also get sibling priority to move you to the top of the waiting list.

year 3 is not a bad time to move at all, and she would be fine. But I think you will gte your place sooner than that.

I’d also just move and be done with it. Personally, I like the sound of the new school. With tiny classes, she should get a lot of attention from the teacher. The school will grow over time and by Y6, there won’t be any difference to being there vs another school at capacity with your daughter in the oldest year group. She’ll also have lovely new, shiny facilities to use. Not sure what she’d miss out on in the meantime - congestion in the playground?

Option 3.
You can always move again for Juniors if required.
I agree with JoJo tho. A small group when young, getting bigger as she gets older sounds perfect!

I would move and put her on the wait list for the school(s) you like. There's always movement