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Original poster

In year application for Bromley

26 replies

Doubleistrouble · 18/02/2021 18:39

We’ll be moving to Petts Wood next month and have to apply for an in year primary place for our son. I need to know how it works in terms of withdrawing his place from his current school? It’ll be more than 1.5 hours round trip one way to take him back and fro until we get an in year place. This will be really difficult as we work full time. How long does the in year application take normally? I’m conflicted as I don’t wish for more time off from school and also dread driving in peak time along with juggling a toddler and wfh. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Original poster
Doubleistrouble · 19/02/2021 10:19

Anyone?

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DuckyMcDuck · 19/02/2021 13:53

@Doubleistrouble

Anyone?
Is there a space available in the school you want him to go to?

Bromley Council are pretty good at answering questions if you give them a call.

Original poster
Doubleistrouble · 19/02/2021 14:58

@DuckyMcDuck, I was hoping to speak to them as soon as we have a confirmed completion date. Our nearest schools are Crofton and Perry Hall which I’ve been told are oversubscribed so not hopeful of getting them in the 1st round.

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DuckyMcDuck · 19/02/2021 17:14

As I'm sure you're aware, the problem with in-year applications in a full class is they can only offer you a place if someone leaves and a place becomes available. It's therefore, probably impossible to know exactly when one will come available.

Which Year group are you looking at? People are less likely to move children in Years 5&6.

If you speak to Bromley they may be able to tell you if there is anyone already on the waiting list for that Year.

Think about looking at other local schools too - depending how old your son is. You might decide it's easier to do a slightly longer school run for a few years if you can get a place sooner rather than later.

TrojaninTroy · 20/02/2021 17:56

I'm going through the process in another borough. Admissions have given the following helpful advice:

If you give up your current school place then they will have to find you a school place, but it could be at the other end of the borough.
If you intend to stay in your current school until a school of your choice becomes available then only apply for schools that you are interested in (so if you're only interested in three specific ones then don't list others that you would only turn down).
They will let you know the current status of the waiting list when you put in an application.
In-year admissions criteria are the same as when you apply for a Reception place, so you could go further ahead than somebody already on the waiting list.

I hope that's of some help.

PettsWoodParadise · 22/02/2021 09:21

When our neighbours moved in they withdrew their children from their previous primary school which was about five miles away. They were allocated a school within two weeks by Bromley Council and stayed on waitlist for Crofton. As they were geographically very close to the school they were fairly near top of wait list and got a place two terms later. Apart from a two week gap, one of which was school holidays anyway, they were not without a school place.

If you have a toddler too will they be applying soon in the usual round too? Once you have a sibling at a school your older child would be near the top of the wait list.

Whilst Crofton is a big school and there can be movement it is also popular so when families move away they are more likely to stay than give up a place if it is within reasonable travel distance.

Original poster
Doubleistrouble · 22/02/2021 13:27

Thank you all for your advice, I’m hoping to minimise time off school as he has already missed days due to lockdown.
@PettsWoodParadise my younger one is still a couple of years away from starting school so hope for a place before that.

@DuckyMcDuck he is in year 1, I understand it’s harder in KS1 as the max allowed is 30 ?
I’m ok with a local school and putting him on a waitlist for Crofton/PH as it’ll be unsustainable travelling 6 miles every day for months.

I hope to get a moving date this week so fingers crossed for that.

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Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 23/02/2021 23:25

I am currently going through this process with Bromley. When I rang them up before and shortly after our move they were generally not keen on giving me any indication of available school places if I had not applied yet (they did after I pressed them for it). They generally want you to fill in the in-year application form first and send it to them by post, once they have processed it they are very happy to provide information on available places and waiting list positions.
They also require a pile of documents so I would advise you have a look at their website for the list and start getting it together as far as you can (some you won't have until you have moved).
Please not that you can only put three schools on the list. But they told me about available places at other schools when I asked them for it.

HappyfeetD · 13/03/2021 23:11

Hey, I am going through the same process, will be moving near pettswood next month so worried about in year admisssion for my son who is in reception. Any advice on how to go about it ? Did you guys get your preferred choices ?

PettsWoodParadise · 14/03/2021 20:59

From people I know who’ve moved nearby it seems there has been a bit of a central London exodus to our area but then also a corresponding exodus into deeper Kent so places do come up at local schools, it is a matter of timing and how you fit in with the oversubscription criteria. Some of the more popular schools like Crofton, families are keeping their children at the school despite a possible commute so places don’t necessarily come up just because someone moves away.

Even if you don’t get your preferred school straight away you can go on the waitlist for other school, of course you can go down they list over time if others love to the area who are higher up the oversubscription criteria.

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 15/03/2021 17:20

@HappyfeetD

Hey, I am going through the same process, will be moving near pettswood next month so worried about in year admisssion for my son who is in reception. Any advice on how to go about it ? Did you guys get your preferred choices ?
We were on the waiting list since June last year and just got offered a place at our preferred school. So it can take a while, if you want a specific school. We could have taken a place earlier elsewhere but decided to wait. We were on the waiting list for four schools and it was just a case that someone left last week. We were always at the top of the waiting list for the schools we had chosen. You need to be quite realistic which waiting lists you join as your position on the waiting list comes down to the usual admissions criteria, distance most likely.
HappyfeetD · 15/03/2021 21:50

Hey @Puffthemagicdragongoestobed thanks for your reply. We are currently going through the process and my main concern about it all is schools. It is such a mentally draining process. Can I ask though, did you accept a place in some other school for your child or keep them out of school till a place came up in the preferred one? I am unsure if that happens to us then can we accept a place at another school and still be on the waiting list for our preferred schools? Or is it better to not accept a place and stay on the waiting lists till a place becomes available. Many Thanks.

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 15/03/2021 22:53

@HappyfeetD

Hey *@Puffthemagicdragongoestobed* thanks for your reply. We are currently going through the process and my main concern about it all is schools. It is such a mentally draining process. Can I ask though, did you accept a place in some other school for your child or keep them out of school till a place came up in the preferred one? I am unsure if that happens to us then can we accept a place at another school and still be on the waiting list for our preferred schools? Or is it better to not accept a place and stay on the waiting lists till a place becomes available. Many Thanks.
We kept the place at our current school in another borough as it was still commutable by car (bit of a schlep though). I wouldn't have wanted to change schools twice. I do believe that you can accept one place and stay on the waiting list for others. Best ring the council and ask them.
HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 01:16

Thanks @puffthemagicdragongoestobed . I do believe that would have been the best option to keep place in previous school while waiting but unfortunately, that is not a feasible option for due to distance. We got harris primary orpington as an option while waiting for our preferred choice. Does anyone know anything about the school and if its OK?

PettsWoodParadise · 22/04/2021 08:16

It was Hillside Primary I think before it joined the Harris Federation and it doesn’t seem to have managed to turn it round from the Requires Improvement. It is located on the Ramsden Estate and the intake of a third on free school meals reflects the local community. Some of the community are transient as there is a traveller community nearby and will result in children coming and going. I don’t know what it is like on a day to day basis, it is just from friends of friends which isn’t always helpful to get you a good feel. The nearby Harris Academy secondary school (was The Priory) has great sport facilities but is rarely a first choice. You may want to start a new thread with the school in the title to get feedback from people who know it. Have you been given any other options?

HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 08:52

Hey thanks @PettsWoodParadise no, I just have the option to either accept or home school. The council says that's the only school which is closest to us and have space

ladyapinks · 22/04/2021 09:01

HappyfeetID sorry I am unable to tag you .Are you on Facebook?I would advise you to join a Facebook page called orpington gossip and ask anonymously there .

I asked about the same school last year though their SEN provision and the general consensus was to stay away though not many replies as I was asking about their ASD unit .
A friend lives near the school and her son had to go private years ago when they were offered this school though their ofsted says good at the moment ,back then it was requires improvement .

I hope this helps .you can also make a new post here as advised and hopefully you will see parents who can advise .
All the best

HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 09:12

Hey thanks alot @ladyapinks, I am stressing so much about this. If I refuse then I need to let council an alternative arrangement which is probably home schooling and I don't know is that would be better. I did create a new thread like both of you advised. It an in year admission so it's more stressful and council says all other places are full

ladyapinks · 22/04/2021 09:17

@HappyfeetD

Hey thanks alot *@ladyapinks*, I am stressing so much about this. If I refuse then I need to let council an alternative arrangement which is probably home schooling and I don't know is that would be better. I did create a new thread like both of you advised. It an in year admission so it's more stressful and council says all other places are full
It's a tough decision to make .Maybe you should find out what position you are on the waiting lists so that can help in making a decision . You can accept it and then change again .But post on orpington gossip and orpington mums Facebook group I am sure you will get a better Idea and be able to make a decision based on what people say
Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 22/04/2021 09:39

Which year group are you looking at? If it's Y2 there is a high chance that you get a place in y3 after the summer as class sizes are allowed to increase, I think to 32 or so.
Even if not, generally there tends to be quite a lot movement over the summer with people moving away/ going private, so it may not be too long before you get offered a place.

HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 09:54

Hey I am quite close to our preferred school and they told me that I am number one on the waiting list for now. I looking at reception place currently. I did post on orpington gossip as well. Thanks for advise . Really appreciate all the input from mumsnet community

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 22/04/2021 10:09

@HappyfeetD

Hey I am quite close to our preferred school and they told me that I am number one on the waiting list for now. I looking at reception place currently. I did post on orpington gossip as well. Thanks for advise . Really appreciate all the input from mumsnet community
That sounds promising, especially with the summer coming!
Original poster
Doubleistrouble · 22/04/2021 10:39

@HappyfeetD understand your stress as we’ll be going through this shortly. There’s a group on FB called Orpington Mums that’s fantastic for advice from local parents. Wish you the very best.

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HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 11:58

Thanks @Doubleistrouble I am tearing my head over this. I hope we eventually get into our preferred choice soon

HappyfeetD · 22/04/2021 14:25

Hey I called the bromley council and they the following school might also have space .

leasons

manor oak

st pauls cray

trinity church of england

Can someone please suggest which one is best among them ?