Is there a way to find out which schools local to an area have places?

[FreeBritnee]

We are moving area and I’ve contacted the school 4 mins away from the house but they only have a place for one of my children. Is there a way of looking at other schools locally to see which schools have places or do I need to contact each school individually and ask?

Thank you.

I have just moved. I found a list for my local authority with all local schools listed - and info on if applications were centrally or school administered. The info said it was a rough yes / no.

When I applied it looked like places for only one of my children - but actually they both got in, thankfully. So I get the impression it’s not clear cut yes or no.

I hope it all works out.

What did you google to find the list?

Depending on where you live the in year admissions process might be managed centrally by the LA (coordinated In Year Admissions) or might be managed by the schools. I'd Google school admissions and the area where you live to get an idea. Some areas might publish the lists but as they can change weekly others may not and you just have to apply and see what happen. The LA ultimately are responsible for ensuring you do get a school place offer for your kids but it doesn't have to be the closest or preferred schools. You can appeal once you have formally applied and had a rejection in writing.
If you have kids in Reception, Year 1 or 2 you also face the issue of infant class size which means even at appeal you would be very limited on the grounds a place can be awarded

Am I allowed to put down say three choices? Or is it a case that they just tell me which local school can take the children and that’s the one I’m offered?

If the LA co-ordinates in-year admissions, you will be allowed to name your preferences but there is no guarantee you will get any of them.

Oh that’s fine. Last question 😬. How soon can I put the children’s names down, ie fill out the forms? During the house sale going through or when we have actually moved in?

You can apply using your current address at any time and, if any of your preferred schools has a place, it must be offered, but you need to be ready to take up any place offered within a few weeks. If you do this and don't get a place, you will need to update the LA when you move so that you are in the right place on the waiting lists.

If you want to apply using your new address, you will need to check with the LA for your new home as to when you can apply. Each LA sets its own rules.

When I moved area four years ago, we were able to get a list of schools with places from the County Council before relocating. The problems were:

1. a place wouldn't be 'held' for DS unless we could take it up straight away. As we were still in the old area at the old school, that was clearly impossible.

2. some schools wouldn't let us apply until we had been to an open day, and we couldn't get up there for an open day while in the old location, and after we had moved, there were no open days scheduled for the first couple of weeks! So check with schools whether they have policies like this.

So, we couldn't actually get anything sorted until after we had moved. DS didn't get to start school until about three weeks in, which wasn't the end of the world, as I worked from home and he was happy to have an unexpected holiday, but it would have been really difficult had I needed to be out at work.

I can see this is a bit of a minefield. Lots more work to be done I think to understand it fully. Thank you for all your help 💐💐

We moved earlier this year. Have 2 primary aged children. I contacted the local schools to see who had places. Started this process as soon as had offer on ours, and offer on new house accepted. 2 primaries in the area. One had spaces in both years. Then just kept checking with school every few weeks. Could only send proper application for place once exchanged- got letter proving exchange and the completion dates from solicitor. Applied on the council website for school application- with the letter. They confirmed places within about 3 days (was in May, so not an especially busy time for them). Then had to talk to school to agree a start date. They said had to start anytime within 4 weeks of acceptance of the place (so started about 3 weeks after we moved). Although, everywhere does it differently! The other school had 1 place available for youngest, and said the head had discretion re the numbers in yr 4, so may be worth asking if there is any flexibility in the school that has 1 place.

@Topbird29

We moved earlier this year. Have 2 primary aged children. I contacted the local schools to see who had places. Started this process as soon as had offer on ours, and offer on new house accepted. 2 primaries in the area. One had spaces in both years. Then just kept checking with school every few weeks. Could only send proper application for place once exchanged- got letter proving exchange and the completion dates from solicitor. Applied on the council website for school application- with the letter. They confirmed places within about 3 days (was in May, so not an especially busy time for them). Then had to talk to school to agree a start date. They said had to start anytime within 4 weeks of acceptance of the place (so started about 3 weeks after we moved). Although, everywhere does it differently! The other school had 1 place available for youngest, and said the head had discretion re the numbers in yr 4, so may be worth asking if there is any flexibility in the school that has 1 place.

Massively helpful thank you 💐💐

My first stop is the local authority and finding out their specific requirements. I’ve been talking to the head of the school 4 mins away and she tells me that currently they only have one space although siblings will get priority on the waiting list. I think I’m going to contact all the other primaries and find out who has spaces and then I need to decide whether to gamble on the closest school having an opening for the youngest at some point or have them both in a school a car ride away. It doesn’t help that the local school is excellent so obviously is pretty much full. Frustrating.

Your new LA should have a full explanation on their web site about applying in year. They often have a list of schools with vacancies. These change of course. You can contact the schools themselves but they cannot admit your DC above others notified to the LA. However if a head has places and the LA has no one, heads have been known to admit. And then a LAC child appears who gets preference.