Movement in London schools - reception/year 1

[Tetherless]

I know it’s hard to generalise, but for people with DCs in reception and year 1, how many kids have left their schools so far this year?

We are borderline for DD to get into our preferred school by distance - she’d have got in 3 of the last 6 years - so I’m just wondering how soon a place might come up if she doesn’t get in. It’s 3 form entry so 90 kids.

Yes, very hard to say. I've taught in schools where we've had 4 or 5 pupils leave in Reception in a year, and schools where no-one leaves. It's just a case of fingers crossed, I'm afraid!

Yes I’m sure! I was wondering if Brexit and covid particularly have affected London primaries.

They have affected primary schools. Furthest distance offers have expanded as a number of families have left London and there are vacancies in upper years as a result of families that have left as well.

It will vary school by school but if you were borderline historically, odds are you’ll have better odds when applying this year. Also check the furthest distance offered by September rather than on national offer day. There is usually a big difference between the two. Parents reject schools and waiting lists shift quite a bit.

Good luck

Depends a lot on the area. Where I am in a deprived but relatively central part of S London children leave quite a lot. If there are a lot of families in temporary social housing they are usually moved regularly out to cheaper parts of London such as Bromley or Dagenham, creating spaces. The other thing that happens is that the arty hipster families who like our area because can't afford to live here once they want a bigger house so they all move to Stroud or Brighton. So there's tons of movement.

Further out of London, especially the boroughs close to Kent, schools are fuller and movement is slower.