Can you help me with in-year application?

[UserError012345]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me with an in-year application for DD to move primary schools.

My case isn't very strong which is why I'm asking for help to word.

My reasons mainly relate to convenience, concerns around cost of living and her not really fully settling. I'm currently travelling around 25 miles per day doing school runs (which was ok pre cost of living crisis / pandemic) and although it's a lovely school in a village setting, it's not quite what it used to be and DD has struggled all the way through. I think a move to our catchment school (0.2 miles) would be to her benefit. She has established friendship groups that she can attend secondary with.

She has no attendance, sen or other issues.

Obviously I want to be as truthful as possible but also want to put together a strong case and I'm not sure convenience cuts it. I believe there is a place in the year group but not sure that this would mean application is automatically accepted.

I have sent an enquiry email (not yet had a response due to holidays) and wanted to follow up with an application. I believe they have 10 days to respond.

Can anyone help please ? Thanks

If there's a place and no waiting list then it's yours. I don't recall needing to give any reasons when I applied for dd's place.

You don’t need to give any reasons why you want a place of there is a place available. If there isn’t a place available, then you may need to appeal.

The application form asks for reasons.

Does the travel time impact your daughter?

This can be one sentence so " DD is struggling with the commute" that's it.

You getting a place has nothing to do with what you put for the reason, and hinges on if they have places or not. We did this in February and put "new school has more the ethos we would like as a family" but it didn't matter what we out, they had places so we got a space.

The reasons are largely irrelevant unless your child is in a top category for admission as per the admissions policy (which you would already be aware of). Otherwise if there is a place, it will be allocated in line with the admissions policy if there is more than one application for the place. Apply asap before someone else does. Just say the school would be a better fit for your child or something.

Thanks all. Fingers crossed.'

Just to agree with other comments. The reason for a move is a nice to know, but if there is room in the relevant year group at the school then they have to take you and if there is no room then there is a strict system for priorities starting with looked after children/formerly looked after children.

Good luck!

That is because the Admissions Code says that the form must give a space for parents to give their reasons for applying. The reasons play absolutely no part in the admissions process. The school is not allowed to make subjective judgements about the strength of your reasons (even if you are in the top category - I'm afraid Katyaadlerscoat is wrong about that). All that matters is which admissions category you are in and the distance from home to school (assuming that is the tie breaker). If there is a space and no-one else on the waiting list, even those things don't matter - the place must be offered to you.

I meant if the child was, for example, adopted from care, it would make sense to remind the admissions staff of that in this place on the form.