Change of primary school choice

[Chewy13344]

Looking for some advice please , I have just discovered a school 12 minutes drive from where I live which looks absolutely perfect for my child but I didn’t put it down on my application in January as I didn’t know it existed ! It’s only just out of catchment , furthest school in catchment is 5.2 miles and this one is only 5.9 miles away . I’m gutted as it seems a much better suited to my child than the village school which is down as my 1st choice. I was unsure about this anyway due to it being CEVC and felt pressured into it by child’s father.

Is there anything I can do once I receive my offer in April? Can I ask to be put on the waiting list for the school I like even if it wasn’t down on my original application choices ?

Yes, once you get your offer you can go on the waiting list.

Your local LA may have further distance allocated from previous years to give you an idea of whether you are likely to get into the schools you have selected. Are they defined catchments, as in laid out in the admissions criteria?

So I looked at my three nearest schools on the catchment checker for my LA and it actually says 3-6 miles for nearest schools so the one I want to change for is 5.9 miles away must be in catchment ? I find it all very confusing. I hope I’m not the only one that’s changed there mind to a school that’s not even on there application- feel silly 🙈

Im happy to go on the waiting list but worried my child will have to start at their offered school and then be moved ,is this common? Or will I be in with a chance of getting offered a place off the waiting list by the summer holidays ?

Are the catchments actually defined in the admissions criteria? PM me with the school if you would like me to check.

Waiting lists do tend to move, so make sure you are on it now. It is held based on how you meet the admissions criteria, not length of time on list, so you can move up and down.

I would actually contact your education authority, as mine say they may be able to let you change choices 'depending on how far on in the process'

Contact the admissions team ASAP. It's a over a month until allocation so they may be able to do something now, or if not give you clear guidance on how to apply to change once places are allocated.

If they have a space you can move at any time. Catchments don't matter then.