Moving house, moving school, waiting lists

[Potaytoe5]

DH and I just bought a house a few miles away from our current location.
DD1 is in year 1, and we will be moving her to a new school when the time comes.
The house we're purchasing is literally round a corner from an outstanding, 2 form entry School A, but as you can imagine it's currently full.
There's another 2 form entry School B a mile away from the house, at the moment has some spaces. A mile walk doesn't worry me, but there are several roads to cross, including two busy A roads, which means DD1 won't be ever walking to school on her own.
There's also School C about 10 minute walk away, also outstanding, it currently has some spaces, but it's a 1 form entry Catholic school. We are not religious, so we're not considering it.
If all goes well and our house purchase proceeds, what do you think would be the best way to go?

1. Put daughter on the waiting list for School A, drive to her current school until a place becomes available. No idea how long it could take. The drive would be about 15 minutes, but the traffic that way become legendary. We only have one car, husband will have to take a taxi to work once or twice a week.

2. Just send her to School B and always walk her. I also have DD2 who will be starting primary when DD1 is in year 3. But then I will have to continue walking DD2!

3. Send her to School B until a place becomes available at School A. I think that could be too disruptive.

Of course I might be overthinking it and we might be lucky when the time comes and get her into School A. Or get unlucky and not complete the sale of our house!

What do people generally do in similar situations?

I would find out how often occasional places come up at School A. If you're living round the corner you should be top of the waiting list (unless some strange admission criteria). If the answer is "well, there's been one in the last 20 years" that's a bit different to "oh there's constant movement in and out".

If you're happy to keep driving DD1 back to her current school and there is some movement in places, I think my plan would be to keep doing this until Year 3 and then appeal if still no place (as no infants class size rule). That's a bit risky as you would have to apply to get DD2 in the school so you might in worst case scenario have 2 children in 2 different schools. Or if Year 3 is too far away to keep doing it, set yourself an agreed deadline.

I agree that you don't want to move DD1 twice. If you're going to choose School B, then stick with it.

We've just been through something similar.

So we moved may 2022 and put dd (yr 1 st the time) name down on waiting list for nearest school (school a) which is outstanding ofsted and 2 form entry.

I rang a lot to check if any spaces but there never was. I spent 1.5 school years (rest of year 1 and all of year 2) transporting my dd to old school which technically was a 15 minute drive but was anything up to a 45 minute round journey twice a day - rushing around to clubs etc.

In July this year more roadworks were announced for my journey and I broke and contacted school B which was a 10 minute walk - ofsted good and 3 form entry. They had space they were very lovely inviting dd to try out days for the remainder of the term and I had a tour round too.

Dd started in September (year 3) and it is lovely being able to walk her to school and back and not feel so stressed i really dont know if school a would have been better had space been available and that's not worth considering now.

So I would recommend school b and then don't think about what could have been. Ofsted isn't the only consideration when choosing school. In fact school A for us was outstanding In 2013 so could change a lot when inspection due which must be imminent.

Oh wow @MiniStormInATeacup ! That's a LONG time with no spaces available! It's exactly what I am afraid might happen.

I assumed it wouldn't take too long, DD's current school is a 3 form entry. It was full at the start of reception and about 5 new kids have started since. It's an ofsted good school too.

To add to it, DD1 absolutely loves her current school, so it won't be easy for her anyway :(
Traffic towards school from the new house gets awful, so it would likely end up being a long journey.

I don't mind the ofsted of School B at all, I heard it is lovely. I am more concerned over the busy roads on the way. I am not sure what age primary school children can walk to school on their own anyway, and if it's a big issue if they can't?

It wasn't the best time @Potaytoe5 😕

Dd loved her old school as well. Like you she had several school friends leave from reception to year 2 so assumed a space would come available at the school we wanted nearby. It didn't.

To get to her new school we do need to cross a busy road but there is a 'green man' crossing nearby to make it safe. The rest of the way are estate roads. We currently walk with her. I think yr 4/5 is when they can go alone and then I suppose it is up to you depending on how sensible your child is. It sounds like you will be walking a younger sibling eventually so I imagine you will always escort your child to school in some way any way. I notice a lot of elder siblings walk with older friends part way to school even when parents take younger siblings if that makes sense.

You could get lucky with space being available but also be prepared it won't. I found time travelling by car that is just sat in traffic incredibly frustrating and it affected my mental health and made me anxious and snappy.

Your child will also have chance to make friends with children local to them/ can domplaydates after school/ go to the park - we missed opportunities when travelling as I had to factor in that time.

Unless there are major concerns with a school - so inadequate ofsted or requires improvement on really important issues I would say a good school will be OK ( check when last report taken). You sound like a caring and attentive parent so I imagine you support your child in learning (reading, culture) at home which makes a big difference too.

I waited for a place at the nearest school BUT it took six months of very stressful driving. DS was top of the waiting list most that time and I honestly didn't expect it to be so long as it's a 3 form school and we're in London where there's a fair bit of movement. I wanted to a) be able to walk and b) have him in the school all the local kids go to so it was worth the wait for me. It was more useful than I thought when he could walk himself as while I normally had to get DD anyway I didn't have to drag her out when ill or do two trips when one had a club after school.

@Jules912 we'd likely be on a very top of the list as the school is 3 minute walk away from the house, but I am not sure I am willing waiting a year or two for space.

we'd likely be on a very top of the list as the school is 3 minute walk away from the house

Have you checked the actual oversubscription criteria for the school? I don't wish to be a wet blanket, but knowing admissions policies of various schools in the wider area here, few if any go 1. LAC / PLAC, 2. Distance, full stop. Most non-faith schools are more like 1. LAC / PLAC 2.Siblings 3. Priority Area 4. Distance. And where there is a priority admissions ('catchment') area, the shape of it can mean that houses very close to School A can actually be in the PAA for School B. (In year 6, DS2 used to walk up the road and cross over outside our catchment school, to call for his best friend - who could see the school from his front door - to walk the half mile or so to the friend's catchment school, which they both attended).

@MarchingFrogs it would be a catchment but they get very little free spaces, I just called and was told that maybe once a year!
We have pulled out of the purchase of the house.