Applying for schools (reception)

[Lionbare]

Hello, I would like some help and advice on my situation. I have to apply for schools by the 15th of January for my son to attend in September 26th for reception.

I'm currently going through the court system having my relationship breakdown. I'm also planning to relocate to the other side of London.

I'm unsure as to how I am to list the schools.
He is currently at a primary schools Nursery and will probably be guaranteed a spot in their reception. The long-term plan is not to stay at that school and preferably I will have found somewhere to move to before September 26th.

I am viewing two primary schools in the area I'm planning on moving to.

How am I meant to list these primary schools for submission?

Also, if I have a preferred school does that go at the top of the list?

If I haven't moved house by September and still have a South London address, would that affect my child being accepted into the school the other side of London?

Your application and distance to school goes on your current lived in address. I’d recommend viewing and applying for schools local to your current home. If you move, you’ll have to apply for the schools in your area as an in year transfer

You can apply for schools anywhere. Just list the schools you want on your application to your local council. However, as the PP says, they will use your current address when processing your application, so it is unlikely you will be offered the schools you want near your new home unless they are unpopular.

List the schools in your genuine order of preference.

In your situation, your best approach is probably to list schools near your current address then, when you move, apply for schools near your new home.

In London the birth rates are so low that many good primary schools are undersubscribed (not the really sought after ones, which will always fill up, but the second tier ones which you might not have got into a few years ago.) And depending on area, some schools might get filled on offer day but places come up later on as the parents opt for private.

Check the primary admissions website and see if the schools were oversubscribed last year. There's nothing to stop you from applying to the school in the area you're moving to. You get six choices in London so you should be able to include one or two that are undersubscribed but still fairly decent.