How easy is it to change a child's primary school after Reception?

[cupofteaplease]

I submitted dd1's primary school application back in November and I think we get the results next week. I am pretty confident she will be allocated our first choice as we are firmly in the catchment area, and dd1 already attends the nursery unit there. The school is very good, rated Ofsted outstanding and having worked ther for 3 years as a TA I know the teaching is innovative and of a high standard. Unfortunately, the head is not very approachable, nor does he inteact with the children. Parents are discouraged from coming into the school, and younger siblings are not welcome at 'family' assemblies and plays etc. But it is the best school in the local area, so you put up with these down sides. Our second and third choices are fine, but I'm sure she won't be allocated one of these (but if she was, we'd be happy.)

Here's the thing- I am currently on a teaching placement in a school around a 15 minute drive from here, so nowhere near our catchment, in fact I'd never heard of it before. But, it is absolutley outstanding. I love everything about it. It is everything the other school is not (smaller, friendly, CofE, equally innovative teachers, supportive head...)

Now, in a general discussion with the head, he told me they had had double the applications for places for this Septmenber. So this got me thinking. Obviously, there would be NO chance of dd1 going here in September. But what would be the criteria for joining the school in year one? Is there a waiting list system?

Or maybe when dd is in her new school, wherever it is we won't want to move her... Is there anything you can do when you feel you have chosen the wrong school?

If they had double the amount of applications than places it is unlikely that you would get a place on the waiting list.

I know of someone who has had child on the waiting list since nursery and he is now year 4 and is still nowhere near the top of the list despite having moved closer to their preferred school.

As you say perhaps you won't want to move her anyway she may well be very happy there despite your reservations.

Crikey- on the waiting list since nursery and still not there in year 4

I'm sure it will never happen, I just wish we'd looked further afield before applying, although I appreciate we may still not have stood a chance.

The criteria remain the same ie. children in care followed by siblings followed by catchment children in most cases. You will need to ring the school regularly so they know you are interested still. We were on a waiting list for a reception place at our local school and after the first few weeks of term when a place became available a lot of the people ahead of us on the waiting list turned it down because their child had settled well at another school..so if you really want to change it is worth hanging on in there even if there are several people on the list higher than you.
If you hang on til year 3 it gets easier as there is no restriction on class size from year 3.

I don't think it would have made a difference if you had considered the school earlier. If you are a 15 minute drive from the school and it is oversubscribed it is unlikely that you would have got in.

If they are full for this September unless children leave the Y1 class will be full next September

cupofteaplease We are sort of in the same boat. Long story and I don't want to name change (haven't got the time) and I don't want to be flamed. We didn't get out first choice Dh not happy with what we got. I want to stay married to him and he is only think of our Ds future. We are going alternative for one year. In that year I am going to phone every good local state school and ask every few months until we find a place. Thankfully we are 3rd on the waiting list. So anything could happen before the acceptance closing date. A friend Ds changed from one good school to another local good school in year 3, just by dad picking up the phone and asking! Maybe once the school phoned around the waiting list everyone else was happy to stay put! OR do you think they don't bother phoning around and just give a place to those that ask?

I got DD into a massively oversubscribed central London primary by talking to the head and saying we would be more than happy to take a place mid-term or even mid-week if necessary.

I rang the school every few days to ask if a place had come up yet. Someone moved their child a fortnight later and bingo, according to the admissions rules we were able to bypass everyone else on the list, as it's basically first come, first served in terms of actual bums on seats. Apparently many people are unhappy to move their children mid-term or mid-year, so this is where you can gain an advantage.

DD settled within the week and we never looked back, btw.

BoffinMum was that after September or before July?

I think she joined the school after the summer half term in year 3.

What Boffinmum said. In our area the LEA maintain the waiting lists until the end of REception year, so it really does go purely by distance from the school.

After that, management of the waiting list passes to the school, and although I'm guessing they're meant to follow the LEA criteria, in practice they can do pretty much what they like. So get friendly with the secretaries and the head, and keep phoning up. Some of the v. popular schools are particularly likely to look favourably on applications from families they think will contribute to the life of the school and the academic results (not saying this is a good thing, but it undoubtedly goes on, so you might as well make it work to your advantage).

Thank you for that. I've read some of your news post and would love my Ds to argue from such an informed point of view and be able to express himself clear when writing. Education allows us so much freedom. We will not compromise on that principle. Again thank you for the tip.

I mean 'clearly' You can see my poor 70's education