moving house during reception year or Y1 - how does this work with schools?

[mogwai]

Our daughter is starting YR in September. We've got a place at an excellent church school that had lots of competition for places (was oversubscribed by over two applications for every place). It's our local village school, it's small, it has a good reputation.

At the same time, my husband is starting a new job in August. We are not completely obliged to move closer to his job but we would like to live nearer in the long term because the local authority there is one of the few remaining that runs a grammar school system.

Although this is a long way off, we have little faith in our local comprehensive and would want to either go private or move into the grammar area before the end of Y6. Thus far our daughter appears bright (she is 3;09 and, for example,can write some simple sentences without any guidance and can do simple addition/subtraction and write the answer correctly) so the grammar school may well become very relevant.

I have two questions:

(1) if we move house and move schools, what are the chances of her getting into another good state primary? Do they have to hold some places for "transfers in"?

(2) Would it be better to move house in YR whatever the situation? Would this be less disruptive to her (socially) in the long run that moving in Y4 or Y6 for example? She is a sensitive little girl, very kind and compassionate but possibly one of those kids who's a follower rather than a leader. I often worry she's too sensitive.

(1) No they don't hold places for transfers. We moved part way through reception and dd was allocated a place at the nearest school with a vacancy.

(2) I would move sooner rather than later. DD adapted really well moving when we did. Now almost 3 years down the line she has some very close friends and if she was separated from them now it would be very sad for her.

That's what I thought for (2) but I'm disappointed about (1)!

I moved schools aged 9 and then again aged 10 (and back again at 11 - long story involving moving from one end of the country to the other and back again). I think I adapted okay but it was disruptive.

So even church schools don't hold places so you can go to another church school???

Think about it logically. How fair would it be to block of places (therefore in all likelyhood stopping children who have applied from getting in) for pupils who may or may not apply for those places at some point in the future? Doesn't make a lot of sense practically does it?

no, not in reception it doesn't but at other times of the school year you can surely expect people to move into the area.

It's a real tough decision to move house then, as you're potentially swapping a place in an excellent primary school for a plce wherever they can fit you in - and surely that's going to be the schools that nobody else wants to go to?

(1) if we move house and move schools, what are the chances of her getting into another good state primary? Do they have to hold some places for "transfers in"?

The don't have to hold places but Infant class size legislation doesn't cover children who move into the area so if you move into the area the school may be required to have more than 30 in the class to accommodate

Do you have other children ? If so perhaps time it so that you could apply to Reception for them and get a sibling place for dd , or maybe they have a system whereby you apply again at Year3 anyway. Is it feasible to move house but return to this school until a sutiable place comes up more locally ?

Thanks for your replies

We have a second baby due in June.

I've read every last ofsted inspection report for the primary schools in that borough this evening (well, I've looked at the number of 1,2 and 3 scores!).

At one end of the borough, every primary school gets mainly (or entirely) 1 scores. The average price of a 4-bed house there is £500 and these houses are smaller than the one we've got now.

Assuming we could afford to pay this, would we then definitely get a place in one of those schools? There are probably 7 schools at that end.

Or would they assume we would travel elsewhere in the borough (say, four miles away) to where there's a place?

It's such a minefield!

They would assume you could get to wherever there is place I'm afraid. Their obligation is to offer you a place somewhere.

Bugger.

But thanks for the advice.

The admissions criteria now goes

1. siblings
2. looked after children
3. special needs children
4. as the crow flies catchment
5. church attendance (if applicable)

This means (in theory) that you could live next door to a school but if there are 30 children who 'get in' in the 1st 3 criteria then you won't get a place. I'm afraid church schools are no different other than that they can add church attendance (and ask for a letter of recommendation from the vicar) to their criteria.

The legal maximum number for any infant class (3 - 8 years) is 30. No school would be allowed to go over this. Any appeal for places is only judged against the above criteria. Some junior classes (age 8+) may go over 30 as it's not against the law but the majority of schools will only do this after an appeal process.

thanks decaf girl - the stuff about maximum class size is interesting. We could, therefore, wait until she goes into the juniors and hope we'd stand a chance at appeal, though unfortunatley our second child would be starting reception that year also.

I'm starting to think we should stop worrying about primary and think longer term. Providing we are within the borough for grammar schools then perhaps that's more important than primary anyway.

Just seen this thread and am in a similar situation - we need to move out of central London due to lack of space, and my dilema will be trying to find a Y1 and Y3 place for my DCs at the same school! You obviously can't apply until you have your new address and the LEA told me I have to deal directly with the schools - basically they are not offering to help me, although I think they do have to offer a place somewhere in the borough - but it could be two different schools miles apart. Since the DCs are at an outstanding state school at the moment it is a real dilema but we simply can't stay where we are long-term and the secondaries are rubbish at our current location.
I'm wondering if they do give priority on waiting lists to people moving into the area from outside - I'm sure I read that somewhere (or is it wishful thinking??)

On the positive side, people DO move all the time - since DS1 has been at his primary, about 4 children in his class have moved - and their places have been taken by others coming in, so I am hopeful that it will all work out in the end!

Ditto! we have just had an offer accepted on a house some distance from here but same county. LEA have told me to contact school direct but that was early in the easter hols so have sat stewing and worrying for 2 weeks.
we have to place 3 children, one who will start reception this year and the others are years 1 and 2 currently.
stressful!

If its any help, I've just called the new school and a lovely and very helpful secretary has reassured me that there are places for all 3 of my children and would we all like to come and have a look round this week.
I have paperwork to complete but otherwise its less stressful than i thought - i really hope that those of you in the same boat have a similar experience

Ouchitreallyhurts - that's great news! Reassuring to know that it CAN be done!! Hope the move goes smoothly and that the DCs settle in well

the problem I think we face is that we want to move into an area where the house prices are high BECAUSE of the good schools. Therefore I do wonder what the chances are that any of these schools would have a place.