Moving to a new area & choosing schools

[clovislives]

Our family is moving to Tyneside in a few months and we still have everything to do. We're really confused as to how to sort out a school for our daughter (reception age).

All the areas we're considering have oversubscribed schools but occasionally places do come up. We have no address yet (we only found out we were moving a few weeks ago)so filling in an application is tricky and there seems to be no standard process for us to follow at either Newcastle or N Tyneside councils (who have offered very little info)

Has anyone done anything like this recently? How did it go? What advice would you give?

We're finding ourselves in a very similar situation where its a bit like the chicken or the egg. Do you pick a school and then move to the catchment area or pick a house and hopefully get a good school?

It does seem unquestioningly that your not able to do much yourself until you have a local address. The only advice I have been given is to move as quickly as possible.

Most councils seem to have a second wave of admissions and you can apply then, but again, only if you have a local address. it's hard, i know, but there is no easy solution except move to the area as soon as you can.

Places are usually allocated based on certain criteria so if you know the school you want your daughter to go it could still be worth while applying when you have moved as you'll be higher up the list that any requests that are outside the catchment area.
Good luck

Hi Clovis - As my name suggests I am in Northumberland, down the Tyne Valley (although I work in the Toon). I don't have any experience of Newcastle / Tyneside Councils, but if I will be able to ask around for schools once you find a more definite area.
xx

We are also in a similar situation, but with older children. Basically, I would choose your school/s and then look for housing, unless you are okay to move, and then move again in a year or so.
We are going to rent, but we have to rent starting in beginning of July, even though we can't move until end of July, so that we can get the school application in on time. They told me that they need it before the end of the school year so that they have time to process it, otherwise the girls will have about a 3 wk delay on entering school in Sept.
So, 1) read reports, do visits etc. and find 3 schools you like. 2) look for housing in that area 3) move 4) put in application for school before end of July if possible.
Easy, huh? Good luck.

Thanks Northumberlandlass. That's a really kind offer.

C