House buying timelines and what to do if schools applications close

[Londonder]

We are planning to buy our first property but because of several reasons, there is a chance we will not be able to do so on time for DC's primary school application deadline, which means we'd have to apply for a local school in the area in which we are renting. We love living here but it's expensive and we are not able to afford a property here (or better, a property we'd like) so we will inevitably have to move away. Is it possible to apply to a school after the application deadline? And what are the chances of actually being accepted?
The "new" area where we'd be looking to buy is about 35 min drive from here but we work FT and commute so doing such a school run + commute to work won't really be doable for us.

No one on here will be able to tell you if your be successful or not applying after the deadline as it would be down to the individual school and their waiting lists.

I suppose what I wanted to find out is whether it is doable/possible, if chances are good and if people tend to do that?

So is your DC due to start school Sept 24, you mean the deadline of April next year? It will depend on whether the school you want is oversubscribed. If it is, you'll be added to a waiting list and need to apply to other nearby schools, if it isn't you won't have an issue I don't think.

Just to add, in my area you can apply out of catchment and if the school isn't over subscribed would be given a place.

Apply where you are and if you move, you ask to go onto waiting lists/apply to schools where you've moved to with evidence. It gets treated as a late application, so a place wouldn't be offered on national offer day, only after that once initial acceptances and declines come through.

Check with your local authority - some have an extended deadline for those who move house during the process. We moved when applying for DC1. The application deadline was mid-January but in my area we had until March to change the address when we had proof of new address. We were buying so sent copies of the exchange of contract letter. If you move after all deadlines you will have to make a late application and your place will depend on which schools still have vacancies.

@NeverDropYourMooncup thank you - but is it likely? I don't want to end up with a school 40 min away from where we'd be living but equally cannot afford to buy a property where we are renting now!

If you name the areas people may have more idea. For example I know that where we are there is a bit of a low birth rate blip and most schools will have reception places for Sept 2024 unless there’s an unexpected influx. But all areas are different.

I would try and move before you apply for certainty, we completed on 23rd December, builder tried to put us back till
February and had to apply before 18th January , we forced the sale through as didn't want application complications Xx

You are better off reposting on Primary Education as there are admissions experts over there.

This is my understanding.

The standard date deadline is something like 15th Jan.
You apply through the LA in which you are currently located.

There may be a date after that where you can change address and still be considered 'on time'. If that is the case and you know by 15th Jan you'll be in the new location by then, then you could apply to the new area on your initial application and then update your address once moved.

Regardless, if there is an undersubscribed school in new location you can put that on first place and you'll get it even if you are currently 200 miles away.

Otherwise as soon as you are in the new house, you put in a late application.
You'll be treated after on time applications but they will try to get you in somewhere if your preferred schools are all full.

If you are lucky enough to have adopted like us, then you can just name your preferred schools in your new area anyway and they'll get in (unless a faith school that prioritises of faith above non faith adopted)