Catchment vs placement (schools)

[LadyWithLapdog]

I’ve been reading through past threads on here (v informative, thank you) but I’m still confused about secondary schools, namely catchment area (I think I get that, self explanatory) vs placement. We’d be moving from a state grammar school but I understand that’s irrelevant. Thank you.

A placement school is just any school that is not your catchment school. You need to apply directly to the school for a place, as well as to your catchment school, and if you're awarded a place at the placement school then it's up to you which your child attends. One thing to note about placement schools is that certain things (e.g. entitlement to free school bus travel) aren't always available to children attending schools that aren't their catchment school. In my experience most children just go to their catchment school, especially at secondary stage because the feeder primaries do a lot of work with their associated high school to help the pupils transition.

There are no state grammar schools up here (some retain their old name but function the same as any other state high school).

Many schools are full to capacity and won't be able to provide a place also

Thank you both. It’s clear now but worrying to hear about oversubscribed schools.

Depends where yout are moving to as to whether there are places available at your catchment school. My 2 kids arent at their catchment school as the closer school is out of catchment so I had to do a placing request for both of them

What ages are your dc(s) and what year are they in now?

If there is not a place at your catchment school when you move, then the council will provide a place at the closest school that does have a place - and transport (possibly just a bus pass) if it is beyond a certain distance (not sure what that distance is nowadays - 3 miles??).

If you make a placing request which is accepted, they are under no obligation to provide transport.

If you have more than one child you need to be careful as there are cases whereby the eldest gets into a school through a placement request but by the time the youngest child is of age to go, the school is full and rejecting all placement requests. Has happened in my area and caused a lot of problems to parents in that situation.

State grammar school? In Scotland?

To be fair on the OP, she does say that she's moving from a state grammar school (they do still exist in England ) but understands that that's irrelevant up here.

Shenanigans yeah that’s been an issue for people I know too, either placing the first child or moving out of catchment by the time it’s time to enrol the second one.

We have two (curent years 7 and 10) and I read the note of caution regarding suitable schools for both.

Thank you and happy new year!

Happy New Year to you too.

If you are moving this year, your Y7 would still be at primary school and starting secondary (S1) in August. Your Y10 would be in S3, going into S4 in August and sitting their Nat 5s (equivalent GCSEs) in April/May 2021.

That's the direct equivalent of the respective school years, but depending on when their birthdays are (because of the different cut off dates), they may go from being the youngest in their year to being amongst the oldest - or even potentially skipping a year (although Scottish schools usually have some flexibility and use common sense).

For example, my September born ds was at the young end of his year (technically the middle, but the average gets skewed because of deferrals) but if he'd been in England, he'd have been in the year below as one of the oldest.

One is end of September (starting secondary again, she’ll probably feel all grown up!), the other beginning of March.

Cut off date is end of Feb so your one born beginning of March will be amongst the oldest in their year (only older ones would Jan / Feb deferred children).

Your eldest beginning S4 - be aware that S4 teaching starts in June of the S3 year.

You might also find that you need an established address in Scotland in order to apply for schools (used to be a big issue where I lived as so many people rotated in and out).

I think you are correct about needing a catchment address before being able to request a school place.

Most councils require proof of living at an address eg council tax bill, bank statements etc.

I moved in to catchment in the April before my DC started P1 & even concluded missives were not accepted proof. I had to wait until moved in & get the council to run off an immediate council tax bill, plus a 1day bill from a utility supplier.

It was stressful!

We had to keep them home for a few weeks when we moved a few years ago. Now they’re older it’s more of an issue, so I’ll try and minimise that.