what happens if school in catchment area has no spaces

[Jumzy]

Dear mums,

i would be moving to aberdeen in January and got a lovely house in the mile end school catchment area.

As per advice of a friend, i emailed the school to inquire about spaces and were told that there were no spaces for her year group and there was even a waiting list for that year group.

I wanted to have an idea how it works if the school is full. would we have to go to another school far off and then keep waiting till a space opens up? I am already quite nervous about the move, and getting a bit worried.

You’ll be allocated a space somewhere with one available which could be far away. You can stay on the waiting list at your chosen school. Which year is your child?

@Lou573

You’ll be allocated a space somewhere with one available which could be far away. You can stay on the waiting list at your chosen school. Which year is your child?

@Lou573 she would be getting into primary 3.

My understanding is that if there is no space at the catchment school, then they will transport your child to the nearest school that has space (at council cost) and you will be placed at the top of the list to get a space should a place become vacant ( behind other eligible children in the area if there is a waiting list for that age/class). If a space doesn’t come up in the next few months it will at least be sorted by Aug as they will make space by the next school year
But I’m not an expert, this is just my understanding of how it works. I hope you get it’s sorted.

In our authority (so not sure if it is a local policy) any child who is in catchment has to be given a place at their catchment school, even if they arrive mid term. We have to leave a minimum of 3 spaces per stage from August, if these are taken and a 4th child moves into catchment then we have to rearrange the classes in order to give the child a place. We had to do this a few years ago & it meant creating an additional composite class to accommodate.

The rules may have changed as my dc have finished their school days but, in my local authority, if there was space in the school even if your dc year groups were full but perhaps other year groups were not at capacity, and children resided within the catchment area, then space had to be provided at the school.

There are quite a few other primary schools near Mile End so I doubt you would have to go far.
Mile End has a lot of comings and going's due to oil industry & hospital staff relocating so hopefully you won't have to wait long for a place.

You might find that all the Grammar school catchment area primaries are full. However there might be movement as a previous poster said. However I wouldn’t count in even getting a place next academic year!

Aberdeen is lovely in the sparkly frost and sunshine at the moment.

There's several primaries not far from Mile end. Have you looked at Ashley Road or Gilcomston?