Can someone help us? Moving from the US to UK to start secondary - how will it work?

[onwardsandacross]

Hello

We're in the US at present. We're returning earlier than anticipated, in time for DD1 to begin secondary school in the UK.

When we are in the UK (we return for the long summer holidays and for christmas), we live with my parents, and when we return to the UK we will be living with them initially too. We know the area well.

Is it possible for us to apply for secondary schools using my parents' address? DD will be in the UK when applications go in, and for two months before school starts, but won't have a UK primary school reference or have been there in the intervening months.

Or will we have to take our chances with what's left?

Okay when are you returning? When is your DD due to go into year 7? I am assuming you mean England BTW and it is an area with normal move to secondary for year 7, some areas have middle schools, and Wales and Scotland have different systems. I am also assuming it is not a Gramar school area.
If it is England and she goes up next September, then you have already missed the normal admissions round. And will be treated as a late applicant/in year admission.
You need to contact the local LEA, and find out what proof of address they need, which actually might be quite tricky in your case (mine usually uses Council Tax number).
I would also suggest that you go and visit schools whenever you can, to decide which of the possible local schools you prefer.

However people with late applications do get in, and can be higher up the waiting lists than "on time application" as it all depends on the schools admissions criteria. Also people do regularily win appeals.
A primary school report is totally irrelevant in my experience, its more a case of primary schools giving senior ones the "heads up" about new pupils.

Hi mummytime thankyou so much for the response.

We are talking about 2013 here, sorry, I should've been clearer.

I was hoping that since we (genuinely), 'live' with my parents for nearly 3 months of the year and will be (genuinely), living with them when we return (in June 2013), that I could apply for DD to go to their local school using their address/council tax number etc.

Will that be totally impossible? We would be upfront with the schools about our situation. There are two, one that I went to (which is our first choice), and the other is fine as well. But the 'other' one, where she would go if we didn't get in to either of those, is absolutely terrible and would be a very long journey for her.

Its not the schools who handle admissions, it is usually the LEA. I would suggest moving sooner rather than later, as places do come up on the waiting list, however these move quite quickly. As soon as someone turns down a place (maybe they have gone for a private school) the LEA is supposed to offer it to the person at the top of the waiting list at that point. If you are not living in the area yet you may miss out on a place you cold have been offered.
Personally I would also try to get my DD into a primary school for the end of the summer term. Primaries might not want to admit her until SATs are over, but after that lots of fun things happen and it is a chance for her to get to know some children going to her new school, and to get slightly adjusted to the new education system.

BTW I don't think you can apply using your parents details, unless your DD is genuinely living with them. There have been cases of LEAs employing private detectives to determine where a child lives.

For 2013 entry, you will need to apply by end October 2012 at which point you would need an address for the application. I would contact the LEA when you are next in the UK and explain the situation and see what they recommend. If you are lucky they will be helpful. I woudn't worry too much about the primary thing - they do not affect allocation of places - they are usually just used to inform schools about children and for placement in tutor groups etc.