house move part-way through school year

[timetosmile]

DS1 going up to local state secondary in Sept, completely happy about that as it's great.

But what if we were to move from where we live now to an entirely different past of the country in the next year?

If we move into the catchment area of a school we would like, are they duty bound to find a place for him partway through yr7?

Do we move and then have to do a shortlist of choices like we have had to do in yr6?

Can we apply before we have a property, if we can show DH/I have a job locally?

Anyone know what the procedure is (if there is one?)

Thanks.

When you move you can request any school that you want and if there is a space in the relevant year group then they have to admit. However if the school is full then the school and LA cannot admit and they will offer a place at the nearest school with a place.
You can appeal for a place at your preferred school once you have been turned down. Obviously the chance of success depends on how over subscribed the school and how good your case to admit is.
LAs have slightly different rules around when you can apply for a place, but for most it is when you have signed on the dotted line for the house. You need to talk to the LA admission office to confirm exactly what the local arrangements are.

thanks - that's very helpful.
This must happen to lots of families, but I had no experience of what it might involve!

We are just in the middle of this. You can submit your application form earlier, but they won't actually allocate a place until you show proof of address, I think at least exchange if you're buying or a rental agreement if renting.

We were told they do everything they can to give you one of the schools in your catchment area, but if none were available, they can give you a place in a school in a neighbouring catchment. We were told this was unlikely to happen to us (Brighton) and in fact they have given us our first choice. DS will start in a week or so, so mid-term. It's a bit nail biting because you can't tell your child where they will be going so if they are struggling with change, it makes it even harder.

Good luck, lots of families have to this.