Late application - should we even bother?

[movingblues]

DH has just got a new job offer which we would like to take up but means making a late application for for my DS to start Y7 in September. It is the old chicken and egg scenario - can't apply to the school without an address but then we might move to somewhere and being a late application have absolutely no chance of actually getting into a decent school. Has anyone any experience of late application? We are talking catholic secondaries in Bishops Stortford, Farnham, Guildford or Burgess Hill?

My friend's DD got into St Mary's (Bishops Stortford) as a late application when they moved into the area - that was a few years ago though as she's year 11 now. I presume someone moved out of the area and a space became available.
Have you spoken to any of the schools?

thanks so much for your message, it makes me feel that there might be a glimmer of hope! Have spoken to all the schools, but they won't really commit themselves on our chances which is understandable I guess. I think Guildford, St Peters, might be the best chance but the primary school situation there is almost hopeless for my two younger ones. Bishops Stortford is our top choice but we are just worried about moving 500 miles and then ending up with a nightmare school situation. Is your friend happy with St Marys? They won't even let me visit the school until we are offered a place because we missed the open day last September!

Well my friend is happy with it (and so am I!) Its difficult to know what to do for the best as there certainly won't be any spare places available in the secondaries in Bishop's Stortford for september as they are all very popular. You need to be a fortune teller to know if someone is going to leave and free up a space.

Being late means you go behind all the on time applicants so you are unlikely to get a place at a popular school. However, once offers have been made that won't matter any more. Your position on the waiting list will be determined by the school's admission critieria. They cannot put you at the end of the list just because you applied late. Also, once you do apply the LA must find a place for your son somewhere. It may not be at one of your preferred schools but there will be something.

I don't live in the area so I know nothing about the schools you name. Having said that, I would avoid any school that won't let you visit. In my view that tells you everything you need to know about the school and where their priorities lie.

not the same area but last year dd got into y7 in an previously oversubscribed school after we made a late application - I'm struggling to remember the exact timescale but I think we applied at Easter & were offered a place just before the end of the summer term (we went onto the waiting list at number 27 & were out of catchement so had no points). We were offered a place at another school we applied to at the same time before that but turned them down.

It was a slightly different situation because we were home educating & were quite happy to carry on & wait until a place came up.

If you are catholic and live in BS then you would stand a good chance if you are a late applicant. The Deanery they take catholic pupils from is vast so if you are close by I imagine you would be near the top of the list. Check their admissions procedure.

St Peters Guildford would be a good option. SCC's school plan shows that current year 6 was a low birth rate year so you could well be lucky. I live not far from Guildford and many of our local primaries have spaces in year 6 so their data seems right. Also you will find that some places are not taken up at these schools after offers day with some children going private, worth having your application in by then if you can.