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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Can I keep a place in school for 6 months?

12 replies

WorldAltlas · 22/05/2014 18:02

Hi, DH got a job on a 6 months probation basis and we are planning to move, however if things won't work out for some reason, we'll have to return to our current location. The problem is our son is in a top grammar school and I am very worried about giving up the place.

We are trying to chase the head of the school, but he is away at the moment and we got to decide soon whether we are moving our family.

OP posts:

Picturesinthefirelight · 22/05/2014 18:06

Could your dh find lodgings for 6 months until the end if his probation then if it doesn't work out you haven't completely cut all ties.

Original poster

WorldAltlas · 22/05/2014 18:08

He could, but there is a place came up at a good school at our new location, we got to take it up, or DS will lose on that one too.

OP posts:

gamerchick · 22/05/2014 18:11

Personally I would play it safe and let him go in ahead but it sounds as if you can flip a coin

PatriciaHolm · 22/05/2014 18:17

Highly unlikely. If there is a waiting list, then no; your place will be given to the person on the top of the list. Essentially, you can't have 2 state school places at once.

Of course if there is no waiting list, or it no longer operates a list at this point, you may get lucky and the place will still be there when you get back, but I would imagine its a rare grammar that doesn't have people waiting to grab a spare place.

Original poster

WorldAltlas · 22/05/2014 18:20

The second school is a private one.

OP posts:

Picturesinthefirelight · 22/05/2014 18:47

In which case you could pay a terms fees to hold the place.

tiggytape · 22/05/2014 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

WorldAltlas · 22/05/2014 23:02

Thank you tiggytape. The grammar school is a state school.

OP posts:

buize · 22/05/2014 23:14

I did this and had my son's place kept for him for 4 months. It was a state school, but we were abroad for compassionate reasons. The condition was that he was registered at the other school. However, it was such a hassle, his state school wanted weekly (yes!) attendance reports and wanted to see the work he was doing.

Then when he came back, despite being an A grade student abroad they said he was failing and they were not prepared to give him any extra help as I took him out of school. In the end I took him out of that school the term after we got back and it was the best thing I could have done. He sat level 6 SATS last year.

Not sure if this would apply if both schools are in the UK though, even if one is private. I would speak with the Head and the local authority.

tiggytape · 23/05/2014 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

WorldAltlas · 23/05/2014 08:54

Thank you for your comments! The private school is a very sought after and very academic, so not sure if they'll agree to keep a place even if it is paid for because DS will fall behind, even at a grammar school. I am so sad about taking DS out of his grammar school, especially if the move won't work out and we'll have to return to this area.

OP posts:

lainiekazan · 23/05/2014 12:36

I don't see why your dh doesn't go by himself if it's a probationary job? Why uproot the whole family if the job may not work out, and you do sound rather doubtful.

Much better to spend Mon-Fri at new place, then if in six months' time the new job is fine, then move.

Unfortunately schooling is a great big handbrake on mobility, unless one has the means to go hopping around private schools (and even then the kids might not thank you for it).

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