Moving house between secondary school application and offer date

[Avaks]

Hello everyone. My DS is 10 now, so we're applying for secondary school very soon. We're in catchment area of very good school and would like to keep the chance to go there. However, our landlord want us out until the end of the year, so we would definitely move out before the 1st of March. Not so many properties available in this area, so there is a chance we move our of catchment area of that school. As I know we have to inform our LA about address change, so they would get know before the offer date.

What are we supposed to do? Try to find another school in the area we're moving in? Keep calm and wait for the offer from our favourite one regardless of the house move?

Thank you all in advance.

The LA will still make you an offer. If you move within a few weeks of the closing date for applications it may be based on your new address, otherwise it is likely to be based on your old address. The exact rules depend on your LA.

Which address is used will, of course, affect which schools you are likely to get. If you know when you are going to move and what the LA's rules are you can take this into account in deciding which schools to name as preferences.

My DS is starting secondary this week and I am applying for my DD this autumn too.

We moved after allocation of places but before DS had started. Our LAs rules are address at time of application. Although I know this I haven't updated our address with the school yet Alrhough we are now out of catchment we lived within catchment for 18 years!

Thank you for your replies. Let me add some details:

1. Unfortunately we will most likely move from one LA to another (we live on the very edge of our current one and it would be hard to find another house within the same tiny area).
2. We will apply for 2 grammar schools and one state comprehensive - we are in catchment areas of all 3 now and will keep it when moving.
3. We will move between November and January.
4. Our current LA is Bracknell Forest, the (possible) new is Windsor & Maidenhead. If it matters.

So, the main question: what should we do to make sure we would go to 1st round of allocations, so don't miss our places in grammar schools or the comprehensive school (if not fortunate with 11+)?

You need to apply from your current address.

Once you have moved, if you move into Windsor and Maidenhead, you need to make an application to them immediately with proof of the new address. If this is before Nov 21 they may well accept it as on time, they say they will do under unexceptional circumstances. If you move after this, your application will be treated as late and processed after all the on time applications.

Hi all. I need some advice I am in the process of applying to secondary school for my 10 year old daughter. I am currently living 3.5miles away from the 2 schools my daughter would like to go to. But in March we will will be moving down the road from these schools. I do not know which address I should be putting on her application? as I know they will take into account where we live even though we wont be living here when she starts school,we will be in the catchment area of the schools we want, Im worried if I put mt address now they will send her to a school near here, but we wont be living here then! grateful for some advice plz.

You need to use your current address. Anything else is fraud.

I would apply now as you have to use your current address at the time of application. Once I moved, I would then re-direct my post to my new address until I have received and accepted my offer.

Could you talk to your landlord and ask for an extension based on the secondary school application? It is only another 3 months for him/her. Worth an ask due to the circumstances.