What happens if you move mid-term?

[MrsWhirly]

Hello every, apologies I am asking a lot of questions on this board at the moment, and you are all being very helpful - so thank you!

We are currently selling our house and will be moving to the catchment of a very popular and oversubscribed School. There is no way we will make the Oct - Dec cut off for admissions, so wondering what happens if we finally get to our new house mid-year 7?

Presumably they can turn us down if they are full and then offer any school?

I’m a bit confused - mid year 7? Surely it’s unlikely to take over a year to move? Unless you’re already in year 7 in which case you won’t be going through to transfer to secondary process and you can ignore everything below!

Assuming you are currently in year 6 and hope to move in the next 6 months, in a nutshell, yes. They can offer you any school with a place and you can join the waiting list of the school you want.

Most local authorities have a window for late applications, as you’ve said, up to December for exceptional circumstances. After that, usually your late application will be dealt with after the deadline for accepting offers (usually April) when everything starts to shuffle around. Presume you’ve looked at the admissions booklet on your new LA website? Otherwise I’d contact the admissions team for advice. It’s a common scenario!

All schools have to publish their admissions criteria. I’m sure you’ll find the info on the school website.

Good luck.

Just re- read your message, if you’re already in year 7 then there’s no Oct- Dec cut off. That’s only for year 6 transfer.

You apply for an in year transfer and you get allocated anywhere that has a place.

Sorry I should have been clearer. We have just started Year 6 so have to apply by Oct 31. Unlikely sale and purchase will be done any time soon, so I guess potentially pointless that we are moving to be in catchment of said School as likely to be full x

Put the school in the catchment area of the new house as first choice and in the box that says “Reason for chosen school” put down what your situation is, hopefully they’ll take it into consideration. I’ve moved my DD midterm but if the school is already full you may have to go on the waiting list. Or appeal, appeals are judged irrespective of places so even if school is full you can get in through appeal.

If the school is oversubscribed as you say then there won’t be a place. One might come up on the waiting list but no guarantee. Is the school the reason for the move? If it’s the only reason it’s a big risk.

Do you know the area well? What are the alternative schools there like?

Really think you ought to speak to the admissions team and find out which school/s if any are likely to have places after national offer day.

There's normally a later date like 10 January where you still count in first round if you've moved into area, exact date varies by LEA, check with them - should be online.

We moved and completed in July but still got into an outstanding rated school for Y7 but were moving very close to it so went right in at number 1. No guarantees though.

Thanks everyone, yes school is reason for move. So a risk, yes. I spoke to the admissions team and they said to keep the informed all the way.

In our area once exchange has taken place you will be allocated a school based on new address and your preferences. If no preferences can be met you will be allocated nearest school with places (and transport over 3 miles here) and go on waiting lists. Always a fair bit of movement in lists. DD was 25th on grammar list in March and got place in July. There's normally waves of movement, ours was first March with people declining initial offers then April with no replies chased then around open days start July then end August / start September with people not turning up etc and can go quiet inbetween. One we've moved to for year 7 was moving roughly 1 a week.