advice on applying from overseas

[HighOverTheFenceLeapsSunnyJim]

We are currently living in South Africa and moving to north Devon to start a new job around February/March. Obviously we miss the secondary school application window for our DD who would currently be in Y6. I've contacted the council & they have told me to apply from overseas. Am I right in thinking that this is meaningless as we aren't remotely in catchment so won't be offered anything?! They said it's better that they know about us & we can update our address when we move into the area.

Also, I've looked at the form & I have to fill in a section on why we want each school. Is this actually used in anyway to assign places? I am assuming not as it is all an algorithm, right?!

Thanks for any advice. Feeling bemused.

I would apply to the schools you want before the end of October because even though you will effectively be last on the admission criteria list, by virtue of the distance to south africa, there is always the possibility that the school is not full and they then have to give you the place.
You should look carefully at what the LA admission criteria says for the schools because most offer some kind of opportunity to change address and preferences for people moving house after the cut-off date of 31st October. This is unlikely to be February but you never know when you might be able to move.
As soon as you get to the UK and have an address then you need to inform the LA and ask that they use the new address for contact information but keep the old address for admission purposes. That protects your on time application in the hope the schools are not full and you get the offer of a place. If you change address for admission purposes before March 1st then you will not be considered until after first applications have been done. As soon as the places are allocated in March, assuming you do not get the offer of a place, you then need to confirm with the LA that you want to be on the waiting list for the schools you prefer and that they have you in the system at your new address for admission purposes after March 1st.
You are correct that whatever you put on the forms will have no impact on the allocation of places unless you are applying under a medical /social category (which not all LAs have)

Thanks very much for your guidance!