Emmigrating to Endland, Essex, Roydon - Schooling info pls

[Deneki]

Hi guys.
Hoping there are some mums out there, who are able to help. Google and webpages are starting to become daunting.
My son and I are returning to England on a permanent basis. We currently live in South Africa, Kwazulu Natal, Ramsgate. My son is 13 years old and currently in what we call "grade 7"in SA. We will be arriving in England at the end of July so that he can start school on the 1st of September 2019. (the start of the English schooling year)

When I make an application for admission we need to supply 6 school's names.... I have two...
The John Warner School and Robert Barclay Academy, my understanding is both schools are state i.e. not private.

I am really looking for assistance in this one, is there other schools?
Are there any other moms out there going through this situation?
Do any moms have any guidance or recommendations out there?

Starting to feel the brain drain

Thank you in advance for any helpful info.

Regards

If your ds will be 13 until at least September 1st he would be in year 9 in September. You should be able to google Essex Local Authority and find a list of schools nearby to investigate, although not all, If any, will necessarily have a vacancy. You may not be able to formally apply until you have a confirmed UK address. Private schools are a completely different process and while year 9 is not an unusual year to enter, the selection assessments will have been completed and places offered by now.

Essex Local Authority Schools will have a booklet detailing all secondary schools in Essex.

Rightmove gives a list by distance. Ofsted reviews state schools, its not perfect but better than nothing. John Warner is listed as requires improvement which is the 3rd category from top, there's one worse category.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69362500.html

You name up to 6 so can name less.

www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Admissions/Pages/Admissions.aspx has all info. You may find it helpful to email their Admissions team or phone them. If you download secondary school booklet will have all info in, LA will have details of vacancies.

[email protected] is email.

Some schools nearer to Roydon are actually in Hertfordshire, eg John Warner. Look at their website too

Some state schools you apply to directly or some require an LA application form (through Essex if you live in Essex wherever school is) and a form direct. If you contact Essex and schools they can advise, normally on schools website too.

www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Admissions/Pages/Finding-a-School.aspx

If you pay your Council Tax to Essex CC, click on the yellow box and enter your postcode to find your priority area school (ignore the 'am I in catchment for the Chelmsford grammar schools?' bit). Neither of the schools you named are within the Essex CC area, but you can apply for any school you like - all secondary schools in Essex are academies and you apply to the individual school for in year places. Forest Hall School in Stansted Mountfitchet might have places, but as well as your priority area school, it's worth contacting any you like the look of (or your DS can reasonably get to - a lot of Essex schools are full in the lower end of the school, but you have the right to appeal for a place if you apply and are turned down. I don't know how oversubscribed Herts schools are likely to be).

Thank you all for all the info. I have managed to make a list of 6 schools in the area. Hoddeston and Harlow. My mom will be popping around to some of the schools on my behalf. I will need to make my application on line, as I am still currently living in South Africa.

Thank you all for all the info. I have managed to make a list of 6 schools in the area. Hoddeston and Harlow. My mom will be popping around to some of the schools on my behalf. I will need to make my application on line, as I am still currently living in South Africa.

Thank you all for all the info. I have managed to make a list of 6 schools in the area. Hoddeston and Harlow. My mom will be popping around to some of the schools on my behalf. I will need to make my application on line, as I am still currently living in South Africa.

Thank you all for all the info. I have managed to make a list of 6 schools in the area. Hoddeston and Harlow. My mom will be popping around to some of the schools on my behalf. I will need to make my application on line, as I am still currently living in South Africa.

Thank you all for all the info. I have managed to make a list of 6 schools in the area. Hoddeston and Harlow. My mom will be popping around to some of the schools on my behalf. I will need to make my application on line, as I am still currently living in South Africa.

I don’t know where you got the idea of having to apply to six schools? That is usually the number for application to the usual points of entry at Reception or Y7.

As an in-year application it is totally different to the usual process. Do check the website for each school, on their admission page make sure you are looking at the section for in-year. It doesn’t make any difference when you apply or when you plan for your DS to start if it is not a Y7 place you are applying for.

It isn’t unusual for a school you want not to have a place. You will be offered a place at the nearest school with places but it could be many miles away. You can stay on the waiting list of your preferred school but it is not a case of first come first served - you can go down the list. The school admit based on their oversubscription criteria which often includes distance.

There is a huge problem in many parts of England, especially the South East, for school places so many who have a child in a great school will avoid moving so places in the best schools wiill come up less often.

Most LAs will not offer a place until you can provide proof of address which means a bill or council tax (do ask what evidence they need as each is slightly different) in your name at that address etc. .