Moving after offer day

[cantstopstressing]

Long story but, basically, DD did not get into any of her choices of secondary and we've been allocated a school we are really not happy with (it's in special measures). We had hoped she would get into our local grammar but she was not successful. We therefore decided back in March to move house into the catchment area of an outstanding state secondary. The house has been on the market since March but we've received no offer so are now considering renting our house out and renting in the catchment of the school until we can sell but are worried that the school will not accept our rental address as we will still own a house a few miles away. We still intend to sell and will put the back house on the market next year when the housing market picks up but I am worried they won't buy this. We don't want to wait to move as we want DD to move up the waiting list by being as close as possible as soon as possible. Can anyone advise what to do? We don't want the move to be for nothing if the school won't accept the new address.

Many councils have rules not permitting what you suggest.

Mainly because you could so easily be given a place, and then say 'oh well as our house hasn't sold we'll move back into it'

You would need to get very clear assurance, in writing, from the admissions authority that they will accept the address knowing the facts.

Many won't, especially in areas of high demand; if you own one property in their council area they won't accept a rental address. To essentially avoid people doing exactly what you are doing -moving into a temporary home simply to get a school places and once acquired, moving again.

You also need to realise that all moving will do is move her up the waiting list not get her a place. Depending on mobility, you could still be waiting a long time for a place.

You need to read the rules of your LA relating to renting properties.

Have read but they are not entirely clear. Says you have to have "disposed" of your main home and that renting it out for 12 months is not sufficient. Does that suggest that renting for more than 12 months is ok?

She may never get a place in the school, what are you doing in the mean time?

Be upfront with the LA and go from there.

I would read that as you have to have sold it or given it away.
The 'renting it out for 12 months' bit I would read as a clarification to stop people asking them whether renting it out would be OK.

But I'm not an expert.

Letsrun, she will either need to go to the school requiring improvement or we may home educate.

I would interpret that as no, you can't do what you want to do. They clearly have had issues in the past (some LAs are more lenient) and i would expect them to insist on using your owned home address, I'm afraid.

(School Governor and LA Appeals Panel Chair here, so I do know a bit about it!)

I would imagine the 12 month rule is to stop people starting to rent in the September of yr 6, getting the place, starting the school and then moving back.