In year admissions relocating this month

[whotheeff]

It seems we're relocating at the worst time of year. My children are entering year 7 and 9 and we're moving for my job. The council have said there is no school that has spaces for them both and I feel physically ill with stress at the the idea of having them in different schools while they handle moving to a new city.

We're planning to keep my DH with them in their current school until we get places for both of them in a suitable school in our new city. This isn't ideal as it's 4 hours away and I can't bear us being separated for an indefinite time.

I've contacted the councillors in our new city and applied for a school place for my year 9, hoping we can then get a year 7 place based on the sibling rule.

Does anyone have any other suggestions or reassuring experience?

I'm beginning to think my exciting new job just isn't worth the stress and upheaval.

Can I ask which Local Authority? It varies according to area and country.

We're moving to Cardiff.

Gorgeous vibrant city. Congratulations on the job.
Do you have your hearts set on a particular school?

My experience of in year admission (sadly not Cardiff) is that once they clear the wait list each year it becomes much easier so your year 9 will have the better chance and then your year 7 will get straight to the top of the list provided your in catchment (anyone on the original list is usually settled in their new school by year 9 while in year 7 they still keep options open).

We successfully did it with a year 8.

Wishing you best of luck.

And once one is in a school then the other may go up the preference list as a sibling?
Can you appeal for a place too?
I would be getting the elder one into a school you like (and it is more urgent for her too), and then trying to get the younger one in. But at year 7 and 9 being at different schools is not necessarily a disaster.

I don't think it's a disaster either, particularly if they are different and sometimes the younger one thrives out of the shadow of the elder.

Sometimes it can be better.

Nothing you can do other than appeal and the appeals won't start again until after the term starts. The Councillors can't help. Even if you'd moved earlier you might not have been able to get them both in the same school. You'll have to send them to different schools

Your problem will be when you're offered a year 9 place - you'd have to accept and your dc start more or less straight away, even if the younger one didn't have a place. So you might as well all move together, and accept either different schools - not that big a deal tbh at secondary, or one is without a school for a while.

@MollyButton I agree and think this will be our approach though my year 7 won't be happy about not heading to the same school...we'll appeal and get him on the waitlist for the school my year 9 ends up at.

It's SO STRESSFUL and utterly exhausting. I just hope my new job is everything I hope after all this upheaval...

@titchy agree and we'll get the year 7 on the list for the school our year 9 ends up at. The year 7 options are slim - 2 are miles away from where we'll be renting and the closer one doesn't have a 6th form and I favor through schools.

Also some may people may not turn up at the beginning of the term - if the yr is enrolled then they will have sibling priority hopefully. Worth moving and holding your nerve if you can.

@gabster33 thank you - I really needed to hear that tonight. I keep having wobbles then pick myself up again.

Your job is in Cardiff? If so there are many places you could move to, and many counties. I live 40 minutes from Cardiff, and used to do the trip daily. Which county are you moving too?

@IsobelRae23 it's in Treforest and we love living in a city as my husband works from home and we like to be pedestrian with local bars and restaurants and shops. I'll be commuting each day up the road.

That’s fair enough then, only Newport or Cardiff for you. Hope you enjoy your move and welcome to Wales!!!!

@IsobelRae23 thank you we're so excited now! A new adventure!!