No catchment area?

[lifecouldbeadream]

Anyone any suggestions for what is the best thing to do if you are not in the catchment area for any school for admissions( all are in control of their own boundaries and we aren’t in any). Thanks !

We basically weren't. I expected to have to go on waiting lists, but then I also found out a few schools had a few places reserved by musical ability - DD did tests for those and was offered a definite place at one and a possible at the other (both were further away).

Our 3rd choice had recently become co-ed and it wasn't clear how this would affect catchment.

In the end we got lucky and our 1st choice changed its admission procedure at the last minute in a way that favoured us, though I didn't think it would be enough, and although we were almost a mile further out than its catchment the previous year, we got a place.

If you're not in catchment it's worth seeing if any schools, including ones further afield, offer sports/drama/music ability places if your DC has any ability in those areas. The music places gave us confidence to put our 1st choice 1st although we felt it was really unlikely at the time.