Relocating - timings for secondary school applications

[Hopepark]

We are considering relocating for (state) secondary schools. My eldest child has just gone into Yr4 primary.
In an ideal world we would stay where we are now whilst he completed his primary education, but I’m wary of timings for secondary applications, in that presumably we can't apply for a state school in another area whilst we are still living here.
So does that mean moving by the end of Yr 5 at the latest?
But then how do people manage this is they are moving from overseas for example?
We potentially have the option of buying a property in the new area and staying with family locally here until the time comes to move for secondary but how would that work with home address/current primary school on the application form?
I’m feeling very muddled.
I think partly the problem is a reluctance to throw ourselves into moving now and trying to keep our options open (currently in rental).
Has anyone else been in a similar situation?
Also when do people start looking at secondary schools and going to open days?
Thank you!

We moved at Easter of Yr5 to be in place for Secondary applications. Fortunately she got a place at the catchment, feeder primary so will hopefully be moving up with her new friends.

You need to be in situ by October year 6 latest. Some schools may ask for proof of how long you have lived there and if you own property elsewhere.

We looked at Secondary schools last year when deciding where to move to... the online open evenings were very useful since we lived an hours drive away.

So did you look at secondaries in Yr4?

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

We moved at Easter of Yr5 to be in place for Secondary applications. Fortunately she got a place at the catchment, feeder primary so will hopefully be moving up with her new friends.

How did your daughter find moving schools at that stage of primary? It’s something I worry about.

Most people look at secondary schools at the end of Year 5/start of Year 6, but if you are deciding on where to move, you need to look now.

@LIZS

You need to be in situ by October year 6 latest. Some schools may ask for proof of how long you have lived there and if you own property elsewhere.

Do you need to have been living in catchment for a certain area of time for some schools then?

I was mooting the possibility of staying in rented where we are now and buying a property in the new area that we would ultimately want to be living - but renting it out until we were ready to move in to help cover costs. Possibly over complicated but trying to think of all options!

@Hopepark my DD moved schools in Reception, Y2, Y4 twice then in Yr5.... on top of missing large part of Yr4&Yr5 due to lockdowns. Shes just relieved it was the last move. Shes made some good friends, but isn't as close to them as they are to each other. However I know friendship groups mix up at Secondary, so her friendships will strengthen then.

You have to apply using the address you are actually living at, otherwise it is address fraud. Local authorities look carefully at recent movers & may want proof that you have properly disposed of your old house & no longer have ties with it.

How far are you looking at moving?
afaik, your choices are:
*Apply from current address for schools in new area. Unlikely to get into a popular s hool on distance

• Move summer of Y6/Y7 and hope a place at a school you want comes up early in Sept through no shows *Move summer of Y5/Y6 (or rather before end October Y6) and apply in normal admission round.

We came from abroad. I deliberately came back with the kids before DH to get secondary applications in on time.

Buying a house in new area, and continuing to live in old area will mean using rented address in old area for applications - you use the address the child is normally resident at. Having a house that has a tenant in it wont be accepted for application purposes.

Depends on the admissions for the school, for example some grammar schools in Bucks, have longer residency requirements without good reason e.g relocation from abroad and discount the move if you have moved from within a certain distance.

If you are renting the house near the school out and not living in it at the time of application, you can't use it - it has to be the address being lived in at the time. If you have plans to move between application and a date close to allocation date, I think you can send proof of move, otherwise allocation is based on the other address. You can apply for any school, in any area, however, if it is over subscribed, you won't get in - you can move at any time, but take the chance you get allocated an unpopular school, but hope for movement, which happens quite a lot right up to and after the start of term, but it is a chance and the closer to preferred school you are, the higher up the list- normally

Another factor against buying and renting it out is that your tenants may not leave.

If they get advice from shelter or are trying to get a council property they will be advised stay until evicted.

Currently there is a huge backlog and its taking 6 to 8 months going through the proper procedures to get court orders etc.

It's scary to be an accidental Landlord right now.

How about researching the schools now, if the one you feel is the best fit is oversubscribed, rent as near as possible to it. You have the flexibility as a renter? Then you can take your time to search for the right property.

@PeonyTime

How far are you looking at moving? afaik, your choices are: *Apply from current address for schools in new area. Unlikely to get into a popular s hool on distance * Move summer of Y6/Y7 and hope a place at a school you want comes up early in Sept through no shows *Move summer of Y5/Y6 (or rather before end October Y6) and apply in normal admission round.

We came from abroad. I deliberately came back with the kids before DH to get secondary applications in on time.

Buying a house in new area, and continuing to live in old area will mean using rented address in old area for applications - you use the address the child is normally resident at. Having a house that has a tenant in it wont be accepted for application purposes.

We are thinking of moving 1.5 hours away, to a different county. I think everyone has helped me realise that fundamentally we have to make the decision to move or not ASAP. So I think we need to: 1/ Look at secondaries this year 2/ EITHER Bite the bullet and move as soon as we find a suitable house/primary places OR Wait a bit longer, do more research to be sure we are comfortable with our decision then move in another 12-18 months (by the end of Yr5).

I would move. Secondaries are much bigger, familiar faces help.

Primary kids like new children. The older the harder to move.

@Hopepark

So did you look at secondaries in Yr4?

It depends on the area you are moving to. Where I live, most people go to their catchment school and people only go to the Open Days in Year 6.

From reading MN, it sounds as though parents who have more choice will start going to schools in Yea 5 to make an initial short list.

I think looking at secondaries in Year 4 would be unusual, but I don't think that anyone would stop you. This might depend on whether Covid has changed things though (schools might be reluctant to have "extra" people in whose children are a while off starting).

You need to read your local council and each school’s admission policies upside down and inside out. A lot have very strict rules about this, read it now and don’t slip up although of course the rules could get even stricter so I would plan for worst case scenario. Schools are rightly stopping people renting locally short term to get in the school of their choice.