Moving house during secondary school application process

[WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor]

We are in the process of moving house. Our original sale fell through and now we will have to apply to schools based on our current address. If we change address before April which address will the schools be allocated on? We are moving very far so there is no way my DD can attend the schools around our current address.

There may be a window for changing address but if it exists (check LA website) the deadline could be as early as December. Secondary allocations are March 1st. So it is likely it will be based on the address now unless you move quickly and can evidence a move within any window.

So what happens if we can attend, we are moving cities.

*Can’t attend

You make a late application in new location and join waiting lists.

We are having the same issue. We are due to complete late this month / early next month but obviously the deadline is the end of October. I have emailed what will be our new local authority and they have said to apply before the deadline to our current LA, but they will accept applications from those moving house up to February 2022. Can you email your LA and clarify?

You can still apply for schools outside of the area, wherever you live. We have applied for the schools we want DD to attend after we've moved.

You can list schools in new area on CAF but realistically unlikely to get a place if those schools are oversubscribed and distance is a criteria.

Well my DS didn't get his first choice and he was 3rd on waiting list. They then released 5 more places in April and they all went to people who had just moved into the area. We appealed with no luck. He went down waiting list again due to people moving into the area. So I presume you would also go higher up waiting list if you lived nearer to the school? He had been at primary 7 years and only one not to get place due to distance. So I guess distance trumps length of time on list? Felt really unfair at the time tbh as late comers got those spaces.

Thank you for all the replies, I have emailed the local authority to see if there is a window.
@converseandjeans that seems hugely unfair for your DS

weRtheones yes it felt unfair that he missed out - but does hopefully help you in that provided you live near enough you should get a place regardless of how late your application is?

@converseandjeans Yes, waiting lists are always kept in order of admissions criteria, and length of time on the waiting list has no impact. I know that seems harsh when you have been on a list for a long time though

Council have said we can apply for the schools we want from out of area then change address up till the beginning of Jan.

@converseandjeans that's always the way it works everywhere. Wait lists follow over subscription criteria. It catches people out who may get into a certain primary, often in KS2 thinking they'll just move up with all their mates, but places are done by high school order of eligibility.
Our primary has people who got places in juniors who live quite far and then they are upset when they end up being only one to go to a different high