Secondary School Application Rules

[Tappetytap]

Just a bit of advice from people in the know please.
We have lived in our current private rental property for many years. Our current contract runs out in June. As with all private rentals there is never any guarantee this will continue but we do know that usually the landlords take a long while to get a new contract sorted. We are due to apply for secondary schools by the end of October. What I want to know is what if we apply from this address at the end of October but then we have to move out by the end of March? Will that cancel our school place even if its out of our control? Also, what if we are still here in March when the school places are offered but we have to move (through no fault of our own) before the child starts at the school in September 2023? Would the secondary school withdraw the offer if we aren't living in the same house that we originally applied from?

It shouldn't make any difference to your school place. As long as you apply from your current address, you should be allocated a place based on that address. Some LAs allow you to change your address and preferences if you move shortly after applications close, but this is usually only for a few weeks. If you move after that but before offers come out, you should be able to tell your LA to continue to use your current address for admissions purposes rather than switch to your new address and treat you as a late applicant. Once offers are out, the offer cannot be withdrawn just because you move.

Unfortunately, the operative word in the above is "should". Some councils are overly aggressive and will take places away when people move, even though this is clearly a breach of the Admissions Code. You may have to appeal to get your child's place reinstated if that happens.

Thank you for this @prhbridges.
This is reassuring. I am under Birmingham Local Authority if that makes a difference?

Which LA is involved doesn't make any difference to the rules. It does, however, make a difference as to whether the LA follows the rules correctly or tries to make up its own.

I haven't come across anyone having problems with Birmingham over this area of the Admissions Code, but I can't offer any guarantees.

Assuming that you renew your tenancy for 1 year at a time; then the date you would need to move out, if the tenancy wasn't renewed, would be June. Usually tenants receive 3 months notice so you would know in March.
My understanding is that it is unlikely to be a problem if the rental property is your main residence and you have lived there for several years.

Thank you both. If we were forced to move (section 21 etc) after we apply in October but before school starts in September and they took the place off us after it was offered, would that be unlawful for them to do? We've been at the current property for over 10 years and have all our records etc

@Tappetytap

Thank you both. If we were forced to move (section 21 etc) after we apply in October but before school starts in September and they took the place off us after it was offered, would that be unlawful for them to do? We've been at the current property for over 10 years and have all our records etc

Yes, as places can only be removed under very specific circumstances (either the Admissions Authority making a mistake, or if they suspected fraud). There would be no fraud involved if you were forced to move house in these circumstances.

Phew! Thank you all. That's a welcome relief! It's about 10 months between when you apply and when you officially start at a senior school and in the private rental market you can never guarantee how long you can stay. How would it work with regards correspedance from the school etc if we do have to move? Would you wait until the offer in March and then tell the school of your new address?