Year 8 places Oxford

[Jennyinsing]

We are relocating from Singapore to the UK next summer and would love to live in Oxford. My two girls will be going into year 6&8 at the time and we are looking for schools. Ideally a state school but can also do private. Cherwell School looks amazing but how likely is it that we will get a place for a year 8? Any advice for getting into a good state school for year 8 or is it likely we will have to do private.

We are not tied to Oxford. We can live anywhere south of Birmingham so any other suggestions on great places to live with good schools also welcome.

Ps. We are looking for a schools that have a good balance of teaching/pastoral care/activities. Not schools that are high pressure results led. Thank you!

You can't apply for an in year school place until you are back resident in the area as you will only have a short time to accept the place and start attending. It is worth looking at the council sites for the various areas you'd be prepared to live and see what schools have vacancies now as this can give some indication of whether they generally have places or not.
If you can afford it it may be worthwhile considering private at least for the older one to save some stress.

The best strategy may be to move into catchment for whatever secondary you think would work for your younger one.
You should be back in time for year 7 allocations and once she has started attending it will likely (if they have siblings as an admission criteria) put your elder daughter much higher up the waiting list for an in year place.

Sadly, most state schools who have in year places have them for a reason. Ie it's an undesirable school... not always but you're likely to be relying on occasional places coming up.
Good luck!
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/apply-school-place/school-admission-rules-and-policies/allocation-reports-and-vacancies/allocations-5-may-2022
Places available for yr 7 September entry in Oxfordshire.

Thank you! I think the private school strategy for a year or two is a good one - although she may not want to leave 😂

That report on the schools is very interesting - good to see 90% got their first choice!