Applying to secondary school while in process of moving home

7 replies

rsmith99 · 13/08/2022 11:11

we are in the process of moving home. We haven’t exchanged contracts yet though. We have twins who are about to start year 6 in sept, so will be applying to secondary schools (deadline oct 31).

Has anyone been through this scenario before?

We are worried that if we haven’t exchanged and moved in by the deadline, we won’t be able to apply to schools on the new area?

Do we have to exchange before the deadline? And what will happen if we haven’t? Do we then fall down the pecking order for applications?

OP posts:

Hopeandlove · 13/08/2022 11:16

Yes exchange and then you can apply. Push for exchange asap by 1 st sep and then deadline for exchange of say 30 th sep - get your solicitor to do this this

Original poster

rsmith99 · 13/08/2022 11:30

Thanks for the reply!

If the worst case scenario happened and we exchange at end of October (as there are delays in receiving the searches back from the local authority), would we still be ok for the school applications?

given we won’t have proof of address immediately in time for applications, would a letter from the solicitors be enough to accompany the school application?

OP posts:

MuffinMcLayLikeABundleOfHay · 13/08/2022 11:48

This happened to us and admissions told us we had to use the address of the house we owned at the time (the one we were selling) and we could change the address directly with them once we had exchanged.

RoseWindow · 13/08/2022 11:53

What Muffin said. This question will be answered on the schools admissions webpage of the LA you are leaving or going to. Each one will have guidance for people moving house. But the rules may differ at each one.

BendingSpoons · 14/08/2022 08:32

Some places have another deadline, around early December. You can change your address before this time and be treated as an on time applicant. Have a look on your LA website (and the one you are moving to) for their policy.

prh47bridge · 14/08/2022 09:11

Some LAs will allow you to apply from your new address once you have exchanged contracts, others will insist you must be actually living there.

If the LA to which you are moving does not accept applications based on exchange of contracts, you will have to apply through your current LA. You can still apply for schools in the new area - your LA is then required to pass on your application to your new LA.

Many LAs will accept a change of address for a few weeks following the deadline for applications. Check the rules for the LA to which you are moving.

RareSwan · 12/01/2025 06:55

Hey,

just wandering what the outcome of this was please as we’re going through the same thing now!

Flip