How many years does one need to live in the catchment area to qualify for Camden Girls School?

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Hello everyone, we are moving back to London from another country and considering about living in the catchment area for Camden Girls School. Our older one is now in Year 4 and younger one in Year 2. I have heard different people say that the school is getting stricter about who would be considered as local. If we started living in the catchment area for CGS this summer, at the beginning of Year 5, we will probably have been in there for a year before she takes the banding test. Will this be enough? Or we need to have lived here for at least 3 years?

In addition, any difference between renting vs buying in the area? Many many thanks!!!

You don't have to have lived in the area for a certain period of time to register for the banding test but you do have to register for it in the September of year 6.

What they may mean though is that you have to live very close to get in if you are going for the distance criteria only - they warn you off even bothering if you are more than 1. 32 miles away.

There's no difference between renting and buying (assuming you don't own another property near enough that it is arguable you could live there and are trying to game the system by using a rented address that's closer) as long as it is your genuine home... apart from the price!

Thanks so much for this, very very helpful indeed as I could not find anything regarding the length of living in the area on their website and couldn't reach the admission office by phone either.