Page 6 | Currently on a secondary school waiting list - moving child a few weeks into the start of term?

Turquoiseturtle3 · 2023-08-21T07:09:49+00:00

Hi all, with 2 weeks to go in slightly freaking out about the start of secondary school. We are currently on the waiting list for our top choice. At one point we were 3rd at the start of July but have now slipped to 10th. So the chances of being offered before term starts is now extremely low. I was hopeful we would be offered in the summer holidays and everything would work out. So we are now potentially facing a dilemma if we are offered once term has started. Has anyone moved their DC a few weeks into term? I am gutted he will miss out on the “getting to know you” stuff. Of course he might not be offered at all and this is also semi wishful thinking. But I have to be prepared. The school he is currently going to is further away but he will know quite a lot of people from primary. Our first choice school he will know practically no one. Im worried about him making friends when groups have already been formed. But know this is probably short term pain. Any advice welcome. TIA

fairydust11 · 12/09/2023 17:57

Op - most people I think who do move, wait until mid September after their child has started the school, are you sure some families moved over the summer?

Also I haven’t read the full thread but are you in the catchment area? Where we live the outstanding schools are oversubscribed so we moved into the catchment area a few years ago to increase our chances of getting a place.

PatriciaHolm · 12/09/2023 18:26

If you move out of catchment before the 1st day of term, I was advised that the council should reassess the application and withdraw the place if someone else meets the distance criteria ahead of them.

An admissions authority cannot withdraw a place simply because someone has moved. That would be against the admissions code, which has the force of law.

They can only remove it if they believe the original address to be fraudulent, or an address of convenience.

A number of LAs do threaten this, but as I say, It's not legal. Anyone who had a place removed simply because they moved would be able to appeal, and should win (assuming it's a genuine move of course. I do appreciate not all are!).

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/09/2023 20:46

wutheringkites · 12/09/2023 16:50

Do you actually know of people who have done this or are you just assuming that some people have?

My friend told me one of the families in her kids primary school class had moved but won’t be declaring their change of address.

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Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/09/2023 20:47

fairydust11 · 12/09/2023 17:57

Op - most people I think who do move, wait until mid September after their child has started the school, are you sure some families moved over the summer?

Also I haven’t read the full thread but are you in the catchment area? Where we live the outstanding schools are oversubscribed so we moved into the catchment area a few years ago to increase our chances of getting a place.

Yes, they moved before the end of term of year 6

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Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/09/2023 20:54

SheilaFentiman · 12/09/2023 16:57

This is what my county does - so no places are withdrawn if a child moves after the application date, but if they are allocated a place and then move, then they can go on waiting lists with their new address.

If your child is offered a school place based on where they live, it is conditional on them living at that address on the application closing date (or a different date if specified by the school). An exception will only apply if we have accepted a change of address that has taken place after the closing date (see further information below). A new address can only be considered once a move has taken place and we reserve the right to seek further information from you.

If you do not tell us about a move, or about a declared move that has failed to take place, we may withdraw your application or any offer of a school place we have made.

Moving within XX county after the closing date: if you applied by the closing date and you move within XX after 31 October 2023, but on or before 12 December 2023, let us know the date you moved and provide us with evidence of your new address by 12 December 2023, for example a copy of your tenancy agreement or the date of completion. As long as the move took place on or before 12 December and you send us evidence by that date, your new address will be used in the initial allocation of school places on 1 March 2024 (the national offer day).

If you move within XX after 12 December 2023 or if you provide us with evidence of a prior move after this date, your previous address will be used for initial allocation purposes on 1 March 2024. Your new address will be used for waiting lists from 1 March 2024, or the date you move if a move has not yet taken place.

This is what ours says:

Reassessment of the home address
The offer made to you is based on the information you provided in your application, with the understanding that this is the address you and your child will continue to live at until they start school.
If the principal address for your child changes after the allocation of places has been made, we will consider the offer as made in error because it was based on information which no longer applies. We will reassess your application based on the new address information and this will result in the one of the following.
● The offer is confirmed because your child is still entitled to the place using the oversubscription criteria
● Your child’s name is placed higher or lower on the waiting lists for your preferred schools based on the new address
● The offer will be withdrawn because your child no longer qualifies for the place offered using the new address and the oversubscription criteria for the school. In this case the offer of a new place will be made and your child’s name will be placed on waiting lists at the appropriate point
This reassessment will be applied to all address changes that occur during the application period.

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SheilaFentiman · 12/09/2023 22:44

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/09/2023 20:54

This is what ours says:

Reassessment of the home address
The offer made to you is based on the information you provided in your application, with the understanding that this is the address you and your child will continue to live at until they start school.
If the principal address for your child changes after the allocation of places has been made, we will consider the offer as made in error because it was based on information which no longer applies. We will reassess your application based on the new address information and this will result in the one of the following.
● The offer is confirmed because your child is still entitled to the place using the oversubscription criteria
● Your child’s name is placed higher or lower on the waiting lists for your preferred schools based on the new address
● The offer will be withdrawn because your child no longer qualifies for the place offered using the new address and the oversubscription criteria for the school. In this case the offer of a new place will be made and your child’s name will be placed on waiting lists at the appropriate point
This reassessment will be applied to all address changes that occur during the application period.

Show quote history

Oh, that’s really interesting. I didn’t think they were allowed to withdraw a place that was fairly offered.

fairydust11 · 12/09/2023 23:31

@Turquoiseturtle3 - sorry I can’t quote you for some reason, but based on the fact they moved before September and your LA has a rule that they should still be at the same address at the start of term, I would report it to the LA (if you haven’t already) depending on where your child currently is on the list, it may still not get them in, but I think I would do that under the circumstances.

ThePearTree · 13/09/2023 06:34

@SheilaFentiman As others have said, they aren't allowed, and anyone who had a place removed by this should win it back at appeal as it goes against the Admissions Code. Unfortunately, several LAs do have this policy regardless.

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 13/09/2023 08:00

fairydust11 · 12/09/2023 23:31

@Turquoiseturtle3 - sorry I can’t quote you for some reason, but based on the fact they moved before September and your LA has a rule that they should still be at the same address at the start of term, I would report it to the LA (if you haven’t already) depending on where your child currently is on the list, it may still not get them in, but I think I would do that under the circumstances.

Thanks. It’s very frustrating but I’m not going to report them. It’s not the child’s fault. Maybe it would be different if I was desperately unhappy with the school we were given, which we’re not.

I did ask the council about people that move out of catchment and that’s when they said basically the schools check the address given during the initial application vs the one supplied in the info requested by them and they reassess on that basis. So basically zero checks and it requires the parents to slip up/own up to moving. At the end of the day, the schools want to be full by the end of September when funding is determined so it’s not in their interest to take a place away etc. Anyway, it’s their loss.

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Sweetchick86 · 13/09/2023 09:55

Finally able to post a good update :) we got the call yesterday that a place had become available for my daughter at our preferred school. We were 4th on the waiting list.

it’s such a relief after a stressful few months with lots of upset.

Will be keeping everything crossed for you all still waiting, I know it’s hard x

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 13/09/2023 09:57

Sweetchick86 · 13/09/2023 09:55

Finally able to post a good update :) we got the call yesterday that a place had become available for my daughter at our preferred school. We were 4th on the waiting list.

it’s such a relief after a stressful few months with lots of upset.

Will be keeping everything crossed for you all still waiting, I know it’s hard x

Yay, over the moon for you!!! Congrats and hope they settle in quickly x

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fairydust11 · 13/09/2023 10:46

@Turquoiseturtle3 I completely understand, as you’re right it’s not the child’s fault.
I really hope everything works out the best for you and your child.
To be a bit philosophical things sometimes happen for a reason, so maybe the school where your child is might be where they were always meant to be, although saying that I hope you receive a call/email with good news asap!

@Sweetchick86 that’s really good news! It must be a relief.

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 13/09/2023 11:13

fairydust11 · 13/09/2023 10:46

@Turquoiseturtle3 I completely understand, as you’re right it’s not the child’s fault.
I really hope everything works out the best for you and your child.
To be a bit philosophical things sometimes happen for a reason, so maybe the school where your child is might be where they were always meant to be, although saying that I hope you receive a call/email with good news asap!

@Sweetchick86 that’s really good news! It must be a relief.

Thank you so much. Yes part of me is thinking it’s fate. Atm, he’s happy so that’s the main thing!

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itsgettingweird · 13/09/2023 17:23

I didn't start my secondary school until 6 weeks into term as we moved house.

It was fine.

But if the opportunity arises you can ask them how they feel. I wouldn't move if they were dead against it tbh.

itsgettingweird · 13/09/2023 17:24

Oh and my ds started a new school in year 8 as the one we chose turned out to be dreadful. He was also fine. But for him he wanted to move from about week 6 of the first one!

BendingSpoons · 13/09/2023 19:11

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/09/2023 20:54

This is what ours says:

Reassessment of the home address
The offer made to you is based on the information you provided in your application, with the understanding that this is the address you and your child will continue to live at until they start school.
If the principal address for your child changes after the allocation of places has been made, we will consider the offer as made in error because it was based on information which no longer applies. We will reassess your application based on the new address information and this will result in the one of the following.
● The offer is confirmed because your child is still entitled to the place using the oversubscription criteria
● Your child’s name is placed higher or lower on the waiting lists for your preferred schools based on the new address
● The offer will be withdrawn because your child no longer qualifies for the place offered using the new address and the oversubscription criteria for the school. In this case the offer of a new place will be made and your child’s name will be placed on waiting lists at the appropriate point
This reassessment will be applied to all address changes that occur during the application period.

Show quote history

This is against the admissions code and is actually very unfair. If someone has to move, they may get their place taken away but there won't necessarily be any spaces in the schools near where they have moved, so they end up with no place or somewhere miles away. People are often forced to move due to landlords evicting them or relationships breaking down. I can understand it seems unfair if people seem to be playing the system but that often is not the case.

Fingers crossed for spaces for those of you still waiting, and quickly!

Greenfingers1980 · 19/09/2023 09:48

Did anyone experience or hear of any positive waiting list movement in the first few weeks of term in the end? I was told by our first choice school that every single student showed up on the first day so no openings that way. We have moved backwards due to new people applying who presumably live closer etc. Very disappointing.

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 19/09/2023 11:54

Greenfingers1980 · 19/09/2023 09:48

Did anyone experience or hear of any positive waiting list movement in the first few weeks of term in the end? I was told by our first choice school that every single student showed up on the first day so no openings that way. We have moved backwards due to new people applying who presumably live closer etc. Very disappointing.

So sorry!! I can’t believe everyone turned up!! There is still hope that these pupils may be offered a higher preference school which might prompt some movement. Where are you on the waiting list?

We are 9th so pretty sure it won’t happen for us.

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Sweetchick86 · 19/09/2023 13:36

Greenfingers1980 · 19/09/2023 09:48

Did anyone experience or hear of any positive waiting list movement in the first few weeks of term in the end? I was told by our first choice school that every single student showed up on the first day so no openings that way. We have moved backwards due to new people applying who presumably live closer etc. Very disappointing.

We were 4th over the summer, then a place opened up near to term starting which put us in 3rd.

Then 3 no shows at the start of the term, once checked and verified I got the call last week for my daughter.

I had of given myself till October half term to keep hopeful that a place would come up, as I believe movement slows down again after that.

Theres still movement to be had yet though, it’s just the stress of waiting and hoping :( x

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 21/09/2023 13:18

Sweetchick86 · 19/09/2023 13:36

We were 4th over the summer, then a place opened up near to term starting which put us in 3rd.

Then 3 no shows at the start of the term, once checked and verified I got the call last week for my daughter.

I had of given myself till October half term to keep hopeful that a place would come up, as I believe movement slows down again after that.

Theres still movement to be had yet though, it’s just the stress of waiting and hoping :( x

Show quote history

That’s great, congrats.

We have been pushed back 3 places again so pretty much game over. I can’t believe how much movement there has been in the wrong direction! But it is what it is. DS seems ok bar one teacher.

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YorkshireOldGal · 22/09/2023 14:45

Hi,

To slightly high jack the thread our child was just offered a place at what was her 1st choice school. We went from 9th on the waiting list at the start of term, to 5th at the start of last week and 3rd by the end of last week.

They have started at the 2nd choice school and has complained a lot about various aspects, although enjoyed the clubs and has a good friend from previous school. Despite the complaining and being unhappy going to school they want to stick with the current school rather than moving to the school they originally preferred.

Husband and I are unsure whether to make the move. The current school is a bit more academic but very strict. The school where we have the offer is much better located (closer and less polluted) and has a reputation for being very happy and caring.

Does anybody have any insights that would help? It’s really hard being a parent sometimes!

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 22/09/2023 18:19

YorkshireOldGal · 22/09/2023 14:45

Hi,

To slightly high jack the thread our child was just offered a place at what was her 1st choice school. We went from 9th on the waiting list at the start of term, to 5th at the start of last week and 3rd by the end of last week.

They have started at the 2nd choice school and has complained a lot about various aspects, although enjoyed the clubs and has a good friend from previous school. Despite the complaining and being unhappy going to school they want to stick with the current school rather than moving to the school they originally preferred.

Husband and I are unsure whether to make the move. The current school is a bit more academic but very strict. The school where we have the offer is much better located (closer and less polluted) and has a reputation for being very happy and caring.

Does anybody have any insights that would help? It’s really hard being a parent sometimes!

Congrats on getting the offer. It’s such a hard situation. I always thought we would move and although it would feel a bit hard, we would still take the plunge if he was on board. I know it’s only been a few weeks but if we got the offer now, it would be really hard. But if there are some gripes, as you have explained, I would probably still move. Does she know anyone at the new school potentially?

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YorkshireOldGal · 22/09/2023 19:23

They do have friends at both school but have deepened the friendships with the friends at the school they’ve started at.

I think they are really daunted by the idea of starting again at a new school and are really unwilling to go through this for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. It’s really hard to get them to see past that and entertain the idea that it might be for the best overall.

Original poster

Turquoiseturtle3 · 23/09/2023 20:03

YorkshireOldGal · 22/09/2023 19:23

They do have friends at both school but have deepened the friendships with the friends at the school they’ve started at.

I think they are really daunted by the idea of starting again at a new school and are really unwilling to go through this for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. It’s really hard to get them to see past that and entertain the idea that it might be for the best overall.

It’s so hard. Have you made a decision?

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YorkshireOldGal · 23/09/2023 20:27

No! So hard have been back and forth so many times!