Moving to Oxford (Year 10)

[PoodleRocking]

How difficult it is likely to be to find a place at a new school in Oxford at the start of Year 10 after moving to the area?

We're moving to Oxford for work from London, and found a house that we're planning to offer on and expect to move during the Summer holiday. The main concern is finding new schools for the kids, with one starting Year 10 in September.

A notice on the Oxfordshire LA says that many schools in Oxfordshire are likely to "refuse applications from Oxfordshire residents to transfer school in year 10 or 11 regardless of the reason".

Hopefully I'm correct in reading this as residents who currently live in Oxfordshire, rather than new residents to Oxford.

But it would be great to hear from anyone who has had the experience of moving at this time of their education. Obviously he will be starting right at the start of the year so won't have missed any GCSE content, which hopefully makes it slightly easier, but we likely won't have completed the house purchase by the end of term to have the required proof of address and as with most house purchases the timing is a bit uncertain.

I would make a list of possible schools and call them all this week and find out if they have any places anywhere and when they start GCSEs. Also speak to the council.

DD's school in London starts GCSEs at the beginning of Y9 on a 3 year pathway, with some taken early at end of Y10, and lots of 2 year pathway schools start the syllabus in the summer term of Y9, so you may want to check what each school does.

I’m not in Oxford itself, but in a neighbouring town.
Some of the GCSE work was started in y9, I believe this is true in the 3 state secondaries where I am. Certainly my dc’s school doesn’t sit any actual exams early though, it’s all at the end of y11 now. They changed after covid, before that there were some done in y10. So you would be best to contact schools you are interested in to ask about space in that year group and what their policy is for GCSEs.
I would also add that options have now been chosen by y9 in most places. There may be some movement up to October half term but that depends on class sizes. Some popular subjects may not have space left. So that’s also worth checking if you find a school you like and would accept your dc.
I wouldn’t bother contacting OCC other than to make the application, they were absolutely no use when I was enquiring about an in year transfer during primary. Couldn’t tell me which schools might have space or not. So get on the phone tomorrow and see what the schools say.