Returning from work abroad - wait list advice please

[larter123]

We are returning to Southwark after just over 3 years abroad with a Y3 and Y6 to start in September. Although we will be returning to our own home in Southwark, I know we are unable to apply for places until we are permanently resident even though we know we need the places. We are free to return anytime now, but would like the kids to finish their current school year where they are for their peace of mind. They will finish end of June. When are wait list places allocated? Would it be better to return in May to increase our chances of a place? If anyone has been through similar and has any thoughts we would greatly appreciate it.

[Cora]

Getting places higher up in schools is much easier....pretty sure Bessemer and Heber have places for the years you are looking for....don't think you need to rush back but contact schools and southwark to get the process running smoothly for when you do get here...

[AnnaCBH]

I might be wrong but I think that as long as a school has a place in Yr3 and 6 you'll get in. No ridiculous waiting list appeal game, it's just reception generally where there are lots of children trying to get not lots of places. Welcome home!

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Larter123

Places are allocated from waiting lists throughout the year. June is still earlier than English schools break up and I don't think it would make any difference than applying in May. Families in general tend to move during major school holidays. It is likely to be easier to find a place for year 6 than year 3, there are fewer children locally in the current year 5 cohort than year 2. The current year 4 are the group which initiated the upsurge in primary demand locally. If one of your children secures a place in a primary locally, the other child would go to the top of the waiting list as they would re-categorised as a sibling of an existing pupil. The other positive note is that the rules on class size are very strict for infant classes but less so for juniors, so if you get a place for one child and show that the classrooms could easily accommodate an extra child, you could appeal for your other child. You may be lucky and find a place is available in a local school for both children. Contact Southwark admissions and ask. Community schools allocate on distance and Faith schools either offer places 50/50 on distance/faith or on faith than distance for remaining places. If you move near a school that is currently full, you will be put on the waiting list according to your rank in terms of distance compared to the others on the waiting list.

Renata

[ladywotlunches]

You can apply for a place 4 weeks in advance of the place being needed. And as you own your property, you can use that as the permanent address, as it will be the child's residence at the time they need the place. So you could send in your application in May to be processed for a June 'start', but you can defer a place by up to half a term with a good reason (your reason being that your children have moved from abroad and have completed the current school year already). So if you got a place in June, you'd have the summer to relax, and they could start in September (or even go in for a few settling in days at the end of the term so they can make some friends).

Having done an in-year application recently (not Southwark), the wording of the form is all very strict, but when you speak to admissions they tend to be more realistic about the logistics of moving children in-year and sympathetic to the fact that as parents you want the least upheaval possible).

Hope this helps - good luck!