Moving inside catchment-renting then buying (ie permanently) Post Reply

[twice_as_nice]

Hi,

Hope some of this helps -

"We did not get 1st choice at primary intake. I live 50 metres from catchment boundary, and, for whatever reason, was mistakenly told some time ago to apply to this 1st choice school regardless. I bought my flat based on the fact it was in this catchment and now, finding it has either changed this year (i need to find this out) or I was always just outside it, means I would like to move, permanently, closer to the school, well within the catchment"

re catchment

Catchment area is a myth - any school's 'catchment' will change every year depending on the number of people who apply and according to the criteria. E.g. if (as most schools do) main criteria is sibling priority, then the places will go to siblings first no matter where they live. Then the remaining places typically go according to distance (depending on criteria specific to the school - e.g. faith schools have different criteria). If there are 20 places left after siblings have received their places, then those 20 places go to the people who've applied according to how close they live to the school. If all 20 live within a 50 metre radius then that is the 'catchment' for the school for that year.

re applying to your preferred school

I think you should always applied to your preferred school. Not sure exactly how this works, but you will stay on the waiting list for your preferred school even if you start at a different school - so you should always put this first. I'm not sure if, say you get your 6 place school, and you'd be happy with EITHER your first or second choice, and you think you have a better chance of getting into your second place school - I'm not sure if you can be on the waiting list for your second place school.

If you are 25th on the list, it might be worth starting at the school you've been offered and staying on the waiting list for your preferred school? Lots of people do this and I think kids (esp in London) are used to moving / new people joining schools so it's less of an issue than you might think it would be.

I'm pretty sure Papinian is wrong (shock horror!) if you move closer, and you are genuinely living there, then that's fine. You will have to stay there for a while at least otherwise it would be strange but I think you are genuinely renting out your flat and renting a new flat (and not moving back within 2 weeks) then that is fine (though probably frowned upon!)

What school have you been offered? Might be worth asking views on that school specifically - it's very difficult to assess a school in a 1 hour tour so worth asking for views....

Good luck!

[papinian]

twiceasnice: What you write in your post is all very sensible. However, there is no need to make snide digs at me. I don't disagree with you - if the original poster moves closer, and is genuinely living at that new address, then the original poster can use that address.

However, the question is what Lambeth Council will require as evidence that the original poster is genuinely living at that new address. The devil, as always, is in the detail, e.g. in your post you say "stay there a while", but how long is that? That's why, before taking any drastic steps like signing a six month lease on a new property, the original poster should be having a conversation with Lambeth Council and working out what its school admissions office will/won't accept.

For the record, this is what Lambeth Council say about address:

What happens if I change my address after my child has been offered a place?
A legitimate change of address, after your child has been offered a place,
will not affect the offer of a place. You will be expected to provide evidence
of your address at the time you made your application as well as your new
address. If you are unable to provide satisfactory evidence that you were
living at the address included on the Common Application Form the offer
of a place may be withdrawn. Proof of address(es) will be required by the
council and/or the schools when your child is admitted. You must inform
Lambeth School Admissions Team of changes of address as this may affect
your application.

In relation to the point that you said you were unsure of - whether the poster can go on waiting lists for places at multiple schools - I can confirm that for Lambeth Council and Wandsworth Councils at least, this is possible. I would strongly advise the original poster to go on the waiting list for any school that she would accept in preference to the one already assigned (even if such school is not her first choice).

[musicalmummy]

Thanks, Twice as Nice - I appreciate your considered reply. Things have changed somewhat quickly, drastically and for the better - my flat got a good offer on it, so now rental might not be needed, I can go straight to look to buy a place, nearer the school so the rental worry is hopefully gone...

[twice_as_nice]

Wow! That was quick!

good luck with it.....

[BalhamMumWorkingFT]

Just a thought...

Might be worth looking into schools (other than your number 1) before you buy a flat...Just to make sure you are really close enough to be number one and to give you a bit more choice....

Good Luck with it all.

x

[Jodie1984]

I would love to know what part of lambeth you're in?