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

[musicalmummy]

Hello, am new to here - hello! - and would really really value some input into my situation, even if you want to say something frank and difficult ...

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. I cannot sell quickly or buy quickly due to very limited funds. I am seriously considering (and seen two flats already) renting near the school and renting my original flat out, to pay for the new rental, and then, when the original flat sells (it is now already on the market), buying a flat near to the new rental and near to the school too (and obviously giving up the new rental to live in the new flat).

The other schools in the area are really poor in attainment, and many other mothers, who also didn't get the same first choice, would not even put as their 6th choice the one I have been offered.

My childminder would also have to be given up if I didn't get my son into 1st choice as the actual offer is for a school too far away for her to cover.

I'm a single, working mum and know I'm lucky to have a flat to sell / the option to move, but am unsure if I am getting everything out of proportion (especially at Primary level ?)

- i have found out from Lambeth, that if I did move closer to school of 1st choice, I would jump up the waiting list (at present we're at no25 as we're outside catchment) and obviously after may 2nd I will know if that's gone up or down (before I move).

- We would also like to appeal on social grounds, but I understand there is very little chance this way, unless I moved as well.

So, is it wrong to move within catchment when I am intending to stay there indefinitely if we were successful in getting a place because of the move and/or the appeal?

Would the school / any school / any school board think this was wrong - if I needed to prove my intentions I will show them that the original flat is rented out (or will be) and on the market to be sold. Is this enough or am I being selfish and depriving someone else in the area of a place (although surely they have as much chance as my son if their only grounds is catchment, too?)

Would it be a good idea to stay at the new property/catchment area even if we didn't get a place in the hope we would get one for the next year ? Does it ever work like that?

Should I talk to the headmaster again or not admit I have moved/going to move just to be nearer the school, even though I intend to stay on getting a place?

Should I forget it and go private, even though it would be a major major strain on my finances (and pride, but that can sod off if it has to) ?

Yours a single, working full time mum who is trying to hold on to the idea that state schools are for all, and yet finding I am panicked into moving our lives about, perhaps not for the best...

[papinian]

I expect that any move from a property that you own to a property that you rent is likely to be met with scepticism by Lambeth Council. Once a contract to sell your flat is signed then I think they will accept your new address. I'm not sure that they will accept it before that particularly if you cannot give some explanation for your move beyond wanting to increase your child's chances of being admitted to the school.

I do feel a bit sorry for you as you are now in a worse position than those parents who were more crafty and moved out and rented and applied from the rented address in the first place.

I'm a bit surprised when you say that all the other schools in the area apart from your chosen one are really poor in attainment. I don't know Lambeth council area very well, but I can't think of somewhere that doesn't have at least some okay schools, at least as regards the Streatham/Clapham side of the borough. Did you use all six choices when applying for places and did you include only those schools to which your child has a realistic chance of getting admitted? (e.g. didn't include Catholic schools that for the past five years have always filled places with Catholics and didn't include schools for which you wouldn't have any chance of being in catchment area.) Did you consider applying for a place in a school in Wandsworth or another borough which may be better/nearer you. I think you could still go on the waitlist for such non-Lambeth schools, although I'm not sure.

Finally, can I suggest that you not mention multiple times in a post that you a single parent. All children have two parents - unless your child's father is dead, missing, or you chose to have a child on your own. I don't see the relevance of the fact that you and your child's father no longer have a relationship with each other. In fact, you might be at an advantage in a way as it might be that your child could reside (for a while) with your child's father and apply to a state primary school from your child's father's address, i.e. two different addresses to chose from based on a strategic considerations, whereas parents who live together do not have such an option.

[FrenchMummyInLondon]

Maybe be because being a single mum means she cannot afford private? And that state school is the one option really?
Or that she has no one to share her concerns about the future of her child?

Being a single mum (yes single as in "not married"-it is not a description of the situation with the dad) is tough - I know that 1st hand...
And it is even tougher in NappyValley where all the parents seem so madly happy (probably not the case, I know... You don't know what is going on behind close doors...)

[musicalmummy]

papinian - haha, thanks for your reply - I realised mentioning I AM A SINGLE MOTHER did sound a bit pathetic reading it again this morning! Sorry! Son's dad departed years ago when I was pregnant - I don't want to bore you with that story!!

I don't think you can register a child at another address unless they genuinely live there, so I guess I'm just asking whether it's worth renting at this late stage as I would stay in the area and buy as soon as I could - and even if I didn't get him a place this Sep 13, I wonder if it's still worth it for next year...? I just don't know if I'm wasting all this effort for nothing as if they would need me to have sold in order to believe I am genuinely moving permanently, I don't think I can sell that quickly! (although fingers crossed!)

[juliantenniscoach]

"And it is even tougher in NappyValley where all the parents seem so madly happy (probably not the case, I know... You don't know what is going on behind close doors...)"

Never a truer word written here.

[broodje]

You have a perfectly sensible plan. If you actually move to the newly rented flat in catchment - i.e. get registered for council tax there, TV license, utilities, GP, change the address at the bank, your work, your son's childminder/nursery - there is no problem. The council can't and won't make a case that it's not your primary residence, especially if you rent the old flat out and have other people there registered for council tax, utilities etc.

People move all the time to be higher up the waiting list - either from different areas, or when they choose to live coming from abroad, etc. As long as you actually MOVE and LIVE there - this is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.Even if you don't get a place by beginning of reception, you'll get one later on. I have seen this with many friends over and over again. May be Yr1, but it will happen - this is an area of London with relatively transient population. You might as well go on waiting lists for other good schools which are further away. For example, it's impossible to get into Belleville, Honeywell, and Ravenstone from further away in Reception, but I know tons of people who got places in all three for Yr3 from way out of catchment.

BTW, I don't see why you need to have your flat sold by then - these things do take time and no council will spend their time obsessing about it as long as you a bone fide resident an new address.

[Esbek]

Musicalmummy, You are not being selfish at all. It is not your fault that good schools in this area are oversubscribed and the others are substandard. The government and local authorities are failing to provide adequate services and investment in education and parents keep putting the blame on each other instead of directing their anger on the real culprits. I am surprised when homeowner parents complain about renters. Everyone buys (or if they don't have the money, rents) strategically within their means. I'm sorry I can't help you with your dilemma as I don't know how Lambeth deals with address changes. But whatever you choose to do, please don't feel bad or selfish. You refuse to let your child suffer because of the messy system in place and irresponsible government/LA policies. And it is your right and duty to do what's best for your child. Good luck.

[BalhamMumWorkingFT]

I find it hard to believe that at number 25 on the list you are 50meters outside the catchment? Unless clearly stated for priority reasons (ie. Beatrix Potter) there is no catchment. It changes every year.

Renting closer and re-applying should put you up the list. If questioned, you can rightly say, you are looking to move as close to the school you'd like your child to go to. I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with that... many families that lost out would think of taking that option.

My only advice would be to move to the door step of the school so you are number 1-3 on the list. Ask the council how far the first person on the list lives and that will give you an idea of how close you have to be.

Good Luck. It is a VERY stressful situation to be in. I know it well. And in saying that, we were offered our first place the last day of reception.

[madunitedmummy]

musicalmummy I would just like to apologise for that un-necessary "single mother" comment mentioned by papinian. You obviously are already highly stressed with the whole getting a school place for your child and I'm sure could do without that nonsense! Some good suggestions about your move have been posted so I do hope you will get your child into a good school very soon.

P.S. well done on continuing to be a good/loving mum to your child despite being left to do it alone since pregnancy

[papinian]

madunitedmummy: I have no need for you to apologise on my behalf. My point was that it was unnecessary for the original poster to mention multiple times that she is a "single mother" when it makes no difference to what she is posting about. You seem to think it is fine for the original poster to mention it multiple times but somehow problematic for anyone else to comment on it. What's with that?

I asked the original poster some questions as to how she chose the six schools for the primary school application in the first place but she didn't answer those questions. I also asked where in Lambeth she could be that she is surrounded by poor schools (bar one). 84 per cent of Lambeth children attend a primary school that is rated either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ according to Ofsted.
http://lambethnews.wordpress.com/2012/1 ... -official/
I know enough about attainment at primary schools in Lambeth to know that there while there are some poor schools there are no area where all of the schools but one are poor.

Perhaps I forget that many posters on this website reject certain schools for the reason that too large a proportion of the children are from non-English backgrounds rather than because of school performance. Sorry, I know I'm supposed to say that it's about "pastoral care" being better. Of course the irony is that the attainment at the schools with more visible ethnic minorities is higher than at those schools that are more white English ghettos (e.g. Ravenstone vs Fircroft).

[madunitedmummy]

Papinian - Thanks for your essay

[AbbevilleMummy]

What is wron with her saying that she is a single mum?!

The way I read it was that she was a single mum who could not make head nor tail of the bloody awful school admission process and didn't have a partner to talk it through with/ share te burden with etc and so was reaching out to others on the forum for advice and support.

Isn't that what this website is for?

[musicalmummy]

Thanks for all your helpful words and advice - I am encouraged that moving, albeit it renting for a while before I buy, is going to be the best I can do - and I think that's the point I've realised matters most to me (genuinely with your help here): if I didn't do everything I could, I feel I would have let my son down - and if I still don't get my son a place Sep 13 or Sep 14, then I at least know I really did try - thanks for your words, Esbek

Planning for the 2nd May bankholiday to do it ! Will change all the bills and council tax etc - good advice, thanks broodje

BalhamMumworkingFT - thanks for the advice re living on their doorstep - that's the current dilemma - I have found a reasonably priced place that is 350m away, however I am already worrying it is not close enough, so still keeping my options open a bit. I obviously also need to find a place we will be happy in if we don't get a place.. and my god the prices of the places less than 350m away are so expensive! Almost considering a 1 bed and sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room just to get close!!

Broodje your positivity really helps re waiting and waiting, thank you - I am happy to wait until sep 14 at least, I am so glad to hear that others have eventually got a place... everything comes to those who... thank you!

I find it hard to believe that at number 25 on the list you are 50meters outside the catchment? Unless clearly stated for priority reasons (ie. Beatrix Potter) there is no catchment. It changes every year.

- do you mean that I should be higher up the list or lower down, here ?

Thanks madunitedmummy and Abbevillemummy - really appreciate your support, thank you - it is exactly why I posted, to get some opinions and to discuss my situation with like minded/other mummies - I sort of feel a bit of a burden if I try to talk to non-parent friends about these big issues, rather than just what funny thing my son did this week etc, so appreciate your posts, thanks xx

Papinian - thanks for posting too - I chose the other schools based on Ofsted, location and the attainment the kids reached but the one we were offered was with very poor achievements, despite the teaching being good and is in an area known for social disorder... like I said, another mummy who lives in that school's catchment didn't even put it on her list, even as a no 6 choice. Your link to Lambeth is obviously local promotional material. There are some other good schools, but the ONLY other good ones, apart from our first choice, are faith schools. Now, I can, without losing too much sleep at night, move my home to get my son into a good school... but I cannot fake religious beliefs...

What a great first nappy valley experience - very grateful, thank you X

[Cha]

I am sure that 25 on the list you ll get it without moving.
Risk of moving is: being caught by the council as what they are looking at the place where you lived in january. Otherwise it would be too easy to rent in may, and go back in your own house in June...
I am more than 25th on the list and won't take the risk.

[ellesmum]

We had similar issues last year, and all I can tell you is that my daughter started off at about 30th on the waiting list for the school she is currently at, and was offered a place 2 weeks into the school year. It's really, really nervewracking, and I wouldn't want to do it again for all the tea in China, but it might be worth holding your nerve rather than put yourself through all the physical, emotional and financial upheaval of a move. Ultimately, we did move closer (we rent anyway and our contract was up), but we didn't do it until after our daughter had got her place. Moving is a huge hassle though (take it from someone who has moved 5 times in as many years!), so think really long and hard before doing it!
My suggestion would be to call the council weekly to check your waiting list position, and also call the school to see whether, in their experience, you are likely to be offered a place, based on your current waiting list position, before September (or within the first few weeks of September). It's worth bearing in mind that not all of those 25 people in front of you will accept the places when offered, so you might have quite a few big jumps up the waiting list between now and then.
Good luck!