Moving 2 primary school aged children to Bristol - worried!

[Greenheath]

We're hoping to move from London to Bristol for work and general quality of life reasons. We have one daughter who is just about to go into year 1 of primary school, and another who is due to start reception in 2015. I've been told by Bristol LEA that we need to have applied for schools by Jan 2015 for the youngest to be certain of a reception place. My concern is twofold- if we move by Jan, what happens to our eldest in the meantime, given how hugely oversubscribed schools in Bristol seem to be (we'd like to be in Bishopston ideally), and is it possible that our girls might end up in two separate schools? I feel desperately worried about the prospect of the kids being in far away schools, or having to move schools if places become available, particularly as I am initiating the move. Does anyone know if it is possible to find out in advance of moving whether there are school spaces available?

Any advice (or reassurance!) very gratefully received.

[crazymum53]

The good news is that Bristol LEA have created lots more primary school places mostly by expanding existing schools so the situation is better than it was a few years ago.
Cannot really comment on Bishopston as it's not my area but there are several areas of Bristol where the population is quite mobile due to local hospitals and the university etc. so places do come up mid-year.
Once you have an address in Bristol e.g. if you're buying have exchanged contracts, then the LEA would give you a list of all the schools that have places near to your new address. The January deadline only applies for reception places so if you move before then your older child will be eligible for a place as soon as you move. If you put your older child's school as first choice in an on-time application, then Bristol do have sibling priority for all primary schools so you are unlikely to have children at different schools.
It may be a problem if you apply late but if your second child gets allocated school A for reception your older child would have sibling priority on the waiting list from September 2015.

[minklydzo]

if this was me in this situation (if I could afford to) I'd consider renting something short term near where you're looking to buy. That way you'll have an address before the cut off in January so your youngest wont be penalised in the admissions process if the house sale / buying doesn't happen before then. You'll also know where you stand with spaces for your yr 1 child

[Greenheath]

Thanks so much for your replies, and yes I agree that renting is the way forward in terms of getting there in time for an on-time application. I'll keep you posted!

[runoutofideasagain]

Hi Greenheath - I live in Bristol and the school situation is a bit tricky. As long as you move extremely close to your desired school before the January deadline then your youngest child should be fine. The problem will come in trying to find a space for your older child as all of the classes will be restricted to 30 under infant class size regulations. (Once she gets to year 3 it is slightly easier to get in on appeal).

I know of a family recently moved to Bristol who got a space immediately for their year 5 child, a space from this term for the year 3 child, but no space for the year 1 child. They are home educating until a space in the same school becomes available, as they don't want two different school runs. No-one can tell them how long this will be for, as they need someone to leave the school to make a space for the youngest. Not ideal.

If you want advice on the locl reputations of NW Bristol schools, and areas, feel free to pm me. Good luck!

[crazymum53]

Just seen this link about Bristol primary schools in the local paper and thought you may find it helpful.
www.bristolpost.co.uk/Catchment-areasNew-website-likelihood-securing/story-22891243-detail/story.html
PS This only really applies to on-time reception admissions.

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

We moved to a similar area and we rented to start with, for just over a year in the end. I'd advise stronly that you do this and if you are likely to be staying in the Bristol area for long enough, consider secondary schools too!