Moving Schools (In-Year Applications)

Think carefully before moving your child from their current school:

• Each school teaches the National Curriculum in different ways and at different times of the academic year. Your child may miss out on or repeat parts of the curriculum at the new school, which will have a significant impact on their learning.
• If your child is in Key Stage 3 it may not be possible for the school to immediately place your child into the most appropriate class group for their abilities. (Additionally your child may not be able to take the same subjects at a new school, or choose the same options if they are in Year 9, so previous work might be wasted).
• If your child is in Key Stage 4 they may lose the work they have already done if they can't study the same exam course/subject at the new school.
• Starting a new school means a settling in period where you child will need to learn new rules, ethos and expectations. They will need to get to know new teachers, and make new friends. You will also need to purchase a new uniform, including PE kit.
• Other siblings will have no automatic right to transfer to the new school, either now or in the future. If the school is not your catchment school, you will be responsible for getting your child to and from school. If siblings go to other schools, getting them all to school at the same time may be difficult for you.

Before you apply:

Many issues that worry parents/carers and children can be put right without the need to move schools. Before you consider changing your child’s school, we recommend that you reflect and discuss the move with your child’s tutor/head of year or head teacher prior to making an application.
 

• Have you sat down with your child to talk about the points raised here and to find out how they really feel about moving to a new school?
• What is the real reason why your child wants move schools? If they are worried about certain subjects, have you spoken to the subject teachers who teach your child to find out how they are getting on?
• If your child needs extra help or has needs that aren’t being recognised, have you spoken to the teacher in charge of special needs (SENCO)?
• If there are concerns about bullying, friendship issues, or teaching speak to your child's class teacher or Head of Year.
• If you are not happy about the way the school is working with your child you should speak to the head teacher. All schools have a complaints policy which will set out how to raise your concerns and what steps the school will take to help resolve them.

If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan, you will need to contact the Statutory Assessment Team instead of following the usual in-year admissions process.

More information SEND Support Services 

 

If the availability of free transport to school is an important factor in your decision making over what schools to apply for you should read this first
 
Most statutory school age pupils make their own arrangements to travel to school, this could be by walking, cycling, using public transport or sharing arrangements with other families, or the family transporting themselves.
 
For a small percentage of pupils, the authority may arrange travel assistance, but this is usually restricted to where they attend their nearest qualifying school. This will be either the school located within the transport priority area for their home address or, if different, their nearest school to their home address assuming in either case that the school(s) in question are located beyond the statutory walking distance of their home address. Our policy (section 3) explains more fully the eligibility criteria for qualifying for free school transport and when help may be provided and how. The same policy applies to pupils with and without an Education, Health and Care Plan.  A separate policy applies to post 16 students in Y12 and above
 
How do I find out what is my child’s nearest qualifying school?

1. This will always include the school located within the transport priority area for your child's home address.  You can find out what school that is by using our School Catchment and Transport Eligibility Maps
2. In some cases, there may be a second school which is also considered the nearest qualifying school. This will be determined by using our GIS tool to measure the shortest route from your home address main entrance that opens onto a road or street that is maintained at public expense to the main school entrance that meets the public highway. As you don’t have access to our GIS system we provide advice at section 3.3 of our policy as to how you can find out what is your child’s nearest school.   

 
If the availability of free transport to school is an important factor in your decision making over what schools to apply for you should list your nearest qualifying school(s), as your first and (if necessary) second choices on your application for a school place.
 
How do you decide which is the nearest school with a place available?
As the Council co-ordinates the offer of school places, we can identify which is the nearest qualifying school to a child’s address and whether a place would have been available at either -
The point you moved address or moved your child’s school (where this happens during the academic year) or
The point when a place was offered to your child to join a school in September as part of the usual admissions round (e.g., Reception age, transition to middle, high, secondary school in September).
 
In other words, we will check to see if it is likely that your child would have been offered a place at their nearest qualifying school under the school’s admissions arrangements. This will apply regardless of how much time has passed between your child starting at the school and the transport application being submitted. If you did not make an application for the nearest qualifying school but would likely have been offered a place had you done so, then it is unlikely that your child will qualify for free school transport.

If you are relocating, you will need to provide proof of your new address with your application. If you are unable to provide proof of your new address, you can apply using your old address. However this may affect how your application is considered against the over-subscription criteria for your chosen schools. 

If we're not able to offer you a place at one of your preferred schools, we will try to offer you a place at the next nearest school to your new address with availability (subject to proof of address).

In the UK, the law says children must be receiving an education between the school term after their fifth birthday, and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.
If you are moving from overseas, temporarily or permanently, your child may be eligible for a school place.  You will need to provide proof of your new address. Your child must be:

• Aged between 4 and 16
• Intending to attend a Northumberland school for at least 30 school days

If you are applying for a Year 11 school place between April and July, please don't submit an application. This is due to GCSE exams and study leave taking place during this period. Please email schooladmissions@northumberland.gov.uk for further guidance and include your full name, address and contact details.
https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa
https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa

We only accept online applications.

To apply please complete the form below:
Link to online Schools Application Form

Please record your unique reference number and quote, along with your child’s name and date of birth if you require further assistance.
When we have received a valid application, along with the appropriate documentary evidence, we aim to process it within 15 school days. 

Please do not call the admissions team if you are still within the 15 day window as high volumes of calls can result in processing delays.