Changing Schools (In-year transfers)

Changing schools can be a big step for your child. A stable school place helps with learning, friendships, and confidence.

If your child is struggling, please talk to their class teacher, Head of Year, or Headteacher first. Often problems can be solved without moving schools.

Sometimes a transfer is necessary, for example if you’re moving house and your child can no longer get to their current school.

How long does it take?

In-year transfer applications usually take 15 school days to process, starting from when we receive:

1. Your completed application form, and
2. The In-year transfer supplementary form from your child’s current school.

Please don’t contact us for an update until the 15 school days have passed.

Home address rules

We can only use your child’s permanent home address for applications.

This means where your child normally lives for most of the week.

We can’t use:

• A business or relative’s address.
• A temporary address if you still own a home elsewhere.
• An address where your child does not live most of the time.

We check addresses carefully and may investigate if we think the wrong one has been used. If false information is given, a school place offer may be withdrawn.

Parental responsibility

When applying for a school transfer, everyone who has parental responsibility for the child must agree.

By law, parental responsibility belongs to:

• Mothers – always from birth.
• Married parents – both parents share responsibility if they were married at the time of the birth, or if they jointly adopted the child. This continues even if they later separate or divorce.
• Unmarried fathers – they have responsibility if:
  • They are named on the birth certificate (for births registered after 1 December 2003), or
  • They get it through a legal agreement with the mother, a court order, or a residence order.
• Other adults – responsibility can also be given through a court order, such as a child arrangement order or special guardianship order, for as long as the order is in place.

Moving into Oldham from another area

The process is the same whether your child is moving from a school in Oldham, from another area, or from a private (independent) school.

Moving from abroad

If you’re moving to Oldham from another country:

• Your child must have a confirmed arrival date in the UK, and
• Be ready to start at the beginning of the next school term.

Make your application online and include all arrival details. Missing information will cause delays.

While you’re waiting

Your child must stay at their current school until a transfer is agreed, unless they’ve been permanently excluded.

All parents/carers with parental responsibility must agree to the transfer.

Outcomes

Your child will get a place if there are spaces available at one of your chosen schools.

It may be refused if:

• The year group is full (you’ll be offered another school, put on a waiting list, and given the right to appeal).
• The application falls under the Fair Access Protocol (used for certain situations).

Processing times

Fully completed applications (including the supplementary form) are processed within 15 school days.

You’ll then get an email confirming the outcome.

Delays in sending the supplementary form will delay your application.

Waiting lists

If your chosen school is full your child will be placed on a waiting list.

Waiting lists are based on the school’s admissions criteria, not on who applied first.

Your child’s position may move up or down if new applications are made or if families move house.

You can remove your child from the waiting list at any time.

Being on a waiting list does not affect your right to appeal.

Contact

If you have any questions or require help and advice please contact the School Admissions Team

• Contact and help