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Appeals & reviews3–4 min read

Appealing After Moving Into Catchment

Published 17 February 2026

Introduction

Some families relocate after allocation day in hope of improving appeal prospects. However, moving house does not automatically strengthen an appeal case.

Panels examine timing and criteria application carefully.

Key Considerations

Panels will ask:

  • When did the move occur?
  • Was the address genuine and permanent?
  • Did the school's criteria change as a result?
  • Were criteria applied correctly at the time of allocation?

Appeals examine legality at allocation date.

Timing Matters

If the move occurred after the application deadline, the new address may not alter original ranking position.

Waiting lists may reflect updated addresses depending on policy.

Risks of Relocation-Based Appeals

  • Financial strain
  • Continued oversubscription pressure
  • Minimal change in ranking outcome

Structural modelling should precede relocation.

Why Borough Context Matters

Catchment volatility varies dramatically across boroughs.

Our School Reports integrate multi-year cut-off modelling to help families assess whether relocation materially changes admission probability before making costly decisions.