Starting Secondary School in September 2008
This section gives answers to questions that are frequently asked. Parents/Carers are requested to read this section before completing the application form.
Does every parent/carer who wants a school place for their child have to apply?
Yes. Even if you already have an older child at school you must make an application for the younger child who is due to start school in September 2008. It is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to apply and you should not assume we know you have a child who needs a school place. If you do not make an application, you will not be offered a place at any school.
Are there feeder schools for secondary schools?
No, South Gloucestershire Council does not operate a feeder school system. Admission to a primary school does not guarantee a place at a particular secondary school.
When is the closing date for applications?
The closing date for on-time applications is 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007. Applications must be received by the Student Access & Support Team by this time.
I have an older child attending the school I want my younger child to attend. Will they be guaranteed a place?
No, there is no guarantee. Local siblings are given a high priority for the allocation of places (for a full explanation of the local sibling criterion, please see Explanation of Terms used in this booklet at section 3). If you do not make an application by the closing date, places at your preferred school will have to be offered to “on-time” applicants, which may mean the school is full.
I want to apply for places for both my twins at the same school. Will they both be offered a place?
No, there is no guarantee that we will be able to offer a place at the same preferred school for both twins. You will need to complete a separate application form for each twin and each application will be considered under the published criteria. If a place can be offered only to one twin at the preferred school, parents/carers will be asked whether they wish to accept this place and consider an appeal for the other twin or continue with an application for places for both twins at another preferred school.
All children from my road and the immediate area I live in, go to my preferred school. Will my child get a place also?
No, there is no guarantee. Just because many of the children living locally to you go to a particular school, this does not mean your child will automatically be offered a place. This will depend on a range of factors such as the number of people applying that year, where the applicants live and how many have children already at the school that can be considered as local siblings. See section 8 for full details of the over¬subscription criteria.
How do I get information about schools?
There is a full list of schools in South Gloucestershire in this booklet. Every school produces a prospectus which is available directly from the school free of charge. This will give you information about the school. You may also wish to contact/visit schools. Some hold open days and evenings or you can arrange an appointment to see the school.
Do schools have catchment areas?
No. All secondary schools in South Gloucestershire have an Area of Prime Responsibility (APR). Areas of Prime Responsibility indicate to parents/carers the school(s) at which they can normally expect a place to be available, if they make their application before the closing date. However, living in an APR does not guarantee a place at a particular school or schools. For guidance, APRs are shown on the maps within this booklet (see section 5). You may wish to telephone the Children & Young People Information Service to confirm which APR your home address is in, because these maps are not detailed enough to indicate every road or individual property.
If I live within an APR, do I have to apply to those schools within the area?
No, you may state a preference for any school(s). If you apply for a school outside the APR in which you live, we would suggest you indicate a second/third preference for schools that normally serve your home address as well. This will increase your chances of getting a place at a local school, in case your highest ranking preference cannot be met.
Am I able to choose which school my child will attend?
South Gloucestershire Council would like to offer parents/carers the school of their choice, however this may not always be possible.
What do I do when I have decided which school(s) I prefer?
When you have decided which school(s) you prefer you should complete the form on-line available at www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions or complete the form at the back of this booklet. We would suggest that you indicate a second and third preference school in case your highest ranking preference cannot be offered to you.
Do I have to give more than one preference?
You do not have to state a second or third preference, however we strongly recommend you list three schools. There is no advantage in listing fewer than three schools or including the same school more than once. If you choose to list just one (or two) and are unsuccessful you could be allocated a school some distance from your home if nearer schools have received more applications than there are places.
South Gloucestershire Council will seek to meet as many parental/carer preferences as possible.
Will I get a place at my preferred school?
Most parents/carers are offered places at one of their preferred schools; however, some will be disappointed where it is not possible to meet all the requests for places at particular schools. Your chances of being offered a place depend on a range of factors, such as the number of people applying that year, where the applicants live and how many have children already at the school that can be considered as local siblings.
What happens if I change my preferred school before 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007 (closing date for applications)?
You should write to the Student Access & Support Team, clearly stating the new order of preference. Parents/Carers can state three preferences and these should all be different.
What happens if I change my preferred school after 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007 (closing date for applications)?
A change of preference received after the closing date of 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007 will not be allowed and will be considered as a late application. This means your application will not be dealt with until all applications received by the closing date have been processed. Where the reason for the change of preference is considered exceptional (as determined by South Gloucestershire Council) and depending on the timing of the application, South Gloucestershire Council will aim to consider the application along with the on-time applicants. Where an offer of a school place has been made initially and the parent/ carer then subsequently changes their mind and applies for a place at a different school, the original offer may be held as one of the three preferences. The original offer of a school place will not be withdrawn unless a place is offered at a new preferred school. If parents/carers do not wish to accept the original offer of a school place they are requested to inform the Student Access & Support Team in writing.
What happens if my child is not offered a place at my highest ranking school?
If you live in South Gloucestershire you will be offered a place for your child at an alternative school. If you are not offered a place at your highest ranking school, the alternative school may be one of your other preferences or the nearest appropriate school with an available place.
What happens if I do not wish to accept the offered school?
All offers are accompanied with details explaining the next stage of the process. Briefly, you may:
- Accept the place offered; and/or
- Ask about the availability of places at other South Gloucestershire schools; and/or
- Appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel against the decision to refuse a place at your preferred school(s).
What happens if I move house?
You should write to the Student Access & Support Team as soon as possible, attaching proof of the change of address. It is the address of the child as at the closing date of 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007, that determines the priority given to their application for the first round of allocations. However, you will still need to tell us of any change of address, so letters are sent to the correct place. If you wish to change your preferences following a completed house move, these will be considered as late applications for these schools.
What if my child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs?
Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) are placed in schools through the arrangements set out in the SEN Code of Practice and not through the admission criteria. All governing bodies are required by Section 324 of the Education Act 1996 to admit to the school a child with a Statement of SEN that names the school. Schools must admit such children whether they have places or not. Any appeal concerning the Statement or the admission is to the independent Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
Parents/Carers of children with Statements of SEN should contact their child’s case officer for any further information.
There is a separate form for children with Statements of Special Educational Needs which will be provided to parents/carers by the relevant Case Officer. If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs do not complete the form in this booklet, however, you may find some of the information useful. If your child is undergoing statutory assessment please contact your Case Of?cer for further advice before completing a form.
What if my child has Special Educational Needs but does not currently have a Statement?
Applications for children without a Statement of Special Educational Needs should be made in the normal way, i.e. parents/carers may either complete the form on-line available at www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions or complete the form at the back of this booklet.
What if I want a church school?
There are currently no secondary denominational schools within South Gloucestershire. However, under the co-ordinated admissions scheme, if you live in South Gloucestershire, you will still need to make your application for a denominational school in another area to South Gloucestershire Council either on¬line at www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions or using the form included in the booklet.
How many school places are available at each school?
The Admission Number for each school is given in the list of schools in section 5 of this booklet.
Does the Council use a first come, first served process?
No. However, parents/carers should be aware that the first round of allocations will involve only those applications received by the closing date of 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007.
What happens if my application is received after the closing date?
Your application must be returned to the Student Access & Support Team by 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007. If it is not received by that date your application will only be dealt with after all the ‘on-time’ applications have been considered. Places are not reserved and cannot be held back for those who, for whatever reason, apply late. This rule applies even if there is a local sibling link. Should places become available later in the allocation process and before the start of Term 1, places will be allocated using the over-subscription criteria.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
If you live in South Gloucestershire you will receive a letter from South Gloucestershire Council informing you of the single offer of a school place. Please refer to the Co¬ordinated Admissions Scheme (section 4) for the timescales for allocations. If you live in the area of another Local Authority you will receive a letter from that Local Authority informing you of the single offer of a school place.
Can the offer of a place be withdrawn?
South Gloucestershire Council reserves the right to withdraw an offer of a place in very limited circumstances. You should note that the offer of a school place can be withdrawn by South Gloucestershire Council if, at a later date, it is established that the place was offered on the basis of false information. If you knowingly give false information in order to obtain a particular school place you could be guilty of an offence under the Perjury Act 1911. If false information is provided, your application will be void and you will be required to submit a further application. If this is received after the published closing date it will then be regarded as a late application. Offers of places may also be withdrawn where a parent/carer has not responded to an offer within a reasonable time.
What if I don’t live in South Gloucestershire?
Applications should be submitted on the form provided by the Local Authority in which you live, not on the form included in this booklet. Your application will not be treated differently, except in relation to the priority given to those living specifically within a designated Area of Prime Responsibility as explained in section 8.
What if I want to apply for a school that is not in South Gloucestershire?
If you live in South Gloucestershire you still need to either apply on-line at www. southglos.gov.uk/admissions or on the form included in this booklet, unless you are applying for an independent school or the John Cabot Academy.
What happens if there are more applications than places available?
The number of places at each school is limited and if there are more applications than places available some children will not be offered a place. When a school is over-subscribed allocations will be made in accordance with the published admissions criteria which will be applied to all applications for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools received by 4.30pm on Friday 19 October 2007.
If you do not live in South Gloucestershire, contact your own Local Authority about places at local schools.