Applying for School Places 2018 Secondary School Information for Parents This booklet contains information on the transfer from primary to secondary school, all school admissions policies, in-year transfers, travel assistance and other relevant policies. September 2018 Contents 4 Other Languages 5 Introduction 6 How to Contact Trafford School Admissions 7 Timetable for Secondary School Transfer Process 8 How to Apply for Year 7 Secondary School Places 9 Common Application Form (CAF) 13 Allocation of Places Your Home Address 14 Your Right to Appeal Review of Allocations 15 Waiting Lists Information about OFSTED Inspections/League Tables 16 School Open Days/Evenings 17 Admission to Trafford Grammar Schools In Year Transfers 2018 Academic Year 18 Fair Access Protocol 19 Travel Assistance 21 Other Relevant Policies 23 2018 Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme 27 Co-ordinated Admissions Timetable 28 Types (categories) of Schools 29 2017 Admissions Round Application Outcomes (1 March 2017) 30 Trafford Schools Directory 40 Admission Policy Documents 123 University Technical Colleges and Studio Schools 4 INTRODUCTION The transfer from primary to secondary school is a very important stage in the life of your child. For most children, the transfer to secondary school will be a straightforward process and information provided in this booklet will help you make your decision. Some parents, where personal circumstances are different, might need more complex and detailed advice. I hope that the information in this booklet will help in even the most difficult of circumstances. In any event, the School Admissions Team is always available to give help and advice. Trafford Local Authority (LA) is responsible for processing applications for transfer to secondary school, for all its residents, for any state funded secondary school, including academy schools and free schools. In this booklet “school” means a maintained school, an academy school or a free school in Trafford. Information about all schools in Trafford is included in the “List of Trafford Secondary Schools” on page 30. This gives you information about each of the schools. The admissions policies for these schools are also included in this booklet. Information on schools outside Trafford should be obtained directly from that school or from the relevant Local Authority. All state funded schools are required to provide information about themselves on their websites. Links to the websites for Trafford schools are provided on Trafford’s website: www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/schools/schools-in-trafford. It is also useful to visit the schools which interest you before applying and I hope you will take the opportunity to visit your local area schools along with any others you might like to consider. You will find information about open days and evenings of Trafford schools on page 16 of this booklet. We do try to make sure that pupils are offered a place at one of their preferences but in some instances this will not be possible. In all instances the relevant admissions criteria will be used to determine which children are offered places. You can make your application online at www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/schools/school- admissions/admissions.aspx Please read the guidance notes before you submit your application. It is most important that you submit your application by the closing date of 31 October 2017. The information in this booklet details the policies and procedures adopted by Trafford and will be referred to in every event, as such the information might seem formal and difficult to understand. However, the Admissions Team is available, at all stages, to give you personal advice and will do everything they can to provide you with the information and support you need. Marilyn Golding - School Admissions PLEASE NOTE: The information in this document is for the school year 2018/2019 and is correct at the time of writing but policies are constantly kept under review and there may well be further changes within the education system which affect these policy statements arising from national legislation. In cases of doubt contact should be made with the Admissions Team. 5 How to Contact Trafford School Admissions WRITE You can write to us at the following address: School Admissions Waterside House Sale M33 7ZF TELEPHONE You can telephone School Admissions on the following number: 0161 912 5007 E-MAIL You can send an e-mail to: [email protected] 6 Timetable for Secondary School Transfer Process Saturday 26 August AUGUST 2017 Online Application System goes live SEPTEMBER 2017 Saturday 16 September Altrincham Boys Grammar School Entrance Examination Monday 18 September Entrance Examination for the Consortium Schools: • Altrincham Girls Grammar School • Sale Grammar School • Urmston Grammar School • Stretford Grammar School Saturday 23 September St Ambrose College Entrance Examination Loreto Grammar School Entrance Examination OCTOBER 2017 31 October – Closing Date for Applications MARCH 2018 1 March – National Offer Day Online applicants will be able to view the allocated school on their online account. An allocation decision letter will be sent by first class post to the home address of all applicants. APRIL 2018 Review of allocation of vacancies 7 HOW TO APPLY FOR YEAR 7 SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES All applications for transfer to state funded secondary schools must be made to your home Local Authority (LA) that is the LA where you live, regardless of where the school of your choice is located. All Trafford residents must apply to transfer to ANY secondary school, wherever it is, to Trafford, either online or on the Trafford Common Application Form (CAF). At the end of August, all Trafford residents are sent a paper copy of the CAF and information about how to apply online. Applications must be received by 31 October 2017. If you live outside Trafford LA you will receive a CAF from your own LA. You must complete and return this CAF by the date advised by your LA. Trafford LA will receive and collate the applications for all Trafford residents and will co-ordinate with other LAs as required. Places in the schools listed below will be allocated in accordance with the criteria outlined in this information pack. SCHOOL STATUS Altrincham College Academy Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Academy (Grammar School) Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Academy (Grammar School) Ashton-on-Mersey School Academy Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College Voluntary Aided School Broadoak School Academy Flixton Girls’ School Academy Loreto Grammar School Academy (Grammar School) Lostock College Community School North Cestrian School Free School Sale Grammar School Academy (Grammar School) Sale High School Foundation School St Ambrose College Academy (Grammar School) St Antony’s Catholic College Voluntary Aided School Stretford Grammar School Foundation School (Grammar School) Stretford High School Foundation School Urmston Grammar School Academy (Grammar School) Wellacre Academy Academy Wellington School Academy All parents who list their preferred schools on the Local Authority’s Common Application Form are regarded as having made valid applications. An additional or supplementary form may also have to be completed for applicants considered under faith criteria of faith schools and for selective schools. If you only apply direct to a school your application will not be considered. If you do not apply online or submit your CAF by 31 October 2017, your application will only be considered after all on time applications have been processed. 8 COMMON APPLICATION FORM (CAF) You can apply online to transfer to secondary school. Online application numbers were posted to all Trafford residents at the end of August. If you do not have an online application number you should contact the School Admissions Team on 0161 912 5007. To complete your application online visit the website below where you will find step by step guidance to filling in the online form: www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/schools/school-admissions/admissions.aspx The benefits of applying online are: • It’s a quick and easy system to use. • You can apply from home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. • You can amend your application at any time up to 31 October. • There is no risk that your application will be lost in the post. • You will receive an email to confirm receipt of your application and details of those schools you have applied for. • For on time applications, the online system will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 26 August 2017 until 31 October 2017. Any applications made after 31 October 2017 will be classed as late and will be considered after all on time applications have been processed. • On 1 March 2018 you will be able to see the allocated school on your online account. If you do not live in Trafford you can still apply online to transfer to secondary school but you must use your own Local Authority’s online application system. PROCESSING YOUR DATA Trafford Council is a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 and is committed to dealing with your information safely and securely. We need to collect and share information in order to deliver our services effectively. We take our responsibility to protect your data seriously and we will use it in accordance with the legal requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. We are committed to making sure that we will: • only collect, hold and use personal information where it is necessary and fair to do so • keep your personal information secure