Milton Primary School

Admissions Policy 2016-2017

MILTON PRIMARY SCHOOLS ADMISSION POLICY FOLLOWS THE LOCAL AUTHORITY ADMISSIONS POLICY AS OUTLINED BELOW

ADMISSION POLICY FOR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED NURSERYSETTINGS, PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR 2015- 2016

1. Nursery Provision

1.1 All but three of the infant schools in Stoke on Trent have nursery provision attached. In addition, Stoke on Trent has seven nursery schools. Children aged three years by the 31 August are able to attend a nursery class or school, sometimes on a part time basis, in September. Attendance at school is not a requirement at this age but is at the discretion of parents until a child becomes five years old, then s/he must start school in the following term.

1.2 Pupils with a statement of special educational need naming a particular nursery setting will get preference over all other applicants for that school and count towards the admission number.

1.3 Where there are more applications for a nursery setting than there are places the following priorities will be used, in order, to allocate places:

1 Children in the care of the local authority 2 Children who have an elder brother or sister at the school who will still be attending at the time of admission 3 Others in priority order depending on how near their home address is to the front door of the setting by a straight line measurement.

1.4 Once the class is full a waiting list based on these criteria will be held until the end of September of that academic year.

1.5 Attendance at a particular nursery setting will not guarantee admission to a reception class at the same school.

1 As nursery education is not compulsory there is no right of appeal against the refusal of a place. However, every effort will be made to accommodate the wishes of parents.

2 Primary Provision

2.1 The Coordinated Scheme

Full time places in Foundation 2 (reception) classes in schools in Stoke-on-Trent are available in the September of the academic year in which a child becomes five years old. All applications for admission to community, voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools at 4+ are managed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Preferences made by parents living in Stoke-on-Trent for schools in other local authority areas should also be made through the Council. This is known

Together We Achieve Our Best

as the co-ordinated admission scheme. To help this process applicants are required to fill out a common application form. This can be done on-line.

2.2 Schools have an Admission Number (AN) for each year group, including the Foundation 2 (reception) class. The Admission Number is expected to be based upon the school’s net capacity. Places will be offered up to but not exceeding the Admission Number. Regulations also require that Foundation 2 (reception) and infant classes must have no more than 30 pupils to each teacher.

2.3 Parents are asked to name three schools, in order of preference, which they would like their child to attend. Admissions authorities have to consider preferences in accordance with their published admissions criteria. They cannot take account of where the school is placed in the order of preferences.

2.4 Pupils with a Statement of special educational need are considered separately and before everyone else and must be accepted by the school named on their Statement. They will count towards the school’s admission number.

2.5 The Council will pass preferences for voluntary aided schools to the governing bodies of those schools. The governing bodies are the admissions authorities for those schools. The governing bodies will be asked to consider the applications in accordance with their own admissions policy and to return to the Council a list of children in priority order. The Council will consider the preferences for community and voluntary controlled schools in accordance with its own admissions criteria and will draw up a list of children for each school in priority order.

2.6 The Council will allocate places at schools up to their Admission Number. If a child is eligible for a place at more than one school the child will be offered a place at the school which is highest on their parent’s preference list.

2.7 This is called an equal preference system. The advantage of this system is that a child is more likely to gain a place at a school which is one of their parent’s preferences. It must, however, be recognised that this could be at the expense of a child who lives further away and whose parent has named a particular school as a first preference.

2.8 Criteria for admission to community and voluntary controlled primary schools

2.9 Where there are more applications for a community or voluntary controlled primary school than there are places available, the Council will use the following priorities, in order, to allocate places:

1 Children cared for by a local authority. 2 Children living in the catchment area of the school who have an older brother or sister attending at the time of admission. 3 Other children living within the catchment area of the school. 4 Children living outside the catchment area of the school who have an older brother or sister at the school at the time of admission or at the linked junior school in the case of infant schools. 5 Other children living outside the catchment area of the school.

2.10 If priorities have to be decided within any of these categories, children will be placed in order of priority using distance from their home to the main gate of the school as measured by the nearest practical walking route. The Council will also consider any reasons put forward by parents in support of their preference. These reasons should be supported with evidence wherever possible. If the reasons concern the child’s health or social wellbeing, the evidence should be provided by a medical practitioner or other social care professional. If the Council considers that the reasons for a place at a particular school are sufficiently strong, it will place the child on the school list above those whose position is based upon the distance criterion.

2.11 The Council also has to comply with the “Infant Class Size” regulations which say that infant classes must not exceed 30 pupils. If an infant class is full, a waiting list based on the above criteria will be held until the end of September of that academic year. Parents must ask to be placed on the waiting list of a school or schools – it will not happen automatically.

2.12 Special arrangements will apply if there is space for only one of a set of twins or triplets or other multiple birth. In this circumstance the Council will admit above the admission number (AN) provided that the class size limit is not exceeded. Where it is impossible to accommodate siblings in such a way the parents will be asked make a decision on behalf of the family.

2.13 Late applications

Late applications will be considered alongside those received by the closing date only if:

1 The family moved into the area after the deadline for the receipt of applications Exceptional circumstances, stated in writing with evidence, prevented the form from arriving on time 2 An error on the part of the school.

Such considerations will be the exception rather than the rule. Otherwise late applications will be treated as in-year applications at the end of the allocation process.

2.14 Deferred places

For admission to the 2012–13 school year, and subsequent years, children have to start school in the September following their fourth birthday. Parents of children who are offered a place at school before they are of compulsory school age are allowed to defer their child’s entry until later in the school year. Parents may apply for a deferred place at a school offering them a place in the Foundation 2 (Reception) year at 4+ and they will be treated in the same way as all other applicants. On request, the place will be held but a parent cannot defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child’s fifth birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which the original application was accepted.

2.15 Withdrawal of places

Once parents have been notified of an offer of a school place the Council will withdraw the offer only in exceptional circumstances, such as:

1 Failure to respond to the offer within the specified time following a reminder. 2 If the offer was made based on fraudulent or misleading information on the application form e.g. a false claim to residence within a catchment area. 3 Where a place was offered in error at a school where the Council is not the admissions authority.

2.16 Admission numbers

Milton Primary School’s Admission numbers are :

Nursery 60 Reception 60 Year 1 60 Year 2 30 Year 3 45 Year 4 45 Year 5 45 Year 6 45

The admission numbers of the community and voluntary controlled primary schools are set out overleaf.

Abbey Hulton Primary 30 Alexandra Infants 60 Alexandra Junior 60 Ash Green Primary 60 Ball Green Primary 30 Belgrave CE (C) Primary 66 Blurton Primary 60 Burnwood Primary 75 Carmountside Primary 30 Christchurch CE (C) Primary 30 Clarice Cliff Primary 60 Crescent Primary 75 Eaton Park Primary 60 Etruscan Primary 45 Forest Park Primary 60 Gladstone Primary 60 Glebe Primary 30 Goldenhill Primary 30 Greenways Primary 30 Grove Junior 110 Hamilton Infants 60 Harpfield Primary 30 Heron Cross Primary 60 Hillside Primary 30 Holden Lane Primary 30 Hollywall Primary 30 Jackfield Infants 60 John Baskeyfield VC CE (C) Primary 60 Kingsland CE (C) Primary 60 Maple Court Primary 60 Mill Hill Primary 60 Milton Primary 60 Moorpark Junior 60 New Ford Primary 60 Newstead Primary 30 Northwood Infants 60 Norton Primary 30 Oakhill Primary 60 Packmoor Primary 60 Park Hall Primary 60 Priory CE (C) Primary 60 Sandford Hill Primary 60 Sandon Primary 60 Smallthorne Primary 30 Sneyd Green Primary 60 St. John’s CE (C) Primary 45 St. Paul’s CE (C) Primary 45 Summerbank Central Primary 60 Sutherland Primary 75 Waterside Primary 45 Weston Coyney Infants 60 Weston Coyney Junior 60 Whitfield Valley Primary 45 Willows Primary 60

The admission numbers are based upon the net capacity of the school.

Appendix 2

STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY COUNCIL SCHEME FOR THE COORDINATION OF PRIMARY ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2012/13

1. Purpose of the Scheme

1.1 This scheme meets the requirement for a co-ordinated scheme under the School Admissions (Co- ordination of Admission Arrangements) Regulations 2008. Under the scheme the City Council is responsible for the coordination of admissions to all the maintained primary schools in the City and for coordinating arrangements with the neighbouring local authorities with respect to the admission to their schools of children who live in Stoke-on-Trent.

1.2 The following admissions authorities are covered by the scheme:

• the Council on behalf of all the community schools; • the governing bodies of the following Church of England primary schools: Hanley St Luke’s, St John’s, St Mark’s Shelton, St Mary’s, St Matthew’s, and Stoke Minster; • the governing bodies of the following Catholic primary schools: St Joseph’s Goldenhill, Our Lady’s, Our Lady & St Benedict, St Augustine’s, St George & St Martin’s, St Gregory’s, St Maria Goretti, St Mary’s, St Peter’s, St Teresa’s, St Thomas Aquinas, and St Wilfrid’s; and • the governing bodies of all academies.

1 The scheme applies to all children who live in Stoke-on-Trent and covers admissions to all primary school including admissions to Foundation 2 (the Reception year group), admissions to Junior Schools from Infant Schools, and admissions outside the normal admissions rounds. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that the parents of children who live in the City of Stoke-on-Trent have to complete only one application form and that children will receive only one offer of a school place.

2 Applications – Normal Age of Entry

2.1 The parents of pupils who are resident within Stoke-on-Trent must complete a single common application form to apply for schools in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire or any other Local Authority.

2.2 Parents can name up to three school preferences, ranked in order of their preference on the application form. Parents should name all schools for which they wish to be considered for a place, in order of preference, including voluntary aided Catholic and Church of England schools and any schools in another Local Authority

2.3 Applications should be returned to the parents’ first-preference primary school or sent directly to Admissions and Family Services at the Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH on or before 15th January 2012.

1 Parents may also apply on line at www.stoke.gov.uk. If parents have applied on line there is no need to complete a paper application although they may have to provide supporting information if that is required for any of their preferences.

2 Processing of Applications

3.1 Schools which receive preference forms from parents should forward them to Admissions & Family Services immediately after the closing date of 15 January 2012. All applications will be recorded electronically.

3.2 By 6 February 2012, Admissions & Family Services will have forwarded all details of relevant applications to aided schools in Stoke-on-Trent and to other Local Authorities with a request that they rank order the children according to their admissions policy and by 2 March 2012, return to Admissions & Family Services a list, indicating the rank order of children.

3.3 The Council will draw up provisional allocation lists for the community and voluntary controlled schools by applying its own admissions criteria.

3.4 The Council will consider the list for each school in the light of its admission number. It is this number that will determine which children will be eligible for places in the first round. If a child qualifies for a place at more than one school, the Council will allocate a place at the parent’s highest ranked preference. Once provisionally allocated, children will be removed from other school lists thus potentially making places available at these schools for other applicants. Places which become free in this way will be allocated in accordance with each school’s previously determined rank order.

1 If the Council is not able to offer a place at any of the schools named as a preference, parents will be notified of the nearest school with a place available.

2 Offering Places

1 The Council will inform all parents resident in Stoke-on-Trent of the outcome of their application during the week commencing 16 April 2012. This will include offers of places at Catholic and Church of England aided schools where the letters will be sent on behalf of their respective governing bodies. It will also include offers of places for schools in another Local Authority.

2 Reserve Lists

1 Parents whose child has not been given a place at a preferred school may ask for their child’s name to be placed on a reserve list. Admissions & Family Services will operate a reserve list for any Community or Voluntary Controlled schools that are full on the date of allocation. Any vacancies that arise will be offered in accordance with the original rank order amended as necessary by the inclusion of children whose parent submitted a late application. The lists will be kept open until the end of the Autumn Term 2012.

2 Late Applications and Changes of Preferences

6.1 Late applications and changes of preferences received up to the end of January 2012 will be included in the process only if there is good reason for the lateness or the change, eg, the family has just moved into the area. Other late applications and changes of preference will not be dealt with until after school allocations have been finalised. Parents should be aware that it is likely that late applications and changes of preference may disadvantage consideration of their preferences if they are applying for schools that are over-subscribed.

7 Transfers from Infant Schools to Junior Schools

7.1. Children in Year 2 at an Infant School normally transfer to the linked Junior School at the end of that year. It is necessary for admissions purposes for the parent to complete an application form. This may be obtained from the Headteacher of the Infant School and may be returned to her. Applications should be completed and returned by 3 February 2012. If they are not returned to the school, then they should be returned to Admissions and Family Services, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH. The Council will consider all applications in the light of its policy for admission to primary schools and write to parents during the week beginning 16 April 2012 to tell them the outcome of their application.

8 Transfers outside the Normal Admissions Rounds

8.1 Parents who move into the Stoke-on-Trent or who wish their child to transfer to another school should complete an application form which is available from Admissions & Family Services, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH. They should name up to three schools for which they would like their child to be considered, including voluntary controlled and aided schools if appropriate, and provide supporting information if it is relevant to their application.

8.2 The Council will consider preferences for places at community and voluntary controlled schools in accordance with its admissions policy for those schools. If there are places within the school’s admissions number and, in the case of infant classes the child’s admission would not cause the school to exceed 30 in any infant class, the child will be eligible for a place.

8.3 If the parent has named an aided school as a preference, the Council will pass the application to the governing body of the school with a request that they consider it in the light of their admissions policy. The governors will be asked to respond to the Council within 10 working days of receiving the application.

8.4 If the child is eligible for a place at more than one school, the Council will allocate a place at the school which is the parent’s highest preference. If the child is not eligible for a place at any of the schools named by the parent, the Council will offer a place at the nearest community or controlled school which has places available. If no community or controlled school within 2 miles of the child’s home has places available, the Council will allocate a place at a school within this distance, even if this means exceeding the school’s admission number.

8.5 If it appears that a child may be difficult to place, the Council will follow its Fair Access Protocol.

9 Appeals

9.1 Parents who are unhappy with the school place that has been offered may appeal against the decision to an independent appeals panel. If the admission of the child to the school in question would cause the admission authority to take qualified measures, that is, to appoint an additional teacher to ensure that all the infant classes had no more than 30 children, the right of the appeals panel to direct the child’s admission to the school is curtailed.