St Mary S Catholic High School

St Mary’s Catholic High School Chesterfield

Following consultation the Governors have made the following decisions regarding the admission arrangements for entry September 2013

Criteria for Admission in September 2013

Where there are more applications for admission than the stated planned admission number the Governing Body will apply the following criteria in strict order of priority. The admission number for 2013/2014 is 195.

Should the planned admission limit be reached mid category, the Governing Body, as the admissions authority, will make a decision based on the GIS (Geographical Information System) used by the Derbyshire Local Authority to measure the nearest available route. It is measured by the standard walking distance calculated to within two metres. This measurement is taken from the postal address file, normally the house front door. For schools the grid reference is again from the postal address file and will be the centre of the school, the distance will be measured by the local authority and that data will be supplied to the governors. This “tie breaker” will apply for every category after category two.

Please note that children who have a statement of Special Educational Needs where the school is named as the appropriate school are required to be admitted.

1 Looked After Children or previously Looked After Children (Footnote 4).

2 Catholic children (see footnote 1) who live or attend a catholic primary school, within the Parishes named below: The Annunciation, Chesterfield St Michael’s, Hathersage Holy Family, Chesterfield Christ the King, Alfreton St Hugh’s, Chesterfield St Joseph’s, Shirebrook St Joseph’s, Staveley St Joseph’s, Matlock Immaculate Conception, Spinkhill All Saints, Hassop Holy Spirit, Dronfield Our Lady of Sorrows, Bamford Sacred Heart, Clowne

3 Other siblings of pupils (see footnote 2) who, at the point of application and admission, attend St Mary’s High School

4 Any other Catholic children. (see footnote 1)

5 Children who are worshipping members of other Christian Churches as recognised by Churches Together in England, (see footnote 3) and who have the written support on Form MR1 of a minister of their Church and attend a Catholic primary school within the named parishes

6 Children who are worshipping members of other Christian Churches as recognised by Churches Together in England, (see footnote 3) and who have the written support on Form MR1 of a minister of their Church and attend any other primary schools.

7 Children who are worshipping members of other World Faiths whose parents wish their children to be educated in a Christ centred environment and whose parents have the written

1 adms/mjm/12/10 support of a religious leader of their faith and attend a Catholic primary school within the named parishes

8 Children who are worshipping members of other World Faiths whose parents wish their children to be educated in a Christ centred environment and whose parents have the written support of a religious leader of their faith and attend any other primary schools.

9 Children whose parents are seeking a Christian environment for their children’s education. All such applications need to be supported by a written statement demonstrating this desire and attend a Catholic primary school within the named parishes

10 Children whose parents are seeking a Christian environment for their children’s education. All such applications need to be supported by a written statement demonstrating this desire and attend any other primary schools.

11 Any other applicant who attends a catholic primary school within the named parishes

12 Any other applicant who attends any other primary schools.

Documentation needed

1 All applicants must complete the LA application form – to be given in at child’s primary school or sent directly to the LA, by .

2 All applicants must complete the Supplementary Information Form – received from and returned to St Mary’s High School, by 31 October 2012

3 Catholic Applicants

(a) Proof of Baptism (a copy of child’s baptismal certificate) if applicant is Catholic.

(b) For Catechumens and Candidates for Reception, appropriate written support from the Parish Priest indicating the necessary involvement.

4 For criteria 5 & 6 only - completed Minister’s form MR1

5 For criteria 7 & 8 only - appropriate written support from a religious leader of another World Faith showing the involvement of the child

6 For criteria 9 & 10 - a written statement from parents to support their application.

Footnote 1

“ Catholic children” are children who have been baptised into the Roman Catholic Church or those formally received into the Roman Catholic Church, Catechumens, Candidates for Reception (those formally preparing to be received into the Roman Catholic Church) or those members of Churches that are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church

Definition of a Catechumen

Catechumens are those children who have expressed an explicit desire to be baptised into the Roman Catholic Church and who are currently preparing to receive the same by regular participation in Sunday worship and a recognised programme of preparation.

2 adms/mjm/12/10 Definition of a Candidate for Reception

Candidates for reception into Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church are already baptised in another Christian Tradition, who have expressed an explicit desire to be incorporated into the Roman Catholic Church and who are currently preparing to be received into the Church by regular participation in Sunday worship and a recognised programme of preparation. It is advisable that records of any such reception or incorporation are maintained by the parish.

A list of those Churches which are in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church is available from the Diocesan Schools’ Department (0114 2566440)

Footnote 2

Definition of Sibling

For the sibling criteria to be applicable, one of the following conditions must exist,  a brother and/or sister  a half brother and/or half sister  a legally adopted child being regarded as a brother or sister  a step brother and/or step sister residing in the same family unit

The sibling must be in attendance at the school at the point of application and admission. (In accordance with the DfES School Admissions Code) Footnote 3 - Churches Together in England (please refer to www.churchestogether.net)

The Baptist Union of Great Britain Church of Scotland Methodist Church Religious Society of Friends Cherubim and Seraphim Council of Churches Congregational Federation Roman Catholic Moravian Church Church Church of England Council of African and Afro-Caribbean Churches New Testament Assembly Russian Orthodox Church Council of Oriental Independent Methodist Churches Orthodox Christian Churches Ichthus Christian Fellowship Salvation Army Joint Council for Anglo-Caribbean Church Free Churches’ Council Lutheran Council of Great Britain United Reform Church International Ministerial Council of Great Britain Wesleyan Holiness Church Greek Orthodox Church

Footnote 4 Definition of “Looked After Children‟

A Looked After Child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (Sect 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). A previously Looked After Child is a child who immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order.

Place of residence The child’s ordinary place of residence will be deemed to be a residential property at which the person or persons with parental responsibility for the child resides at the closing date for receiving applications for admission to the school.

3 adms/mjm/12/10 Where parental responsibility is held by more than one person and those persons reside in separate properties, the child’s ordinary place of residence will be deemed to be that property at which the child resides for the greater part of the week, including weekends.

4 adms/mjm/12/10 Closing date for receiving applications - midnight on 31 October 2012

Late Applications - (ie after the deadline of 31 October 2012 but before the offer day of 1 March 2013)

Late applications received after the deadline 31 October in 2012 will only be considered alongside other applications if there is a significant reason (eg parent ill for sometime or family returning from abroad) and documentary evidence is provided.

Waiting List

1 The Authority will establish a waiting list for all Derbyshire secondary schools where the number of applications for those schools has exceeded the places available in year 7.

2 Names of children will automatically be placed on the waiting list for a school where they have been refused a place where it ranked above that at which a place has been offered to the parent.

3 A vacancy arises in Year 7 only when the number of offers to a particular school falls below the published admission number.

4 The waiting list will be established on the offer day and be maintained up to the end of the Autumn Term (in accordance with Derbyshire Local Authority practice).

5 Priority on the waiting list is determined according to the admission authority’s priority of admission over subscription criteria.

6 Following the offer day, should an application be received for a school where the pupil has a higher priority, for a place at the school as determined by the admissions criteria, they will be placed on the waiting list above those with a lower priority.

7 Following the offer day the “tie breaker” for all categories will be based on the shortest distance between the applicant’s home and St Mary’s High School (by the postal address file) measured by the nearest available route (using the GIS system)

False Information

1 Where the Governing Body has made an offer of a place at this school on the basis of fraudulent or intentionally misleading application from a parent, which has effectively denied a place to a child with a stronger claim to a place at the school, the offer of a place will be withdrawn.

2 Where a child starts attending the school on the basis of fraudulent and intentionally misleading information the place may be withdrawn by the Governing Body, depending on the length of time that the child has been at the school.

3 Where a place or an offer has been withdrawn, the application will be reconsidered, by the Governing Body and a right of independent appeal offered if the place is refused.

Appeals against the Governing Body’s decision to refuse admission

If a place is not available, parents have the right of appeal. Such appeals against non admission will be heard by an Independent Appeals Panel formed in accordance with the DfES Code of Practice. Details of the appeals process will be made available to unsuccessful applicants who wish to Appeal. Information regarding appeals should be sought from the LA or from the school

Normally, appeal hearings will be held within thirty school days of the closing date of receiving the notice of appeal.

5 adms/mjm/12/10 In-Year Admissions Procedures

School Year starting September 2012 – August 2013

In-year admissions relate to applications by parents/carers to move their child to another school other than at the normal point of entry e.g following a change of address.

The Governing Body of St Mary’s is the admission authority and the Local Authority co- ordinates all admissions on behalf of the Governing Body.

Applying for a place

1. Derbyshire residents must use the common application form. This is available at this address : https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications/admissions/default.aspx? admissiontype=InYearSecondary

2. The form can also be obtained from the school or from the local authority.

3. Applications from parents not resident in Derbyshire must be made on the common application form available from their home authority.

4. Parents can rank up to three preferences for any combination of maintained schools in Derbyshire or in the area of another authority. Preference order will not be revealed to other admission authorities.

5. The completed form must be returned to the local authority

What happens next

1. The Authority will send details of the application to St Mary’s and to other schools for which a preference has been made. Normally this will take place within five working days

2. St Mary’s School Governors (the Admission Authority) will consider the request with regard to their published admission number and the current number on roll. Within five working days, the Governors will then inform the Local Authority if a place can be offered.

3. Every effort will be made to process applications within the required timescales. Government guidelines recommend that the process should be completed within a maximum of twenty working days

The offer of a place

1. The relevant local authority will write to the parent/carer with a single offer of a place.

6 adms/mjm/12/10 2. If a child can be offered a place at more than one school then a place will be offered at the highest ranked school possible.

3. All offers of places at Derbyshire schools will be treated as accepted unless the parent contacts the Authority or the school to decline the offer. This should be done within 10 school days.

Right of Appeal

1. If the child is not allocated a place, parents / carers have a statutory right to appeal. The appeal should be lodged within three weeks (15 working days) after the date of the allocation letter. The appeals forms are available at the following link:

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools_colleges/school_admissions/appeals/default.asp

Appeals are heard by an independent panel. All appeals for St Mary’s School are managed by the Catholic Appeals Service on behalf of the governing body.

7 adms/mjm/12/10 ST MARY’S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NEWBOLD ROAD UPPER NEWBOLD CHESTERFIELD S41 8AG TEL 01246 201191 FAX 01246 279205

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM - 2013 TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL APPLICANTS

Parents must also complete an admission application form and return it to the LA by 31/10/12. This form gives additional information which is vital so that the Governors may make decisions about entry to our school. Please complete this form and return directly to the school by midnight on 31 October 2012

Please complete in block capitals CHILD’S SURNAME CHRISTIAN NAME(S) DATE OF BIRTH Male Female FULL POSTAL ADDRESS

Post Code______Tel No ______FATHER’S FULL NAME MOTHER’S FULL NAME PRESENT PRIMARY SCHOOL

If the child is Roman Catholic was he/she Yes/No Parish of Baptism a) baptised RC PLEASE SEND A COPY OF BAPTISMAL Date of Baptism CERTIFICATE WITH THIS FORM Or b) formally received into the RC Church Yes/No Parish of Reception Date of Reception Or c) Catechumen or Candidate for reception into the Yes/No Name of Parish Catholic church PRESENT PARISH a) live in

b) worship in If not Roman Catholic please state denomination – Please refer to Admission Criteria and if appropriate complete Ministers’ Reference Form MR1 Names of siblings who attend this school

SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN DATE (please delete whichever is inappropriate) Notes: a) Please refer to p4 - p9 of the School Prospectus for Admissions’ Criteria and other important information. b) Parents are responsible for enclosing any relevant documentation as indicated on p4 – p9 of the Prospectus. c) The form must be returned by midnight on 31 October 2012.

F 363/CN

FORM MR1

St Mary’s Catholic High School Newbold Road, CHESTERFIELD S41 8AG Tel no: 01246 201191

8 adms/mjm/12/10 REQUEST FOR A MINISTER’S REFERENCE

(ONLY APPLICABLE FOR CRITERIA 5 & 6)

SEPTEMBER 2013 INTAKE

Please fill in the section below and forward this form to your Minister

Name & Date of Birth of Applicant ………..………………………………...………………….…………

Address …………………………………………………………………………….…………………..……

…………………………………………………………………………………….………………..…………

I am applying for a place at St Mary’s High School

Name of parent/guardian ………………………………………………………….……………….……

Dear Minister

I should be grateful if you could write a reference for the above named applicant. The information you provide on this form is extremely important.

Our school is frequently over-subscribed and accordingly we have to apply certain criteria for the admission of pupils to Year 7. These criteria are published in the Composite Prospectus supplied to all parents of Y6 pupils.

In classifying children the emphasis is upon “worshipping” members of a Christian Church. We are anxious to include those who actually participate in Christian worship and those who are actively involved in their Faith, rather than those who are nominally attached to a particular Church.

In preparing a testimonial for a child we should like to know such things as how often the child participates in services, in what way the child and/or the family participates and how committed you feel the child and/or the family is to the general values of your Church.

We have prepared these notes in response to enquiries we have received in the past as to the criteria for admission to our school. Please feel free to include any other matter which you consider appropriate.

The clarity of any reference is very important as the Governors use this to support the categorisation of the applications. Finally, may we express our sincere thanks to you for taking the time to assist us in this way.

Confidentiality : Please Note : The reference may be made available to parents and the Independent Appeal Panel and used to assist in deciding whether a place can be offered.

9 adms/mjm/12/10 Reference For ……………………………………………………………………(Child’s name)

Name of Minister ………………………………………………………….. Church ………………………………………………………….. Address ………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………….. Post Code ………………………………………………………….. Telephone No ………………………………………………………….. Email …………………………………………………………. Signed …………………………………………………………..

1. Is this child a worshipping member of your church?

YES NO

2. Is your Church a Member of Churches Together in England?

YES NO

3. To what extent is this child involved in the life of your church?

4. Please give any further information

Please return this form to the parents who are required to submit it to St Mary’s Catholic High School by midnight on 31 October 2012. Should you wish for clarification do not hesitate to contact the school on 01246 201191 or the Hallam Diocesan Schools Department 0114 2566440.

Thank you for your assistance.

10 adms/mjm/12/10