Applying for a Secondary School
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APPLYING FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL 2018/2019 2 Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2017 Foreword Dear Parent / Carer Whichever schools you choose to apply for, If you have any questions that are not you will need to visit our website to make covered in this booklet, then please We understand that moving from primary an application. If you do not have computer take a look at our website to secondary school is an anxious time for access at home then you can use the www.leicester.gov.uk/admissions or parents and children. We know that you facilities in your local library or the Customer contact the School Admissions Team will want to choose the school that is right Service Centre on Granby Street, free of on 0116 454 1009 or email for your child and that enables them to charge. You can also contact The Choice [email protected]. reach their true potential as well as benefit Advice Service who run a series of support Please note that the closing date for from the range of activities each school sessions for parents who need help with applications is 31 October 2017. We will has to offer. This booklet aims to help you making an application – more details can be write to you on 1 March 2018 with a school to do that by giving you information about found on page 16. place offer. our 18 secondary schools, how to make an application and how school places are Please take the time to read this booklet Finally, we would like to wish your child a allocated. carefully and aIso visit the schools that happy and successful time at their new you are considering so that you and your secondary school. You can list up to three different schools on child can make up your own mind about your application form – your first, second what they have to offer. All secondary and third school preferences. We will always schools have open days and / or evenings try to offer you the highest preference we for children and their families and these can. It is always best to use all three of your are detailed in this booklet on pages 8 - 11. preferences and to include a school near The schools also have information on their to where you live as one of your preferred websites, including exam results and Ofsted options. Demand for school places is high, information which you may find useful. in some areas greater than others, and this helps towards you being offered a local school. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2017 3 SECTION 3 Everything you HOW WE PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION . 22 need to know SECTION 4 HOW WE ALLOCATE PLACES . 23 Admission criteria for community schools and trust schools ������������������������ 24 Admissions criteria for voluntary aided schools and academies �����������������25 SECTION 1 SECTION 5 BEFORE APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL PLACE . 6 RECEIVING YOUR OFFER OF A SCHOOL PLACE . 32 Important dates to remember ....................................... 7 Accepting the school place offered .......................................... 32 Different types of secondary schools in Leicester city ............. 9 What can I do if I am not happy with the school place offered? �����������������32 Details of our schools ................................................. 10 How does the appeals process work? ........................................ 33 Maximise your chances ............................................... 14 Choose your preferred schools carefully ........................... 15 SECTION 6 Your catchment area school ......................................... 15 MOVING HOUSE . 34 Priority for children who have a brother or sister What happens if I change address during the admission process? 35 already in attendance at one of their preferred schools ......... 15 What if I move to the area when my child would not normally change school? .................................................................. 35 SECTION 2 In-year fair access protocol ................................................... 35 Moving school if you have not moved house . 35 MAKING AN APPLICATION . 16 Applying online ........................................................ 17 SECTION 7 The Choice Advice Service ............................................ 18 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL . 36 What happens if my application is late? ........................... 19 Some of the terms we use ..................................................... 38 Applying for a school on religious grounds ........................ 19 Useful websites ................................................................. 38 Special educational needs (SEN) .................................... 19 Moving house / change of address .................................. 20 SECTION 8 What if I want to change my preferences after submitting my application? .......................................... 21 HOW PLACES WERE ALLOCATED ON 1 MARCH 2017 39 4 Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2017 Data protection We have a legal requirement to make sure you know what we intend to do with your information and who it will be shared with. In order to provide you with a school admissions service, there may be occasions when your information is shared with schools, other council departments and the Department of Education. The details you provide on your form will also be shared with other council departments, including the Corporate Investigations Contact information Team. They will compare the details you provide against If you need more information about the records held by the council , including council tax records, and admissions process, please contact us using one those held by other organisations including credit reference of the methods shown below: agencies. They will check that the details provided match. Any You may find the answer on our website: applications identified that are deemed to be fraudulent or otherwise questionable will be investigated further. www .leicester .gov .uk/admissions We have a duty to: Email: admissions-online@leicester .gov .uk • keep sufficient information to provide services and fulfil our By telephone to our Customer Service Centre: legal responsibilities 0116 454 1009 (option 1) • keep your records secure and accurate Telephone opening hours are: 8.30am – 5pm on Monday to Thursday • only keep your information as long as is required 8.30am – 4.30pm every Friday • collect, store and use the information you provide in a Visit our Customer Service Centre: manner that is compatible with the Data Protection Act. 91 Granby Street We will always try and keep your personal data secure, Leicester City Council whether it is held on paper or electronically. Our privacy LE1 6FB statement sets out our commitment to you when you access our services via the internet. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2017 5 SECTION BEFORE APPLYING 1 FOR A SCHOOL PLACE 1 Visit the schools and have a look on their This number takes into account websites how many pupils each school can Arrange to visit schools during their accommodate and how many children open days and evenings. The dates for in Leicester need a school place. these are given on pages 10 to 13 of this Read the admissions criteria for each booklet. Also, visit the school websites - school and look to see the priority that The policies that apply to school The web addresses for each school are applies to your child. This will give you admissions and transport to school shown on pages 10 to 13. an idea of how likely it is you will gain a operate separately. In particular, if a pupil place at a preferred school. You can also is offered a place in a preferred school 2 Read useful reports about the schools find out about how places were allocated this does not in any way guarantee that You can find information on school last year which can be found on our transport will be available. If transport to performance at www.education.gov.uk/ website here. school is an issue for you when applying schools/performance. To view the most for a school, you are strongly advised to recent Ofsted report for a school, please 4 Consider how your child will travel to contact us before stating your preference. visit www.ofsted.gov.uk and from school 5 Do use all three of your preferences It is your responsibility as a parent/ carer 3 Consider how many places are available to get your child to school. You must think Carefully consider three different schools at each school and who these are very carefully about the distance and to list as your preferences. Do not name offered to how your child will travel to school. The the same school more than once as this Each school has a published admission majority of children are not eligible for will not increase your chances of gaining number which is also known as the PAN. free transport to school. a place here. 6 Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2017 Important dates to remember From 11 September Application process begins 2017 Online system opens for applications to be submitted. Schools hold open events so that you can visit and look round – details can be found on pages 10 to 13. Midnight 31 October Closing date for applications 2017 Please ensure that you apply ahead of this date as leaving it until the last minute may mean you miss the closing date if there are any technical issues. 27 November 2017 If you have missed the deadline we may still accept your application as on-time but only if there are good reasons for this and if it is submitted up to this date. You must provide independent supporting evidence of the good reason, for example – an unexpected hospital stay and you are the sole parent or carer, or your application will be treated as late. This also applies to any changes of preference. This is also the closing date for parents to provide proof of address if they are to be considered from a new address in the first round of the allocation process.