Applying for School Places Cheshire East guide for parents 2015/16 www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Click: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk from 1 September By: 31 October 2014 for secondary 15 January 2015 for primary If you are a parent resident in Cheshire East, with a child born between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011, your child will be due to start primary school in September 2015 Follow us on Twitter @CE_Admissions If you do not have web access, apply by contacting 0300 123 5012. Late applications may be disadvantaged. Introduction Tony Crane Director of Children’s Services Dear Parents Starting school is a big step for any child, and as a parent, you play an important part in helping your son or daughter through this transition. In preparation, you have probably already given some thought to the schools that you would like your child to attend. This information booklet is designed to help you through this process. It provides important deadlines and information about Cheshire East schools, including contact details. It also explains how applications are processed and includes data about the number of applications received last year and how places were allocated. Most Cheshire East residents choose to apply online for school places, which you can do by following the link on our website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Please make a note of the closing date to ensure that your application is not disadvantaged: 31 October 2014 – Secondary School (Year 7) Applications 15 January 2015 – Primary School (Reception Class) Applications If you have any queries please contact us by e-mail [email protected] or by telephone on 0300 123 5012. May I take this opportunity of wishing your child every success at their new school. Tony Crane Director of Children’s Services Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 3 4 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk It’s quick and easy! Contents Application Timetable 6 Chronological Peer/Age Groups 7 The Application Process 9 Processing Applications 12 Next Stage in the Process 15 Sixth Form Admissions 18 School Transport 20 More Information 21 Other Authorities Contact Details 24 Term and Holiday Dates 25 Frequently Asked Questions 26 Application Form 33 Use of Information – Data Protection and Security 35 Contact: School Admissions Cheshire East Council Floor 7, c/o Municipal Buildings Earle Street Crewe CW1 2BJ Email: [email protected] Twitter: @CE_Admissions Telephone: 0300 123 5012 Fax: 01270 686491 The information contained in this booklet relates to the school year 2015-2016. Although correct at the time of printing (August 2014), there may be changes before or during the 2014 -2015 school year and in subsequent years. Further information can be obtained from the Council and from individual schools. Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 5 Application timetable Process Secondary Transfers Primary Admissions Application process starts – online application form 1 September 2014 1 September 2014 and composite prospectus available. Closing date for applications 31 October 2014 15 January 2015 Deadline for receipt of supporting documentation 8 December 2014 16 February 2015 Offers released 2 March 2015 16 April 2015 Deadline for accepting or declining places. The Local Authority reserves the right to withdraw 16 March 2015 30 April 2015 places not accepted Waiting lists prepared and vacancies re-allocated. Waiting lists will be held in criteria order. Parents offered places on this basis will be required to After 16 March 2015 After 30 April 2015 accept or decline the place offered within 10 school days. Appeal application deadlines 30 March 2015 18 May 2015 Appeal hearings (on time applications) By 19 June 2015 By 21 July 2015 (as far as possible) Within 40 days of deadline Within 40 days of deadline where possible, or where possible, or Appeal hearings – late applications 30 school days of appeal 30 school days of appeal being lodged being lodged Important Information form may also be verified through liaison with other departments within the Local Authority as with those Residency made during the normal admission round. When you apply for a school place your application will be considered on the basis of the residency of your child. Places offered on the basis of a fraudulent or For applications made during the normal admission intentionally misleading application may be withdrawn round this will be where your child lives on the date published for the receipt of supporting documentation. Re-allocating Places You must therefore notify us if you move house after Offers will be made on the 2 March 2015 (secondary you have submitted your application as this could affect places) and 16 April 2015 (primary places). If you are your priority for admission within the oversubscription unsuccessful with your application you can request criteria and your position on a waiting list, if applicable. that your child is added to the school’s waiting list. Any vacancies will be re-allocated from the waiting list after The place of residence for late applications received 16 March for secondary school places and after 30 April after the date published for the receipt of supporting for primary school places. documentation will be the address at the time of application. As a general principle, children in Cheshire East are taught in the year group for their age range along with Proof of address and residency may be requested. other children in the same age range. This is sometimes Address information provided on the application referred to as the child’s chronological peer or age group. 6 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk Chronological peer/age groups For admission to primary school, admission authorities considered and you will receive advice from the school are required to provide for the admission of all children to help you decide on the best course of action before a in the September following their fourth birthday. decision is taken by the relevant admission authority. You will also need to discuss your intentions with your home September 2015 Admission: local authority in order that arrangements can be made Any child born between: to include your child in the relevant school admission 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011 application round, if this is agreed. This is to ensure that you do not miss out on important information about Flexibilities exist for children whose parents applying for school places. For non-statutory guidance do not feel they are ready to begin school at this point. published by the Department for Education (DfE) about summer born children, please visit the DfE website at For some children, exceptionally it may be considered www.education.gov.uk appropriate that the child transfers to secondary school early, or remains in the primary school for another year If the admission authority agrees to your request to before transferring and in both cases being taught delay admission until the following year, this does not outside their chronological peer/age groups. Whilst there guarantee a place in the reception class at that school. is no statutory barrier to children being admitted outside The decision on the application for reception, which will their chronological peer group, the decision on whether need to be made through the normal admission round, your request can be agreed rests with the admission will be based on the published admission arrangements authority for the school. School admission authorities are as for all applications. Therefore you need to be made required to make a decision based on the circumstances aware that an application for an oversubscribed school of the case. could be unsuccessful, even though the application for delayed entry is supported by the admission authority. The admission authorities for the different categories of schools are listed on page 7. Early/Delayed Transfer to Secondary School Delaying Admission to the Reception Class For some children, exceptionally it may be considered appropriate that the child transfers to secondary school When considering admission into the reception class early, or remains in the primary school for another for the first time in September following your child’s year and in both cases being taught outside their fourth birthday i.e. into the chronological peer group, chronological peer groups. If this applies to your child, you may feel that your child is not ready to start school. you will need to discuss this with the school and seek In such cases you can still apply for admission to that agreement to this arrangement. This may be applicable chronological peer group but request that your child for children of exceptional ability and maturity or for attends part-time until they reach compulsory school children whom it is considered would benefit from being age, or that the date your child is admitted to school is taught outside their chronological peer group in order deferred until later in the same academic year and until that their individual or special needs can be met. your child reaches statutory school age, which is the term after your child’s fifth birthday. In Year Admission to Other Year Groups If you are a parent of a summer born child, your son or daughter will not reach statutory school age for almost If you are applying for a school place outside the a full school year after the point at which they could first normal admissions process as an ‘in year’ admission; be admitted to school. If you are considering delaying possibly moving from one school to another due to admission until the following academic year rather than a house move, or for other reasons, and you will be applying for admission to your child’s chronological peer applying for a place in a different chronological peer/ group, you will need to discuss this with the schools that age group to the one that your child would normally you are thinking of applying to.