A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 apply online Apply for a school place online at www.eadmissions.org.uk Switch on to the online Common Application Form From 1 September 2011 you can apply for a school place online If your child is due to transfer to a secondary school in September 2012 you need to apply for a school place for them. Use this space to record your username, Why apply online? password and reference number that you have • it speeds up the admission process used to make your application and makes it easier Username • there is no risk that the application will get lost in the post • you can see the result of your application rather than wait for a letter to arrive Password • you can change your application as many times as you like before the closing date • the online system is available 24 hours a day seven days a week up to the closing date of 31 October 2011. After you have submitted your online application, make a note of your application reference number A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 3 Message from Councillor Andrew Harper Barnet is very proud of the diversity of its schools, all of which provide an excellent education. Pupils educated in our borough achieve some of the best examination results in the country, both at GCSE and A level. At the same time, local schools provide a wide range of sporting, musical and other activities that give children a rich and broad education. We know that the secondary school application I hope that your child will enjoy his or her time at process can seem daunting and schools and the secondary school and I am sure the education children council together work hard to make the process as receive in Barnet will give them the skills, knowledge smooth as possible. The admissions system is and qualifications to help them succeed in their co-ordinated across the whole of the London area future lives. and is operated by all 33 London boroughs. This Councillor Andrew Harper booklet explains that co-ordinated secondary transfer Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families process in detail and also provides information about all the secondary schools in Barnet. It is important that you read the booklet carefully and look closely at each school’s admissions criteria in order to make the right choice for your child. All Barnet schools have open evenings arranged during the autumn term of 2011 when you will be able to meet staff and pupils. You will find a list of dates and times on page 16 of this booklet. 4 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 Contents Message from London Academy 48 Councillor Andrew Harper 3 Mill Hill High School 50 Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet 52 About this booklet 6 Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School 54 Secondary transfer timetable 7 St James’ Catholic High School 56 St Mary’s C of E High School 58 Co-ordinated admissions 7 St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School 60 Choosing a school 8 The Totteridge Academy 62 Completing your application form 10 Whitefield School 64 Wren Academy 66 Open evening dates 16 Further information 69 Open evening information 17 Glossary 72 Barnet Schools 19 Secondary schools in Admission criteria for other local authorities 73 community schools in Barnet 21 Other useful contact details 76 Criteria flowchart for community secondary schools in Barnet 22 Travelling to school 77 Secondary schools in Barnet 23 Choice Advice Service 78 Ashmole Academy 24 FYI 78 Bishop Douglass School 26 Christ’s College, Finchley 28 The Compton School 30 Copthall School 32 East Barnet School 34 Finchley Catholic High School 36 Friern Barnet School 38 Hasmonean High School 40 Hendon School 42 The Henrietta Barnett School 44 JCoSS (Jewish Community Secondary School) 46 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 5 6 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 About this booklet This booklet will help you understand the admissions process when your child transfers to secondary school in 2012. In this booklet we explain: When does my child transfer • how to choose a school to secondary school? • children born between 1 September 2000 and • how to fill in the application form 31 August 2001 will transfer to secondary school • how school places are allocated in 2012 • what happens if we cannot offer your child a place • if your child has a Statement of Special Educational at a school you have chosen. Needs, the arrangements for your child’s transfer In this booklet you will also find: will be different and these will be explained to you • the secondary transfer timetable by the SEN Performance Team. You can call them on: 020 8359 7687 or 020 8359 7710 • descriptions of all the secondary schools and academies in Barnet • a schedule of open evenings. There is also information about: • in-year admissions • fair access protocol • placing children outside their correct year group • post-16 education • school meals • help with travel costs • school uniform. A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 7 Secondary transfer timetable Date What happens? Online application system opens Week beginning 1 September 2011 Barnet primary schools give out transfer information to Barnet residents Admissions Team to send out information to other Barnet parents 13 September – 12 October 2011 Visit schools (see page 16 for open evening/day details) 21 October 2011 Preferred date for return of applications 31 October 2011 Closing date for applications Supplementary Information Forms to be returned to voluntary aided and 21 October 2011 foundation schools and academies 1 March 2012 Offer letters posted to parents 16 March 2012 Acceptance deadline March – September 2012 Further offers from waiting lists May – July 2012 Appeal hearings for schools Co-ordinated admissions Each year, approximately 78,000 How the scheme works pupils living in London transfer to As part of the scheme: secondary schools. • parents can apply for up to six schools on one Common Application Form (CAF) All London boroughs work together on the secondary transfer process and this is known as the Pan-London • the CAF is provided by the local authority where co-ordinated admissions scheme. you live • a computerised system is used to exchange information about Barnet residents applying for schools outside the borough, and equally other boroughs can tell us about their residents wishing to apply to Barnet schools • if a school is oversubscribed, its published admissions criteria is used to decide who should be offered a place • the scheme makes sure that no child is offered more than one school place • your home local authority will post you the result of your application on 1 March 2012. 8 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 Choosing a school Before you make your application: Read the Visit the information schools that in this booklet interest you... ...go to the open evenings and talk to the teachers find out what they want Talk to your child ...look at exam results and Ofsted reports Consider how your child will get to school... Think about how realistic your choice is by bus, walking, cycling A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 9 available from the school Read the school prospectus... Talk to the Admissions Team... we can give you advice and answer your questions Do your research... Don’t listen to gossip... most schools get more applications than what’s right Think about they have places for other available so... children may not how realistic your ...look at the be the same for choice is admissions your child criteria and the cut off distance for each school 10 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2012 Completing your application form When you have decided which schools you want to apply for, you are ready to fill out your Common Application Form (CAF). If you live in Barnet you must apply using a Barnet CAF, preferably online. You can list up to six schools Applying online on your form, including schools outside the borough. From 1 September 2011 you can apply for a If you live outside Barnet, you can still apply for Barnet Year 7 school place online. Applying online is a schools but you must apply online or obtain an simple and quick way to submit your application. application form from the council where you live. You can access www.eadmissions.org.uk As well as completing the CAF, all voluntary aided • at home (faith) schools and some foundation schools • at work and academies also require parents to fill in a • at an internet cafe Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to provide • at a library. additional information, such as a reference from your priest/minister or information needed in order You will have the added benefit of: to arrange aptitude tests. Jewish voluntary aided • being able to change your application as many schools may require you to provide a Certificate times as you like before the closing date of Religious Practice (CRP). SIFs and CRPs are • using a secure system available directly from the school. Please remember an application is not valid unless a CAF has also been • it being available 24 hours a day, seven completed and the school is named on it. days a week up until the closing date of 31 October 2011 Please do not complete more than one CAF (paper or • the system helping you by checking for errors electronic), we will only accept the most recent one. • not needing to wait for the post to find out the result of your application. To start your online application you will need: • an email address d secur an e a sy pp • to register your details.