Dear Colleague

Consultation - Admissions Policy 2016-17

As you are aware, the Governing Body of a voluntary school is legally required to consult on any changes in its admissions policies and criteria.

I am pleased therefore to attach a copy of the proposed admissions criteria for Christ’s School, Richmond, for 2016-17 entry, which the Governing Body has approved for consultation. You will also find proposed criteria on the school website and paper copies are available from the school office.

If you wish to make any comments, we would be grateful to have them by 25 thth March 2015 at the latest. You can write to the above address or email our Admissions Officer, Kim Tullick at [email protected]..

Yours sincerely

Canon Robert Titley Chair, Admissions Committee

11 Christ's School Admissions Criteria for 2016-17

Draft Criteria for Consultation

Introduction

This document sets out the proposals agreed at a meeting of the Full Governing Body of Christ’s School (hereafter, 'the Governors’, 'we', 'us', 'our') at its meeting on 8th July 2014. The Governors commend these proposals for further consultation, during the designated consultation period 1st November 2014 –– 1st March 2015.

Sections 1-3 of the document describe proposed amendments of the following kinds

Section 1 - General Section 2 - Foundation Places Section 3 - Sixth Form

Section 4 then sets out a draft text of the amended Criteria, with supporting Notes of Guidance.

1 Amendments - General

The draft in Section 4 below incorporates amendments to make terminology consistent (eg 'student' everywhere, not 'pupil') and to reflect both five-form entry and the advent of the Sixth Form.

2 Amendments - Foundation Places

2.1 Embracing the Borough

The Borough have asked us to consider amending our criteria to be more inclusive of applicants from the whole Borough.

2.1.1 One possibility was to link places to all Church of (hereafter 'Anglican') primary schools, or allall faith primary schools, in the Borough. This would have other effects, however. It would introduce an additional element to the criteria, that of attending certain schools as well as attending a church, and it would put at a disadvantage Foundation applications for children who attended community primary schools.

2.1.2 Our proposed amendments continue to work on our two present principles, church attendance and proximity, but now embrace the whole Borough. They also now permit non-Anglican applications in each category.

22 2.1.3 The Board advises that the law does not allow us to stipulate residence within a particular local authority area. Instead, therefore, these proposals stipulate residence within certain Anglican deaneries (geographical groups of parishes within a diocese):

1.1. the Deanery of Richmond and Barnes in the Diocese of Southwark, which covers nearly all of the Borough south and east of the Thames

2.2. the Deanery of Kingston in the Diocese of Southwark, which covers the rest of the Borough south and east of the Thames, and also a part of the London Borough of Kingston

3.3. the Deanery of Hampton in the , which covers nearly all of the Borough north and west of the Thames

4.4. the Deanery of Hounslow in the Diocese of London, which covers the rest of the Borough north and west of the Thames, and also a part of the London Borough of Hounslow.

2.1.4 Though these deaneries spread beyond the Borough, the proximity criterion will tend to work in favour of applications from residents of the Borough if places are over-subscribed. If places are not over-subscribed, the wider catchment will help us to fill a larger proportion of Foundation places. It is unlikely that Anglican secondary schools outside the Borough will perceive this as a difficulty, given that most out-of-Borough applicants will live some distance from Christ's.

2.1.5 The present criteria consider applications first from Anglican worshippers and then from non- Anglican worshippers living within 5 kilometres of the school, then those living between 5 kilometres and 10 kilometres from the school, again considering first applicants from Anglican worshippers and then non-Anglican. Those living further way are not eligible for Foundation places. Many residents within the Borough, however, live more than 5 kilometres from Christ's, and some live more than 10 kilometres away. We could retain the present 'less-than-5 kilometres' criterion and only then go Borough-wide, but the number of Anglican applicants is unlikely to be so great that they will swamp the Foundation allocation if we admit Anglicans from the whole Borough (and a little beyond) before considering others. Our proposals therefore remove any reference to a distance limit. If places are over-subscribed, the proximity criterion will still favour those applicants who are nearer to Christ's, most of whom are likely to reside in the Borough.

2.1.6 In sum, our Foundation Criteria proposals provide for, in descending order:

1.1. Borough-wide Anglican applications, and some from beyond the Borough 2.2. Borough-wide non-Anglican applications, and some from beyond the Borough 3.3. other Anglican applications from beyond the Borough 4.4. other non-Anglican applications from beyond the Borough.

2.2 Church membership

To reflect the current recommendations of the Board, our proposals amend the list of eligible ecumenical umbrella bodies for establishing non-Anglican church membership:

Churches Together in England (in place of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland) The Evangelical Alliance (unchanged) Affinity (new) The Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches (new).

2.3 Minister's Supplementary Form

33 At the end of Section 4 is a draft of our proposed revisions to this reference form. It requests reference numbers for membership of ecumenical umbrella bodies, except for Churches Together in England, which does not have such a system.

3 Amendments - Sixth Form

The admissions policy proposed below treats all places as Open, and uses the same criteria as for Open places lower down the School, with the addition of the need to meet academic entry requirements. These criteria are those already followed for the 2014-15 cohort.

44 4 Draft Criteria

For ease of reference, paragraphs are numbered in a manner consistent with the rest of this consultation document. The published Criteria will be referenced differently.

4.1 Governors' Admissions Policy 2016-2017

4.1.1 Headteacher Helen Dixon

4.1.2 Type Voluntary Aided School

4.1.3 Age 11-18

4.1.4 Admission Authority Governing Body of Christ’s School

4.1.5 Number of Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 Places for September 2016: 150 per year group Number of Year 11 Places for September 2016: 120 per year group

4.1.6 Christ’s is an 11-18 school, building up to a maximum roll of 900 (including 6th form) by 2017-18.

4.1.7 Christ's Church of England School has a distinctive Christian ethos which is at the heart of this School and provides an inclusive, caring and supportive environment where children learn and flourish in a setting shaped by Christian values. We welcome applications from all members of the community and we ask all parents to respect the Christian ethos of our School and its importance to our community.

4.1.8 Parents applying for places for their children do so knowing that Christ’s School provides an education based on Christian principles, and therefore the Governing Body expects that all students will take part in the Christian worship at the School and will attend religious education lessons.s.

4.1.9 The School is part of the locally agreed co-ordination scheme and the timescales for applications to be received and processed are those agreed with the local authority. Parents must complete the Local Authority’s Common Application Form (CAF) and return the form to the Authority; i f applying for a place at this school, parents must name this school as one of the preferences on the CAF. Parents who wish to apply for a Foundation place must also complete the School’s Foundation application form (see 4.10.1 below) and return this to the School. Failure to return this form will mean that the School cannot consider the application under the Foundation criteria; in this case the application will be considered under the next most appropriate criterion, based on the information on the CAF.

4.2 Admissions Criteria

4.2.1 Total Places Available: The School will admit a total of 150 students each September in Year 7. This admission number has been agreed between the Governors and Richmond Education Authority. This policy applies to all admissions in the academic year 1st September 2016 - 31 stst August 2017.

4.2.2 Christ's School is committed to taking its fair share of students who are hard to place in accordance with the locally agreed fair access protocol. Students admitted under the protocol will take priority over any children on the waiting list and this may include, on occasion, admitting above the planned admission number.

4.2.3 Places are divided into 75 FOUNDATION and 75 OPEN places, priority being given to Foundation places (up to the 75 quota) and then Open places according to the criteria outlined below. Where two or more applicants have equal right to a place priority will be given, within the criterion concerned, on the basis of proximity to the School by the shortest route: that is, the shortest route to 55 the school by road and publicly maintained footpath, measured from the middle of the residence (the Geographic Information System, or GIS, ‘seedpoint’)) by the local authority. Lots will be used to decide between applicants who live the same distance from the School. Unsuccessful Foundation applicants become Open applicants. Unfilled Foundation places become Open places.

4.2.4 Christ's Church of England School has a distinctive Christian ethos which is at the heart of this School and provides an inclusive, caring and supportive environment where children learn and flourish in a setting shaped by Christian values. We welcome applications from all members of the community and we ask all parents to respect the Christian ethos of our School and its importance to our community.

4.3 Foundation Places

4.3.1 Foundation places are offered to children who can, or children whose parents or legal guardians can, demonstrate their commitment to a church that is part of the Church of England or is a full member of one of the following bodies11::

Churches Together in England The Evangelical Alliance Affinity The Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches

4.3.2 Parents or guardians applying for a Foundation place will need to complete one of the School’s own Foundation place application forms in addition to the Common Application Form provided by their home Local Authority.

4.3.3 All applications for Foundation places must be supported by the Reference form from the Minister of the Church. If there is no supporting form from the Minister, the application will be considered under the Open places criteria.

4.3.4 In the event of over-subscription, places will be offered in accordance with the Foundation places criteria:

1.1. looked-after children or previously looked-after children (see Notes of Guidance) who are regular worshippers, or looked-after children or previously looked-after children whose carers are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance), at a Church of England church

2.2. exceptional medical or social circumstances (see Notes of Guidance) for children who are regular worshippers, or children whose parents or legal guardian(s) are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance), at a Church of England church

3.3. children who are regular worshippers, or children whose parents or legal guardian(s) are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance), at a Church of England church and are resident in the Deanery of Richmond and Barnes or the Deanery of Kingston in the Church of England’s Diocese of Southwark, or in the Deaneries of Hampton oror Hounslow in the Church of England’s Diocese of London,22 in the following order:

a.a. siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2016 –– August 2017

b.b. distance from the School33

11 The Governing Body will take advice from these bodies as appropriate as to whether a church is a full member of their association. 22 Click on the deanery name to see parishes and maps; or for a list of parishes, see 4.3.5 below. To find out which parish you live in, enter your address on the website A Church Near You.. 33 See 4.2.3 above. 66 4.4. children who are regular worshippers, or children whose parents or legal guardian(s) are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance) at another church that is a full member of one of the following bodies 4 4::

Churches Together in England The Evangelical Alliance Affinity The Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches

and are resident in the Deanery of Richmond and Barnes or the Deanery of Kingston in the Church of England’s Diocese of Southwark, or the Deaneries of Hampton oror Hounslow in the Church of England’s Diocese of London55; in the following order:

a.a. siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2016 –– August 2017

b.b. distance from the School66

5.5. children who are regular worshippers, or children whose parents or legal guardian(s) are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance), at a Church of England church not included in Criterion 3; in the following order:

a.a. siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2016 –– August 2017

b.b. distance from the School77

6.6. children who are regular worshippers, or children whose parents or legal guardian(s) are regular worshippers (see Notes of Guidance) at a another Christian church that is a full member of one of the following bodies:88

Churches Together in England The Evangelical Alliance Affinity The Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches

where the church is not included in Criterion 4; in the following order:

a.a. siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2016 –– August 2017

b.b. distance from the School99

4.3.5 List of parishes within the Deaneries of Richmond & Barnes, Kingston, Hampton and Hounslow

Richmond & Barnes Deanery

Barnes Team Ministry Barnes, , St Mary

44 See Note 1 above. 55 See Note 2 above. 66 See 4.2.3 above. 77 See 4.2.3 above. 88 See Note 1 above. 99 See 4.2.3 above. 77 Barnes, St Michael & All Angels Ham, St Richard , St Anne Kew, St Philip & All Saints with St Luke (United Benefice) Kew, St Philip & All Saints (the Barn Church) Kew, St Luke with Team Ministry Mortlake, St Mary the Virgin East Sheen, Christ Church East Sheen, All Saints Petersham, St Peter Richmond, Holy Trinity & Christ Church Richmond Team Ministry Richmond, St Mary Magdalene Richmond, St John the Divine Richmond, St Matthias

Kingston Deanery

Ham, St Andrew Hook, St Paul Kingston Hill, St Paul Kingston Team Ministry Kingston, All Saints (Kingston Parish Church); Kingston, St John the Evangelist Kingston Vale, St John the Baptist Kingston, St Luke Malden, St James Malden, St John the Baptist New Malden & Coombe, Christ Church && St John Norbiton, St Peter Surbiton, St Andrew & St Mark Surbiton Hill, Christ Church Tolworth, Emmanuel Tolworth Team Ministry Surbiton, St Matthew Tolworth, St George

Hampton Deanery

Fulwell, St Michael & St George –– see , St Peter & St Paul Hampton, All Saints Hampton, St Mary , St James Hanworth, St Richard Teddington, St Mark with , St John Teddington & Hampton Wick, St Mark Hampton Wick, St John Teddington, St Mary with St Alban Teddington, St Peter & St Paul Teddington, St Peter & St Paul Fulwell, St Michael & St George , All Hallows Twickenham, All Saints Twickenham, , St Mary Twickenham, St Stephen 88 Whitton, St Augustine of Canterbury Whitton, St Philip & St James

99 Hounslow Deanery

Bedfont, St Mary Brentford Team Ministry St Paul’s Road, St Paul Windmill Road, St Faith Bedford Park, St Michael & All Angels Chiswick, St Nicholas Chiswick, St Paul Cranford, St Dunstan Cranford, St Dunstan Cranford, Holy Angels Feltham, Christ Church Feltham, St Dunstan's Hanworth, All Saints Hanworth Park, St George Heston, St Leonard Hounslow, Holy Trinity with St Paul Hounslow, Holy Trinity Hounslow West, St Paul Worton Road St Mary Hounslow, St Luke - see Spring Grove, St Mary Hounslow, St Stephen Hounslow, The Good Shepherd Isleworth, All Saints Isleworth, St Francis Isleworth, St John the Baptist with St Mary the Virgin Isleworth , St John the Baptist Worton Road, St Mary the Virgin Spring Grove, St Mary Osterley Road, St Mary Kingsley Road (Hounslow), St Luke St Margarets, All Souls Sutton Court, St Michael Turnham Green, Christ Church Worton Road, St Mary –– see Hounslow, Holy Trinity with St Paul

Applicants can check if they reside in one of these parishes by entering their address on the website A Church Near You: www.achurchnearyou.com..

4.4 Open Places

4.4.1 Open Places are offered to children irrespective of their religious background. In the event of over- subscription, places will be offered in accordance with the Open Places criteria set out below:

1.1. Looked after children or previously looked after children (see Notes of Guidance)

2.2. Exceptional medical or social circumstances (see Notes of Guidance)

3.3. Siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2015 –– August 2016.

4.4. Children who attend a primary school within 3 km of the School and live within 3 km of the School, by the shortest route by road and publicly maintained footpath as measured by the local authority.

1010 5.5. Children living closest to the School.1010

4.5 Sixth Form

4.5.1 Places are offered to students, irrespective of their religious background, for whom the School is able to offer a suitable level of course and who fulfil the academic entry requirements for the subjects they wish to study, as stated in a conditional offer.

4.5.2 Places will be offered in the following order:

1.1. looked after children or previously looked after children (see Notes of Guidance) 2.2. exceptional medical or social circumstances (see Notes of Guidance) 3.3. applicants from Year 11 at Christ's School and a minimum of 15 applicants from outside Christ's School

4.5.3 In the event of over-subscription, places will be offered in accordance with the following criteria:

1.1. siblings of children attending the School on the closing date for application and still attending on the day of entry in the academic year 1 stst September 2016 –– August 2017 2.2. cchildren living closest to Christ’s School1111

4.6 Waiting List

4.6.1 The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames will maintain the waiting list for Christ’s School. Children not offered a place on 1 March 2016 will automatically be placed on the waiting list in the order of the School’s admission criteria. Places are allocated to children from the top of the waiting list as vacancies arise. Late applications are also included in the waiting list in criteria order. This means that a child’s position on the list can move down as well as up.

4.7 Appeals

4.7.1 Parents who are not offered a place for their child at the School have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel established under Section 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Parents wishing to appeal should request a form from the School and return it within 4 weeks of the letter notifying the decision not to offer a place.

4.7.2 Appeals are heard by panels of people who have not taken part in deciding how the places that were offered on 1 March were allocated. You will be invited to present your case in person and you will be allowed to bring a friend or representative to help you if you wish.

4.8 False Information

4.8.1 Any offer of a place based on distance from the School depends on the child living at the address provided on the closing date for application. A business address, a childminder’s address, or any address other than the child’s home will not be accepted. Proof of address will be required and may be the subject of further investigation. An offer based on a false address or any other false information will be withdrawn.

4.9 Notes of Guidance on the Admissions Policy

4.9.1 Note 11 'Looked After Children': i.e. children who are in the care of a local authority or being provided with accommodation by a local authority in their exercise of their social services functions as defined in Section 22(1), and previously looked after children who were adopted, or subject to a residence

1010 See 4.2.3 above. 1111 See 4.2.3 above. 1111 order, or special guardianship order, immediately following having been looked after. Applications made under this criterion must be accompanied by details of circumstance and professionally supported evidence (i.e. from a social worker);

4.9.2 Note 22 'Regular worshipper': someone who attends church at least twice a month for at least a year before the closing date for applications. If you or your minister/religious leader has moved recently, you must also obtain a reference from your previous church/place of worship or minister/religious leader.

4.9.3 Note 33 'Siblings': include full, half-, step-, adopted and legally fostered children living at the same home address.

4.9.4 Note 44 'Exceptional circumstances': Children whose parents provide professionally supported evidence at the time of application that their child has an exceptional social or exceptional medical need for a place at Christ's School. If the supporting evidence is not provided by the application closing date, the application will not be considered under this criterion. Information as to why Christ’s School is the only school that can meet the exceptional social or exceptional medical need and the problems that would be caused by travel to another school must be included. Applications made on exceptional medical grounds must be supported (at the time of application) by a current letter from a specialist health professional, and applications made on exceptional social grounds must be supported (at the time of application) by a current letter from a social worker or other care professional working with the family. The letter should give reasons why the child's condition or circumstances make it essential for the child to attend the school applied for, and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend an alternative school. The information will be considered by a panel of Governors who may seek independent advice before reaching a decision. If the supporting evidence described above is not provided by the application closing date, the application will not be considered under this criterion.

1212 4.10 Application forms

Note: boxes and spaces will be larger on forms for applicants’ use.

4.10.1 Foundation application form

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION FOR A FOUNDATION PLACE (Please read Admissions Policy carefully before completing this application) If you are applying for a Year 7 place for September you must also complete a Common Application Form, which is available from your local education authority .. Year of Entry:y: …………….. At the age of: …………. Surname of Child ((block letters))

First Names (in full)

Date of Birth Male/Female

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)

Home Address

Home Telephone No Home Local Authority

Email address

Parent/Guardian Name and relationship of contact work or other emergency contact telephone number Name, Address and Headteacher’s Name: Telephone No. of Present School Name of brother/sister currently at Christ’s (if applicable)

If you wish to add any special reasons for your choice of school, please write them in the space opposite

Reference from Minister Please ask your Minister to complete and sign the attached Reference Form and return it with your application form. Name of the Church which the family attends & and the Church of England Parish in which it is situated?

Minister’s Name, Address and Telephone No. (If you, or your Minister have recently moved, you may prefer to give the name & address of the previous Minister, in which case, please make this clear)

Has your child been baptised?

 Minister’s Clergy Reference Form enclosed (please tick box).). Signed: Date: Completed application form, together with Clergy Reference Form should be returned to: Kim Tullick, Admissions Officer, Christ’s School, Queens Road, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, TW10 6HW

1313 4.10.2 Reference Form

REFERENCE FORM: to be completed by the Minister The Parents/Carers of the child named below have applied f or a Foundation place at Christ’s School and have given your name as a referee. We would be grateful if you will kindly complete this form and return it to to the applicant. Thank you for your help.

Surname of child: ……………….. Other name(s): …………………………………..

Date of birth: ………………..

Name of Parent(s)/Carer(s): ……………………………………………………………….

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………

Name and address of place of worship: Does your church belong to the Church of England? Yes No If 'No', is your Church a full member of any of these bodies? Churches Together in England Yes No The Evangelical Alliance Yes No If 'Yes', please give membership number: ……….. Affinity Yes No If 'Yes', please give membership number: ……….. The Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches Yes No If 'Yes', please give membership number: ……….. Has the child or parent/carer worshipped at your Church at least twice a month for at least a year prior to the closing date for applications (31 October 2015) Yes No If 'No', are there any particular circumstances that the governors should take into account, eg, if church attendance has been less than fortnightly because the applicant is looking after an elderly relative? , or for some other valid reason, please give brief details below.

Signature of Parent/Carer: ………………………… Date: ……….. Signature of Minister: ………………………… Date: ………..

Robert Titley, Chair, Admissions Committee on behalf of the Governing Body 2020thth November 2014 1414 1515