Information for Parents Admission to Schools 2019/20
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Information for Parents Admission to Schools 2019/20 Apply online at www.cardiff.gov.uk THE CLOSING DATES FOR APPLICATIONS ARE: STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL for SEPTEMBER 2019: MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 STARTING PRIMARY SCHOOL for SEPTEMBER 2019 MONDAY 7 JANUARY 2019 Contents Page Welcome 3 Introduction 4 - National curriculum year groups 6 - Important dates in the Admissions Process 6 - Some background information 8 - Welsh-medium Education 9 Making an application 12 - Making an application timeline 14 - How school places are allocated 16 - Citizen Hub and Outreach Service 17 - School admission myth-busters 18 Starting Primary School 20 - Important information to consider when applying for a primary school place 21 - Admission criteria for community Primary Schools 25 - The grounds that places were offered for the 2017/2018 school year 31 Starting Secondary School 34 - Important information to consider when applying for a secondary school place 35 - Admission criteria for community Secondary Schools 39 - The grounds that places were offered for the 2017/2018 school year 44 Starting Nursery 46 - Qualifying dates for admission 47 - Admission criteria for community Nursery Schools and classes 47 - Important information to consider when applying for a Nursery place 47 - Early Years Funding 52 - Current approved nursery education providers 52 In Year Admissions 56 - Admission and transfers to community schools during the school year - Important information to consider before submitting a request Admission Appeals 62 - Appeals process - Appeal outcomes 2017/2018 school year - Later allocation rounds Admission policies for Faith and Foundation Schools 68 Other Information of Interest 104 Schools in Cardiff 110 This booklet is published by the City of Cardiff Council and contains the information the Council is required to publish under Section 92 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act and the School Information (Wales) Regulations 2011. The information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to publication. All references to parents also include legal guardians Dear Parents, Introduction School Year 2019-20 Starting nursery, primary school or moving from primary school to secondary school is an exciting time for children and parents. Every parent wants their child to thrive and achieve at school and we will try to support you in this process as much as possible. The guidance in this booklet is designed to make the application process as smooth as possible. It provides information that will help you to make an informed decision about the schools you would like to apply for. Please read this guidance carefully so that you understand how your child’s application will be processed. Applying for your child’s school place can be stressful. We have four easy tips to help you through this process: 1. Visit schools before you apply to ensure that you have all the information you need when you make your application. All of our secondary schools host open evenings (see page 106). 2. Submit your application by the closing date. Almost 50% of our schools are filled in the first round. Late applications are considered in the second, third and fourth rounds. 3. Use all of your preferences. We will try to offer you your first choice preference, but this isn’t always possible. By putting more than one preference you are more likely to get a place at a school that you want. Please apply for up to: a. 5 preferences (Transfer to Secondary Education) b. 3 preferences (Transfer to Primary Education) c. You are strongly advised to use all preferences available to you 4. Check the myth-busters before submitting your application. These can be found on pages 18-19 We would like to take this opportunity to wish your child every success for the future. PLEASE READ THIS GUIDE CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE HANDLED. 3 Introduction Please make sure that you: • Visit schools before you apply so that you have all the information you need when you make your application. • Submit your application by the closing date. • Apply for up to: 5 preferences (Transfer to Secondary Education) 3 preferences (Transfer to Primary Education) You are strongly advised to use all preferences available to you. 4 • Check the mythbusters on pages 18-19 before submitting your application. Most of the questions you will have about school admissions will be answered in Introduction this guide. It provides advice on how to make an application and other information you may need to know about: • Making an application • Starting Primary School • Starting Secondary School • Starting Nursery • In Year applications • Admission Appeals • Admission Policies for Faith and Foundation Schools • Other useful information • Schools in Cardiff CONTACT US Website: www.cardiff.gov.uk [email protected]: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] WHEN YOU SEND US AN EMAIL PLEASE INCLUDE YOUr child’s FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH AND CURRENT SCHOOL OR NURSERY. 5 CHILDREN ARE ADMITTED TO THE FOLLOWING NATIONAL CURRICULUM YEAR GROUPS PRIMARY SCHOOLS 2019/20 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2019/20 YEAR GROUP DATE OF BIRTH YEAR GROUP DATE OF BIRTH RECEPTION 01/09/2014-31/08/2015 YEAR 7 01/09/2007-31/08/2008 INFANT 1 01/09/2013-31/08/2014 YEAR 8 01/09/2006-31/08/2007 INFANT 2 01/09/2012-31/08/2013 YEAR 9 01/09/2005-31/08/2006 JUNIOR 3 01/08/2011-31/08/2012 YEAR 10 01/09/2004-31/08/2005 JUNIOR 4 01/09/2010-31/08/2011 YEAR 11 01/09/2003-31/08/2004 JUNIOR 5 01/09/2009-31/08/2010 YEAR 12 01/09/2002-31/08/2003 JUNIOR 6 01/09/2008-31/08/2009 YEAR 13 01/09/2001-31/08/2002 YEAR 14 01/09/2000-31/08/2001 IMPORTANT DATES IN THE ADMISSION PROCESS 2019/20 ADMISSION TO NURSERY EDUCATION: SCHOOL YEAR 2019/20 Children born between Children born between 1st September 2015 - 1st September 2016 - 31st August 2016 31st March 2017 Monday 14 January 2019 Monday 3 June 2019 The online application service will open. The online application service will open. Any Hub will be able to provide support Any Hub will be able to provide support with the online application service. with the online application service. Monday 18 February 2019 Monday 1 July 2019 Closing date for first round applications. Closing date for first round applications. Anything received after this date will be Anything received after this date will be considered late and will not be allocated in considered late and will not be allocated in the first round. Schools may already be full the first round. Schools may already be full by the later rounds. by the later rounds. Monday 22 April 2019 Monday 7 October 2019 We will tell parents the results of their We will tell parents the results of their applications. Online applicants will receive applications. Online applicants will receive an email on this date. an email on this date. Parents who choose to receive their results Parents who choose to receive their results by letter may have to wait longer for the by letter may have to wait longer for the post delivery. post delivery. Parents can phone 029 2087 2087 for Parents can phone 029 2087 2087 for results after 12pm. results after 12pm. 6 ADMISSION TO PRIMARY EDUCATION: SEPTEMBER 2019 Introduction Monday 12 November 2018 Tuesday 16 April 2019 The online application service will open. We will tell parents the results of their Any Hub will be able to provide support applications. Online applicants will with the online application service. receive an email on this date. Monday 7 January 2019 Parents who choose to receive their Anything received after this date will results by letter may have to wait be considered late and will not be longer for the post delivery. allocated in the first round. Schools may already be full by the later rounds. Parents can phone 029 2087 2087 for results after 12pm. We expect that appeal hearings for those applications received on time will be heard by the end of the summer term 2019. IF YOUR APPLICATION IS LATE THIS COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR TRANSFER TO SECONDARY EDUCATION: CHANCE OF SEPTEMBER 2019 GETTING THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS 2016/17 PLACE YOU WANT Friday 1 March 2019 Monday 24 September 2018 We will tell parents the results of their The online application service will open. applications. Online applicants will Any Hub will be able to provide support receive an email on this date. with the online application service. Parents who choose to receive their Monday 19 November 2018 results by letter may have to wait longer Anything received after this date will be for the post delivery. considered late and will not be allocated in the first round. Schools may already Parents can phone 029 2087 2087 for be full by the later rounds. results after 12pm. We expect that appeal hearings for those applications received on time will be heard by the end of the summer term 2019. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED BY THE CLOSING DATE ABOVE 7 SOME background information This section provides general information that you may find helpful if you are applying for the first time. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS AGES Primary schools 4-11 Secondary Schools 11-16 Nursery 3-4 Special Schools (variable) Cardiff has 125 schools; this includes Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools. Schools are classified as Community, Foundation, Voluntary Controlled or Voluntary Aided. The majority of schools in Cardiff are community schools. • 18 are Welsh-medium community schools (15 primary schools and 3 secondary schools) • 67 are English-medium community schools (58 primary schools and 9 secondary schools) • 2 are dual-stream (English and Welsh community schools, both of which are primary) • 8 are Special Schools and there are a further 21 Specialist Resource Bases attached to mainstream schools.