Secondary School Admissions Booklet 2020-21
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STARTING SECO STARTING Apply online at www.slough.gov.uk/admissions Closing date to apply 31 October 2020 Starting Secondary School in Slough Borough Council 2021/22 STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL SECONDARY STARTING A guide for parents and carers STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOOL SECONDARY STARTING SCHOOL SECONDARY STARTING IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE TIME TO READ THIS BOOKLET WHICH OUTLINES THE APPLICATION PROCESS. What is this booklet about? This booklet contains a wealth of information to help you choose the right schools, make an application and understand how the application process works. It provides a profile of all of Slough Secondary schools alongside information about admission arrangements. Please read it carefully, look at the school websites and take the opportunity to visit the schools in your area before applying. Who is this booklet for? For children who are transferring from Primary school to Secondary school. When do I need to apply? You can apply anytime from 12 September 2020. To receive an offer of a school place on national offer day, you must submit an application by 31 October 2020. Please note: In order to maximise your chances of being offered one of your preferred schools • You MUST submit an application with any required documents on time. • Your child MUST meet the admissions criteria of the school to be offered a place. and there is • NO automatic transfer from a Primary into a Secondary school. • NO automatic offer of a sibling place without making an application. Application deadline Tuesday 31 October 2020 How to contact us: What happens if I miss the closing date? If you want more information about the school Applications received after the closing date will be considered after those that are received on time and after the first round of admissions process, or if you want to comment offers have been made. about this booklet or the admission arrangements, please write to; How do I apply? The Admissions Team The easiest way to apply is online. Go to slough.gov.uk/admissions and follow the instructions on screen. If you do not have internet Slough Borough Council access at home you can still apply online at your local library or at the council offices. Observatory House 25 Windsor Road Who can apply? Slough SL1 2EL Applications must be made by a parent or carer who holds legal parental responsibility for a child. Only one application should be made per child. Telephone: 01753 875728 Telephone opening hours are: 10am - 4.30pm The information in relation to Slough Borough Council Schools was correct at the time of publication (September 2020). However it should not be assumed Monday to Friday that there will be no change before the start of, or during the school year 2021/22. Like many local authorities Slough Borough Council is experiencing a high Email: [email protected] demand for Secondary School places. This means the admission limit shown may change for some schools. 2 | Secondary Admissions Booklet 2021-22 Apply online at www.slough.gov.uk/admissions | Deadline 31 October 2020 Contents Introduction Section 5 Before making an application ................................................... 4 List of schools in Slough ...................................................................22 CONTENTS Key dates in the admissions process ....................................... 5 How places were allocated on offer day 2020 ..........................27 Maximise your chance ................................................................ 7 Additional requirements ................................................................28 Myth busters ................................................................................. 8 Age range of schools .................................................................10 Section 6 Moving House ............................................................................30 Section 1 What if I move to the area when my child How should I decide my preferred schools? ........................12 would not normally change school? ......................................30 Changing your preferences or changing the order .............13 In-Year fair access protocol ......................................................30 Section 2 Section 7 How do I apply? .........................................................................14 Proof of Address.........................................................................32 Co-ordinated Admissions .........................................................14 Recently moved house? ............................................................32 Completing the online application .........................................15 Submitting your application ....................................................17 Section 8 Changing your application information ................................17 Oversubscription criteria for Community & What happens if my application is late? ...............................17 Voluntary Controlled Schools .........................................................33 Section 3 Section 9 How your application is processed ........................................18 Oversubscription criteria for own admission authorities ......34 Section 4 Section 10 When and how will I be told the outcome of my School Transport ........................................................................37 application? .................................................................................20 After you receive your school admission decision .............20 Section 11 What happens if I am not happy with In-year Admissions ....................................................................38 the school offered? ....................................................................20 School waiting list ......................................................................20 Section 12 Appeals .........................................................................................21 Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................40 Apply online at www.slough.gov.uk/admissions | Deadline 31 October 2020 Secondary Admissions Booklet 2021-22 | 3 INTRODUCTION: Before making an application This section will provide you with information about what you should know and do before making a school application. Do talk to your child about your decision Do not be influenced by others. The right school for other children is not necessarily the right school for your child. 1 Read the information in this booklet Visit schools 2 Ensure that you are entirely happy with your expressed preferences before submitting your application. Read Ofsted Reports 3 You can view Ofsted reports at www.ofsted.gov.uk Look at the school’s prospectus 4 You can get this from the school. It will give you an idea about the school’s ethos and character, national test results and public examination results Look to see how many places are available in each school 5 This is called the Published Admissions Number or PAN. This number is set to take account of the number of pupils each site can accommodate in each year group and how many places are needed in an area Consider how likely it is that your child will be offered a place at your preferred schools 6 Read the oversubscription criteria for each school and look to see which apply to your child. 7 Consider how your child will travel to and from school 8 Use your six preferences Be aware there is no guarantee of a place at any school 9 even if you live in the catchment area 4 | Secondary Admissions Booklet 2021-22 Apply online at www.slough.gov.uk/admissions | Deadline 31 October 2020 Key dates in the admissions process For September 2021 Entry Into Year 7 School term dates 2021/22 Application process for transferring to Year 7 begins. Opportunity for parents/ From 12 September 2020 carers to visit individual schools. Term dates are determined by the Local Authority in liaison with its 31 October 2020 Closing date for completed online applications. We strongly recommend that you do neighbours. However, please note Closing date not delay your application to the last minute in case of technical problems. that the governing bodies of Slough schools and academies may decide to vary the dates. Final date for notification of change of address or preferences 10 December 2020 Further details and clarification are available from the school or after the closing date. academy concerned. You are strongly advised to check with your child’s school before making holiday plans or other commitments. December - February Preference forms analysed. Opens - Wednesday 1 September “National offer day”. Parents that applied online can log onto the council’s website from 12.30am to see Half term: Monday 25 October to 1 March 2021 which school their child has been offered Friday 29 October Letters will be posted to parents that submitted a paper application form Autumn . term 2021 . No decisions will be issued by telephone Ends - Friday 17 December March 2021 Waiting lists established Opens - Monday 4 January Half term: Monday 21 February Closing date for parents to either accept or refuse the school place offered. If to Friday 25 February 15 March 2021 Spring the parent does not reply, the offer will be withdrawn. term 2022 Ends – Friday 8 April From week commencing Second round of allocations for late applications received after 31 October 2020. 19 April 2021 Further offers made from this date are subject to places becoming available. Opens - Monday 25 April Half term: Monday