Applying for a place at a Secondary School in September 2015

Important Notes & Open Day Dates Please read before completing the application Closing date for applications is 31st October 2014 Offer Day is 1st March 2015 Apply online at www..gov.uk Parents are advised to read the Secondary School Phase Transfers booklet before deciding on their preference(s) of school. This can be viewed at www.herefordshire.gov.uk

Education and Learning > Apply for a school > Secondary school year 7 admissions page

This booklet gives you information on:

• Contacts • Contacts in Neighbouring Authorities • Secondary schools in Herefordshire • General Admission Arrangements for Secondary Schools • Herefordshire’s Co-ordinated Admissions scheme • Policies on Voluntary Aided / Academies /Foundation schools & additional forms required • How allocation of places are made

Alternatively you can request a hardcopy of this booklet

Email: [email protected] Telephone: Mrs Dawn Skyrme 01432 260925 Write: School Admissions Plough Lane Offices HR4 0LE

How to apply

When you have decided on what preference(s) of school(s) you are applying for please complete the online application form at www.herefordshire.gov.uk Education & Learning > Apply for a School> Online application form. Click on the online application form , this will then take you to – Welcome to Enrol. You will need to create an account first, therefore click create account and proceed with application. If you wish to go back in to your account you will need to use the login tab then.

Please keep a record of your email / user name and password as this will be required if you wish to go back into your account at any stage. Please note you can not change any details after the 31st October 2014. Please refer to the section on Changing your preferences or details. If you have not got access to a computer you can apply by completing a paper application form, available by contacting Mrs Dawn Skyrme on 01432 260925.

Applying for a place at a Voluntary Aided School

If you are applying for a place at St Marys RC High School you are required to fill in an additional application form - please contact the school on 01432 850416 asking for either a non catholic form or a catholic form depending on your child’s status. Please return the completed relevant form back to St Mary’s RC High.

If you are applying for a place at The Bishops of Hereford Bluecoat School under “church place criteria only” you will need to fill in a church form which can be obtained from your local priest or minister. Please return the completed relevant form back to The Bishops of Hereford Bluecoat School.

Applying for a place under Priority 4, Medical, Social or Compassionate grounds for a school in the Herefordshire Local Authority area only.

A request for a placement on these grounds must be supported by a professionally qualified independent source. This should set out the reasons why the school in question is the only one suitable and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school. If no supporting professionally qualified evidence is submitted this will not be considered.

If you are applying for this criteria and the school that you are applying for is either, Voluntary Aided, Foundation or Schools you will need to see if this priority is in their admissions criteria. (Please refer to the Phase Transfers Booklet Appendix 4). If you applying on these grounds for a school in another authority you will need to check with them if this priority is in their admissions criteria and what supporting information is required. Applying for a place for a previously Looked After Child

If your child has ceased to be looked after due to becoming adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship and you wish to apply under the Priority 1 Criteria “Looked After” you will need to supply evidence: a letter from the Local Authority that last looked after your child, confirming that he or she was looked after immediately prior to an order being made and a copy of the adoption order, residence order or special guardianship. Please note - You only need to supply this evidence if you want to apply under this criteria “Looked After”.

Additional Information supporting your application

Please send any additional information to support your application if you are applying for Looked After criteria and Priority 4 to: Mrs Dawn Skyrme Admissions Officer Secondary Phase Transfers Plough Lane Offices, Plough Lane, Hereford, HR4 0LE

Applying for a School in another Local Authority

If you are applying for a school in another Local Authority you still need to state this on your application. We will then exchange this data with them.

Applying for a Grammar school

You should contact the school directly as there are deadlines for when your child is required to sit the entrance test. You still need to state this school as one of your child’s preferences.

Transport Entitlement

The transport policy has changed for the academic year 2015. Please see the policy on website www.herefordshire.gov.uk Evidence required if moving house within Herefordshire or moving into Herefordshire at the time of applying for a transfer to High School.

If you are moving house you will need to send in evidence no later than the 7h February 2015.

Acceptable evidence that is accepted is – • A utility bill ( with your name on it ) • If buying a property – written conformation from your solicitor, detailing that you have exchanged contracts and the actual or expected due date • If renting a property – a copy of the signed tenancy agreement- with a start date and end date.

Please note that short term tenancy agreements or temporary moves to live with relatives to create an in area status will not be accepted. Short term is less then 6 months.

Changing your preference(s) of school(s) or details

You can change your preferences and details up to the 31st October 2014, online. However after this date you can only email or write, and must be made no later than the 7TH February 2015.

What happens if parents / carers disagree on preferences for their child?

Where the authority receives applications from more than one parent or carer, and where different schools are requested as the preferred choice, the authority will write to both parents / carer’s and inform them that unless written conformation from both, setting out their agreement to a contrary course of action (that they both agree on the same school) the authority will act on the basis of the preference from the parent with whom the child lives. Where a child has more than one residence the preference from the person who is in receipt of Child Benefit will be acted upon. Open evening dates 2014

Name of School Open evening Open day/s

Aylestone School 6th October 9th October 6.00 9.30, 1.30 Bishop of Hereford 16th October 8th, 22nd, 23rd October 6.00 – 9.00 9.15am and 11.30am Bromyard, Queen 24th September 25th September 9 – 12.00 6.00 – 8.00 26th September 9 – 12.00 27th September 10 – 1.00 Earl Mortimer 25th September 6.30pm Fairfield High School 1st & 2nd October 9.15, 11.00, 1.30 Hereford Steiner This is a through school if you wish to apply for a place Academy in year 7 please contact the school directly.

John Kyrle 23rd October 14th & 15th October 6.00 – 9.00 10.00 – 1.30 John Masefield 2nd October 7th October 6 – 8.30pm 9.15 – 10.45 25th October 24th & 26th September 6.00 – 8.00 9.00 – 11.00 Kington, Lady Hawkins 25th September 12th June 6.00 – 8.00 11.30 – 1.00 St Mary’s RC High 2nd October from Opening Mornings 4.30pm – 8.00pm (9.30am) 7th, 9th October 14th October 1.30pm. 16th October (9.30am) please book to make an appointment 25th September 8th & 9th October 6.00 – 8.00 9.00 – 12.00 1st October 1st October 6.30 9.30, 1.45 Whitecross High School 9th October 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th October 6.30 – 9.00 9.00 – 12.00 23rd September 23rd September 7 – 8.30 9.15, 10.45 www.herefordshire.gov.uk