Oxfordshire County Council's Information for Parents and Carers of Children Due to Transfer to Secondary School in September 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Oxfordshire County Council’s information for parents and carers of children due to transfer to secondary school in September 2020 Apply online at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ secondaryadmissions Deadline for applications: 31 October 2019 Apply on-line www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions Apply online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 Key Dates .............................................................................................................................. 2 Section 1 – Application Process............................................................................................. 3 Applying ............................................................................................................................. 3 Applying on-time ................................................................................................................. 3 Preferences ........................................................................................................................ 3 Applying for a place at a school in England but outside Oxfordshire .................................. 4 Applying for a place at a school in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales ............................ 4 Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs) .......................................................................... 4 Applying late ....................................................................................................................... 4 The Allocation Process ....................................................................................................... 5 The Equal Preference System ........................................................................................ 5 The Admission Rules ...................................................................................................... 6 What happens on National Offer Day – 2 March? .............................................................. 6 The Leaflet - “What to do next” ....................................................................................... 6 Responding to an Offer ................................................................................................... 6 If a preference cannot be offered .................................................................................... 7 Continued Interest (Waiting) Lists ................................................................................... 7 Changes of preference ................................................................................................... 7 Admission appeals ............................................................................................................. 8 What happens between 2 March and 23 March 2020? ...................................................... 9 What happens between 30 March and 5 May 2020 ........................................................... 9 Second (or Late) Allocation Round on 5 May 2020 ............................................................ 9 Section 2 – Oxfordshire Secondary Schools and Admission Arrangements ........................ 10 New secondary schools in Oxfordshire ............................................................................ 10 Oversubscription Criteria for Year 7 to 11 at Community Secondary Schools ................. 11 Looked After and Previously Looked After Children ..................................................... 12 Disabilities – the Equality Act 2010 ............................................................................... 13 Designated areas .......................................................................................................... 13 Time of entry ................................................................................................................. 14 Addresses ..................................................................................................................... 14 Home address .............................................................................................................. 14 Change of address ....................................................................................................... 14 Multiple addresses ........................................................................................................ 15 i Apply online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions Fraudulent Applications ................................................................................................ 15 Measuring Home to School Distances .......................................................................... 16 Own Admission Authorities (Academies) that use Oxfordshire County Council’s Admissions Criteria .......................................................................................................... 18 Own Admission Authorities (Academies and Free Schools) that do not use Oxfordshire County Council’s Admissions Criteria ............................................................................... 19 Section 3 – Secondary Schools in Other Areas ................................................................... 22 Schools in Buckinghamshire ............................................................................................ 22 Schools in Gloucestershire ............................................................................................... 23 Schools in Northamptonshire ........................................................................................... 24 Schools in Reading .......................................................................................................... 25 Schools in Swindon .......................................................................................................... 25 Schools in Warwickshire .................................................................................................. 26 Schools in West Berkshire ............................................................................................... 27 Schools in Wiltshire .......................................................................................................... 27 Schools in Wokingham ..................................................................................................... 28 Section 4 – Travel to School ................................................................................................ 29 Free transport for those of school age (Reception to Year 11) ......................................... 41 The “Spare Seat” Scheme ................................................................................................ 47 Home to School Transport Appeals .................................................................................. 49 Section 5 – Miscellaneous ................................................................................................... 57 Definition of a Parent ........................................................................................................ 57 Definition of a “Baptised Catholic” .................................................................................... 58 Guidance on educational provision for children from overseas ........................................ 59 Children with Education, Health and Care Plans .............................................................. 59 Private Fostering .............................................................................................................. 60 Charging for school activities ........................................................................................... 60 Charging for public examinations ..................................................................................... 61 Free School Meals ........................................................................................................... 61 Independent (Fee-Paying) Schools .................................................................................. 61 School Uniforms ............................................................................................................... 62 School Leaving Age and Education Participation Age ...................................................... 62 Term dates ....................................................................................................................... 62 Supplementary Information Forms ................................................................................... 63 ii Apply online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions Introduction Transferring from primary to secondary school is an important moment for any child and Oxfordshire County Council wants the application process to be as straightforward as we can make it. We would also like to ensure that your child is offered a place at one of the schools that you prefer and, on National Offer Day for entry to secondary school in September 2019, we were able to do this for over 94% of those who applied on time and live in Oxfordshire – a total of 6,888 children. Only 434 children, just under 6%, whose parents had applied on time and who live in Oxfordshire were offered an alternative school that hadn’t been requested. Most applications are now made online. Applying in this way offers the benefits of being able to start, save, change and complete your application at any time right up to the closing date of 31 October 2019. Those who apply online will