Contents Welcome ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Important dates for your diary ...................................................................................................... 3 Dos and don’ts of applying for a school place ............................................................................. 4 Where can I get help and advice? ................................................................................................ 5 Transferring to secondary school ................................................................................................. 6 How do I choose my preferred schools? ..................................................................................... 8 How do I apply for a school place? ............................................................................................ 10 What else do I need to consider in completing my application? ................................................. 12 Travel assistance to school – what you need to know ................................................................ 16 How are places allocated? ........................................................................................................ 19 What happens to my application? ............................................................................................. 23 I’ve been offered a school place, what next? ............................................................................. 26 In-year admissions .................................................................................................................... 28 Post 16 admission arrangements .............................................................................................. 31 What happened last year? ......................................................................................................... 32 Map of South Gloucestershire showing location of secondary schools ...................................... 33 Secondary schools, academies, foundation trust schools, university technical colleges and studio schools in South Gloucestershire (and maps) ............................................................................ 35 The Castle School Area of Prime Responsibility ............................................................... 36 Marlwood School Area of Prime Responsibility ................................................................ 38 Yate and Chipping Sodbury Consortium Area of Prime Responsibility ............................ 40 Bradley Stoke Community School, Abbeywood Community School and Patchway Community College Consortium Area of Prime Responsibility .................................. 43 Downend School, King’s Oak Academy, Mangotsfield School and The Ridings’ Federation Winterbourne International Academy Consortium Area of Prime Responsibility ....... 46 Hanham Woods Academy and the Sir Bernard Lovell Academy Consortium Area of Prime Responsibility ............................................................................................................. 49 Special resource bases ............................................................................................................. 54 Special schools ......................................................................................................................... 55 Admission to South Gloucestershire academies, foundation trust schools, university technical colleges and studio schools ....................................................................................................... 56 Admission to Abbeywood Community School ................................................................. 58 Admission to Bradley Stoke Community School .............................................................. 63 Admission to Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy, University Technical College .................................................................................................................................... 68 Admission to The Castle School ....................................................................................... 72 Admission to Chipping Sodbury School ........................................................................... 77 Admission to Digitech Studio School ............................................................................... 82 Admission to Downend School ......................................................................................... 87 2/3 www.southglos.gov.uk Admission to Hanham Woods Academy ........................................................................... 92 Admission to John Cabot Academy .................................................................................. 97 Admission to King’s Oak Academy ................................................................................. 100 Admission to Mangotsfield School ................................................................................. 105 Admission to Marlwood School ...................................................................................... 110 Admission to Patchway Community College .................................................................. 115 Admission to Sir Bernard Lovell Academy ...................................................................... 121 Admission to The Ridings’ Federation Yate and Winterbourne International Academies .................................................................................................................................. 126 School term and holiday dates 2017/18 academic year ........................................................... 131 Useful contact details .............................................................................................................. 133 Glossary of terms .................................................................................................................... 135 Application form ...................................................................................................................... 142 3/3 www.southglos.gov.uk Welcome Selecting the school you would prefer your child to attend is an important decision. The information in this booklet is intended to help you in making that decision. There is a wide range of successful schools in South Gloucestershire. School staff, school governors and South Gloucestershire Council’s Department for Children, Adults and Health want your child to have good educational opportunities. This booklet will help you to understand how the school admission process works. It will also guide you to sources of further information and advice. Please take the opportunity to read the booklet, to consider the information set out and to seek any further advice you need. Please bear the following in mind: Places are offered at schools in line with their published admission criteria. These are set out in this booklet. It is important to consider how these apply to your child and family. The admission process has clear stages and important deadlines. This booklet sets out the process and gives guidance on how to submit your application. When considering your preferred school(s), there are a number of ways in which you can obtain more information. Schools hold open days or evenings or offer opportunities to visit the schools. Each school publishes a prospectus (obtainable from the school) which gives information about the school, including results. Many schools also have websites and the results of school inspections can be found on the Ofsted website. Free travel assistance to school is given only in certain circumstances. It will not be given just because your child is attending your preferred school. This booklet sets out important information on school transport to take into account when considering your preference(s). While most parents/carers obtain a place at their preferred schools this cannot be guaranteed. It is important to bear this in mind when talking to your child about starting school or moving to a new school. If you have any doubts or questions about the admission to school process, please do not hesitate to seek further information from South Gloucestershire Council’s Department for Children, Adults and Health on 01454 868008. Successful education is a partnership between families, schools and the Department for Children, Adults and Health. We wish you and your child well in starting school and moving on in education. Peter Murphy – Director for Children, Adults and Health South Gloucestershire Chris Thomas – Primary and Special Head Teachers’ Executive South Gloucestershire 1/142 www.southglos.gov.uk James Pope – Secondary Head Teachers’ Association South Gloucestershire Ann Reed – South Gloucestershire Governors’ Association Chair Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this booklet. Some details may have changed since publication. All maps in this document are based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the permission of the Controller HM Stationery Officer. Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. South Gloucestershire Council Licence Number 1000023411 2016. Please note that all maps are indicative and must be viewed in that way. 2/142 www.southglos.gov.uk Important dates for your diary The online application form will be available for completion at www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions from 5 September 2016. The closing date for all applications is 31 October 2016. If you miss this date your