A guide for parents with children transferring to secondary school in 2020 Apply online: www.lbhf.gov.uk/ eadmissions The Pan-London eAdmissions site opens on 1 September 2019. If your child is currently in Year 6 and born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, you will need to apply for a secondary school place by 31 October 2019. Contents Introduction School information 4 Welcome 23 Overview 5 Introduction to Hammersmith & Fulham’s 23 Common definitions secondary schools 24 Ark Burlington Danes Academy 5 Contacting the admissions team 27 The Fulham Boys School 6 Pan-London system 31 Fulham Cross Academy 6 Gathering information 33 Fulham Cross Girls’ School 7 Considering the facts 35 Hammersmith Academy 7 Applying for schools outside Hammersmith & Fulham 38 The Hurlingham Academy 8 Key dates 40 Lady Margaret School 43 The London Oratory School The application process 46 Phoenix Academy 10 Closing date for applications 48 Sacred Heart High School 10 Proof of address 51 West London Free School 12 Change of address/preferences 12 Looked After and previously Looked After Children Additional information (England and Wales) 56 In-year admissions 12 Exceptional need 56 Fair access protocol 12 Members of the UK Armed Forces and Crown Servants 57 Support for school attendance 13 Additional forms to complete 57 Educational Psychology Service 13 Applications for children living abroad 57 Special Educational Needs and 13 Late applications Education, Health and Care plans 13 Change of preferences 58 Disabled Children’s Team 13 Use of your personal information 58 Assistance with home-to-school travel 14 Completing your application 58 Free school meals and school clothing grants 14 Guidance on completing your application 59 14-19 education options (paper or online) 59 Education choices for 14-19 year olds 15 Apply online and save time 59 University Technical Colleges (UTCs) 15 You can apply online in five easy steps 59 Studio schools 16 A step-by-step guide to applying online 60 Sixth form and post-16 education in 18 What will happen next Hammersmith & Fulham 18 How decisions are made 61 Independent schools 19 Notifying you of the outcome 20 Waiting lists Locations and contacts 20 Appeal arrangements 63 Contact details for neighbouring boroughs 20 Making final arrangements for starting school 65 Contact details for diocesan authorities 21 Frequently asked questions 66 Locations of H&F primary schools, nurseries and early years centres 67 Locations of H&F secondary schools 67 Map of H&F’s educational establishments Apply online: www.lbhf.gov.uk/schooladmissions 3 Introduction Welcome Dear Parents and Carers We have put together this Moving on up information, along with our Hints and tips booklet to help make it as easy as possible for you to find the school that is the right fit for your family. Having been brought up in the borough – going to school here and later spending seven years working in a school – I know we have some of the most dedicated, caring and inspirational teachers and school staff in the country. In striving to attain impressive standards, while also supporting the well-being and development of pupils, they exemplify everything that is great about education. We have a broad range of schools, offering a comprehensive range of opportunities and our secondary school pupils make above national average progress. Competition for places is high, but I’m confident that there is a local secondary in Hammersmith & Fulham that can inspire your child to achieve their best while enjoying a vibrant school community. My strong advice is that you visit as many schools as you can, as every secondary school has something different to offer your family. Open evenings and mornings give you a valuable opportunity to get a feel for the school and meet the headteacher, staff and current students. Dates and times of the open evenings and mornings for each school are in this brochure and online. I really hope you find the information about the borough’s schools, and the advice on how to apply, helpful and wish you all the best in making your decision. Cllr Larry Culhane Cabinet Member for Children and Education Hammersmith & Fulham Council Back to contents Apply online: www.lbhf.gov.uk/schooladmissions 4 Introduction Introduction to Hammersmith It is important to check the admission criteria for each & Fulham’s secondary schools school to assess whether your child is likely to be offered a place. You can also find information on the number of This brochure is for parents of pupils aged between 11 and 16, applications each school received for admission in September focusing on issues for those with children transferring from 2019. The higher the number of applications, the harder it primary to secondary school. It provides information about will be to gain a place, so looking at each school’s criteria how and when to apply for a place, explains how admission becomes even more important. You need to be aware the decisions are made and gives information about each school outcome can be different each year, depending on the to help parents decide which schools to apply for. number of applications submitted and the type of cohort Hammersmith & Fulham offers a wide range of secondary that applies (eg the number of siblings). This information school options including single-sex Catholic, Church of is therefore provided as a guide to help you to make an England and non-denominational schools for both boys informed decision. and girls and a range of co-educational schools including When considering your preferences, do not rely solely on Academies and Free Schools. what you may have heard about a school’s reputation. Visit There are two schools in the borough, Fulham Boys’ School as many schools as possible on their open days or evenings. and Hammersmith Academy, that have a priority area. Take your son or daughter with you and, if you can, visit the The chances of receiving a place at these schools if you live school when it is at work. outside the priority area are reduced. The fact you live in Further details about each school can be found on pages Hammersmith & Fulham or your child may attend a primary 24-54. Each school also issues its own prospectus, available school in this local authority area will not give you priority in directly from the school. terms of gaining admission to one of our schools. Many of the questions parents raise are answered in this All the schools in the borough with the exception of the brochure, but if you need further information, the admissions two Catholic schools and Fulham Boys’ School will, however, team will be pleased to help. consider the allocation of all or a percentage of their places on the basis of proximity to the school and you should consider carefully how far you live from each school and the distance from the school at which the last offer was made in previous years. Hammersmith & Fulham’s two Catholic schools have a reputation that extends beyond the borough and recruit pupils from a wide area. Lady Margaret School and Fulham Boys’ School offer places based on church attendance and either on proximity to the school or random allocation, with the former also offering within bands to receive an equal spread of ability, whilst Ark Burlington Danes Academy allocates a percentage of its places to children who are attending Church of England primary schools. Further on in the brochure you will find the admission policy for each school. You must read these to judge the likelihood of your child being offered a place. Contacting the admissions team The admissions team is based at: 3rd Floor, 145-155 King Street, London W6 9XY E [email protected] W www.lbhf.gov.uk/schooladmissions T 020 8753 1085 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am-1.00pm) Back to contents Apply online: www.lbhf.gov.uk/schooladmissions 5 Introduction Pan-London system Gathering information Every year around 80,000 pupils living in London transfer To make an informed decision about which secondary to secondary schools, many crossing borough boundaries schools to apply for, you are advised to read the information to do so. All 33 London boroughs, together with councils about the schools in this brochure and research the schools bordering the capital, use a Pan London system to co-ordinate you are interested in applying to. admissions to their secondary schools. You are advised to: This co-ordinated admissions system is fairer and means l Contact schools you are interested in directly to ask for more parents are offered one of their preferred schools at an a copy of their prospectus which will provide you with earlier stage and fewer parents receive no initial offer at all. detailed information. It is also easier for parents to manage, reducing anxiety for you and your children. l Visit schools’ own websites to find out more detailed information. If you want to find out about Ofsted reports How the system works for H&F schools visit www.ofsted.gov.uk Under the Pan-London Co-ordinated Admissions System l Check how places were offered last year for schools (PLCAS), all parents must list the schools they want to apply that offer on distance by viewing the ‘distance maps’ for on their local authority’s common application form, on the council website: www.lbhf.gov.uk/children- ranking them in order of preference. This is important, as and-young-people/schools-and-colleges/school- potentially only one offer will be made and this will be for admissions/cut-distance-maps the highest-ranked school able to make the offer.