Information for Parents Admission to Schools 2021/2022 Apply online at www.cardiff.gov.uk/schooladmissions THE APPLICATION CLOSING DATES FOR: STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL (YEAR 7) in September 2021: MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2020 STARTING PRIMARY SCHOOL (RECEPTION) in September 2021: MONDAY 11 JANUARY 2021 STARTING NURSERY SCHOOL in September 2021: MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2021 STARTING NURSERY SCHOOL in SPRING/SUMMER 2022: MONDAY 05 JULY 2021 Contents APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL PLACE FOR Starting Primary School 32 THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2021/2022 • Important information to consider when ESSENTIAL SUMMARY 5 applying for a primary school place 33 Overview of Schools 5 • Admission criteria for community • National curriculum year groups 7 Primary Schools 34 • Types of schools 8 • The grounds that places were offered for • Welsh-medium education 9 the 2020/2021 school year 36 ANNUAL ADMISSIONS PROCESS 13 Starting Secondary School 40 Making an Application 13 • Important information to consider when • Steps in the process 13 applying for a secondary school place 41 • Application timetable 13 • Admission criteria for community • How to make an application 14 Secondary Schools 42 • Late applications 14 • School open evenings 43 • The grounds that places were offered for Offers of School Places 14 the 2020/2021school year 44 • Offers timetable 15 • Later allocation rounds 15 In Year Transfers 46 • Accepting school places 16 • Moving Schools within the city 48 • If a school place is not accepted by • Important information to consider September 2021 16 before submitting a request 49 • How school places are allocated 17 • How School transfer places are allocated 51 • Explanation of terms 18 Admission Appeals 52 Where to get Help – • Appeals process - Appeal outcomes Cardiff Community Hubs Directory 21 2020/2021 school year - Later allocation rounds 57 Hints and Tips • How to maximise your chances of Other Information 58 getting your preferred school place 22 • Cardiff Family Advice and Support 59 • Selecting your preferred schools 23 • Charging for School Activities 59 • School Admissions Myth Busters 24 • Education Welfare Service 59 • Free School Meals 60 Starting Nursery 26 • Pupils with Additional Learning Needs 60 • Qualifying dates for admission 27 • Pupil Development Grant 61 • Admission criteria for community • Travel to School 62 Nursery Schools and classes 27 • School Term Dates 63 • Import ant information to consider when applying for a Nursery place 27 Schools Directory 64 • Early Years Funding 29 • Current approved nursery education providers 29 Dear Parents, Introduction School Year 2021-22 Starting nursery, primary school or moving from primary school to secondary school is an exciting time for children and parents. Every parent wants their child to thrive and achieve at school and we will try to support you in this process as much as possible. The guidance in this booklet is designed to make the application process as smooth as possible. It provides information that will help you to make an informed decision about the schools you would like to apply for. Please read this guidance carefully so that you understand how your child’s application will be processed. Applying for your child’s school place can be stressful. We have four easy tips to help you through this process: 1. Visit schools before you apply to ensure that you have all the information you need when you make your application. All of our secondary schools host open evenings (see page 43). 2. Submit your application by the closing date. Almost 50% of our schools are filled in the first round. Late applications are considered in the second, third and fourth rounds. 3. Use all of your preferences. We will try to offer you your first choice preference, but this isn’t always possible. By putting more than one preference you are more likely to get a place at a school that you want. Please apply for up to: a. 5 preferences (Transfer to Secondary Education) b. 3 preferences (Transfer to Primary Education) c. You are strongly advised to use all preferences available to you 4. Check the myth-busters before submitting your application. These can be found on pages 24-25. We would like to take this opportunity to wish your child every success for the future. PLEASE READ THIS GUIDE This booklet is published by the City of Cardiff Council and contains the CAREFULLY AND information that the Council is required to publish under Section 92 of the School Standards and Framework Act and the School Information (Wales) MAKE SURE YOU Regulations 2011. All references to parents also include legal guardians. UNDERSTAND The information contained in this booklet was correct at the time of going to publication. You should note therefore that it is possible that information HOW YOUR such as the number of pupils at the school will change between the date this booklet is published and the date the pupil starts at the school. It APPLICATION is equally possible that there will be legislative, policy or school re- organisation matters that may impact upon the information provided in WILL BE this document. HANDLED. If you require this booklet in any other format please contact the School Admissions Service by email ([email protected]) or phone 02920 872087 3 Introduction 4 APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL PLACE FOR THE ACADEMIC Introduction YEAR 2021/2022 - ESSENTIAL SUMMARY SCHOOLS Cardiff has 125 schools, including Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools. A complete list of these schools with contact details is provided in this prospectus at pages 64-84. HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHOOL PLACE The majority of school places are allocated by the Council. Details of these Community and Voluntary Controlled schools are included at pages 64-84. The Council also administers applications for school places for St Mellons CiW Primary School, Whitchurch High School, Corpus Christi R.C. High School and St Teilo’s CiW High School. If you would like your child to attend one of these schools, you need to apply to the Council directly. APPLY ONLINE AT: www.cardiff.gov.uk/schooladmissions IF YOU NEED HELP to make your application VISIT A COUNCIL HUB (www.cardiff.gov.uk/hubs) If you are unable to apply online, you should contact the School Admissions Service for advice on Tel: 02920 872087 KEY DATES OFFER APPEAL APPLICATION APPLICATION OFFER RESPONSE CLOSING SYSTEM OPENS DEADLINE DATES DEADLINE DATE Nursery Monday Monday Monday Monday N/A Children born 18 January 2021 22 February 2021 26 April 2021 10 May 2021 between 1st Sept 2017 and 31st August 2018 Nursery Monday Monday Monday Monday N/A Children born 7 June 2021 5 July 2021 4 October 2021 18 October 2021 between 1st September 2018 and 31st March 2019 Primary Monday Monday Friday Friday Friday 16 November 2020 11 January 2021 16 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021 Secondary Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday 28 September 2020 23 November 2020 1 March 2021 15 March 2021 15 March 2021 5 LATE APPLICATIONS Late applications should be made using a paper application available at a Hub or you can download from the website above. Missing the application deadline could significantly affect your chance of getting the place you want. WHEN SCHOOLS ARE FULL We allocate places in line with oversubscription criteria – make sure you read these and provide enough information to help us assess your application accurately. (Pages 30, 34, 42) HOW TO APPLY - VOLUNTARY AIDED SCHOOLS Some Cardiff schools (some Church in Wales and Catholic schools) allocate their own school places and are listed in this prospectus as Voluntary Aided Schools on pages 80-82. If you would like your child to attend one of these schools you need to apply to the school directly, following the instructions listed within their individual school websites. 6 NATIONAL CURRICULUM YEAR GROUPS Introduction NURSERY EDUCATION Nursery places are available for children in the term following their third birthday. For the year 2021/22, children born between 1st September 2017 and 31st March 2019 will be considered. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION After Nursery education, children are admitted to Primary and Secondary School in the following national curriculum year groups, according to their date of birth. PRIMARY SCHOOLS 2021/22 SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2021/22 Year Group Date of Birth Year Group Date of Birth Reception 01/09/2016 – 31/08/2017 Year 7 01/09/2009 – 31/08/2010 Infant 1 01/09/2015 – 31/8/2016 Year 8 01/09/2008 – 31/08/2009 Infant 2 01/09/2014 – 31/08/2015 Year 9 01/09/2007 – 31/08/2008 Junior 3 01/09/2013 – 31/08/2014 Year 10 01/09/2006 – 31/08/2007 Junior 4 01/09/2012 – 31/08/2013 Year 11 01/09/2005 – 31/08/2006 Junior 5 01/09/2011 – 31/08/2012 Junior 6 01/09/2010 – 31/08/2011 POST 16 EDUCATION Applications for admission to School Sixth forms or to colleges, post 16, should be submitted directly to the school or college, for the following year groups: Year Group Date of Birth Year 12 01/09/2004 – 31/08/2005 Year 13 01/09/2003 – 31/08/2004 Year 14 01/09/2002 – 31/08/2003 7 TYPES OF SCHOOLS IN CARDIFF Cardiff has 125 schools, providing education to children and young people between the ages of 3 and 18 years old, as follows: School Type Age Range Number of Schools Nursery 3 - 4 3 Primary 3-11 84 4 - 11 15 Secondary 11 – 16 2 11 – 18 16 Special Various ages 7 Pupil Referral Unit 11-16 1 Schools are classified as Community, Foundation, Voluntary Controlled or Voluntary Aided. The majority of schools in Cardiff are community schools. There are: • 18 Welsh-medium community schools (15 primary schools and 3 secondary schools) • 67 English-medium community schools (58 primary schools and 9 secondary schools) • 2 dual-stream (English and Welsh community schools, both of which are primary) • 7 Special Schools and a further 15 Specialist Resource Bases, for pupils with additional learning needs, attached to mainstream schools.