Freedom of Information Enquiry Number – 1-707302951 Request and Response: Q: Do you hold paper or electronic versions of the secondary school admission booklets for the academic years 2010/2011 (for parents choosing in 2009), 2011/2012 (for parents choosing in 2010) and 2012/2013 (for parents choosing in 2011)? A: Attached is an electronic version of Sandwell’s admission booklet for the academic year 2010/11. Paper versions of the booklets for 2011/12 and 2012/13 academic years will be sent to the address provided. If you wish to receive further information in regards to this request or wish to submit a Freedom of Information Request please forward your request to [email protected] or Information Management Unit, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3DE. [IL0: UNCLASSIFIED] A Message to Parents from Councillor I Jones Cabinet Member for Children and Young People As your child is about to transfer to Secondary School it is important that you have clear, up-to-date information about the schools available to you in Sandwell. We have prepared this booklet to show you how to apply for a school place and answer some questions you may have about the way admissions work. As well as this booklet each school also produces its own prospectus which is available free of charge from the school. Many schools now have their own websites where you can find details of the facilities and curriculum. Head Teachers will be pleased to arrange visits for you to help you to decide the school you would like your child to attend and I would encourage you to do this. This year we will again be “co-ordinating” admissions with neighbouring Local Authorities. This is explained in detail later in the booklet. Please read this booklet very carefully before completing your application form as it may contain answers to questions you have about the admissions process. To help you we have highlighted some important messages. You can view this booklet online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk and also make your application online. Using the links provided ( ) you can look at OFSTED reports and schools attainment and performance details. You will then be able to make an informed judgment about which school you would like your child to attend. If you haven’t a computer at home, staff at any Sandwell public library will be pleased to help you. If you have any other questions to ask or you need help and advice, staff in the Access Service will be happy to assist you. Their address and telephone numbers are in Section 2 of the booklet. Councillor I Jones Apply online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES Information For Parents 2010/2011 Contents Section 1 Applying online Section 2 How to contact us Section 3 Types of schools Section 4 Applying for a place in a Secondary school Section 5 Completing your application form Section 6 Co-ordinated Admissions Section 7 Admission Priorities for places in Community and Controlled Secondary Schools 2010/2011 Section 8 Admissions to Sixth Forms Section 9 Late applications, changes to existing applications and waiting lists Section 10 The Appeals process Section 11 Children with Special Educational Needs Section 12 Services to support you and your child Section 13 Questions and answers Section 14 Changing school during the school year Section 15(a) Pattern of Parental Preferences 2009/2010 Section 15(b) Allocation of places in Community and Controlled Secondary schools 2009/2010 Annexe 1 The Admission priorities explained Annexe 2 Admission priorities for places in Voluntary Aided, Foundation and Trust schools and Academies 2010/2011 Annexe 3 Admission arrangements for Foundation schools and Academies 2010/2011 Annexe 4 A Parental Voice Annexe 5 Information about Sandwell schools 2010/2011 Annexe 6 Secondary School open days/evenings - Autumn Term 2009 Annexe 7 Information about admission arrangements to schools outside Sandwell Annexe 8 Information about schools outside Sandwell Annexe 9 Assessment Criteria for applicants for places Oldbury College of Sport or Wood Green High School College of Sport, Maths and Computing on the basis of aptitude for sport Annexe 10 Other useful addresses Annexe 11 Building Schools for the Future Annexe 12 School Terms and Holidays 2010/2011 Apply online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk SECTION 1. Applying online. Please note that if you are applying for a place in a secondary school and do not live in Sandwell please do not complete a Sandwell application form. Your home Local Authority (LA) (the Council to which you pay Council Tax) will be pleased to send you an application form. In the pocket at the back of this booklet you will find all the forms to enable you to apply for a school place. You can also make your application online either from home or any Sandwell Public Library. All you need is an email address. If you are unsure about how to use the internet, staff will be pleased to help you. If you wish to make an application online please follow the instructions at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk. If you apply online you will receive the result of your application by Email on 1st March 2010. To find out details of individual schools look at the online version of this booklet and use our ( ) feature which connects you directly to sources of further information. Just click on the name of any school in Annexe 5 to get a detailed picture. If you are unsure about where to find the school there is a link to www.multimap.com. where you can see a map of how to get to the school. To find your nearest school try www.upmystreet.com For some schools you will need to fill in additional forms which might involve you having to ask other people to complete some sections. These are as follows: Ⅵ If you are applying for a place at a Voluntary Aided or Voluntary Controlled school on denominational grounds. Ⅵ If you are applying for a place (in some schools) on medical grounds. Ⅵ If you are applying for a specialist sports place at either Oldbury College of Sport or Wood Green High School College of Sport, Maths and Computing. (A separate form is required for each school.) Ⅵ If you are applying for a place at the Sandwell Academy or George Salter/Shireland Collegiate Academies. Please follow the online instructions carefully. If you are unable to complete the form on your first visit you may finish it later by logging on to the website and continuing with the application. Be sure that you have completed your form properly. The additional forms can be downloaded and printed for completion later or you may prefer to use the paper forms included in the booklet. Apply online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk 1 SECTION 2. How to Contact Us Enquiries about school admissions should be made to: Access Service (Admissions) Children and Young People’s Services PO Box 41, Shaftesbury House, 402 High Street WEST BROMWICH B70 9LT Website: www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk Email: [email protected] If you need to speak to anyone in the Access Service please contact them on the telephone numbers below: 0121-569 8138 0121-569 8255 Staff are available between 9.00 am and 5.30 pm (5.00 pm on Friday). Contact points for other services provided by Access are listed on the last page of this booklet. (The information in this booklet is correct at the time of printing, but it is possible that changes may be made before or after the beginning of the school year in September 2010). SECTION 3. Types of Schools Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools The LA is responsible for offering and refusing places at these schools. Voluntary Aided or Foundation Schools The Governing Body is responsible for deciding which applicants are offered or refused places at these schools although these schools participate in the LA scheme for co-ordinated admissions. These schools have different rules for admissions and are included in Annexe 2. You should read and understand the rules for these schools before completing your application form. Applications for all schools should be made on the forms enclosed with this booklet, or online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk Trust Schools (including National Challenge Trust Schools) Trust schools are maintained by local authorities and supported by a charitable Foundation or Trust. The Governing Body is responsible for deciding which applicants are offered places. Trust schools also participate in the scheme for co-ordinated admissions. Academies Academies are independent state-funded schools and the Governing Body is responsible for deciding which applicants are offered places. Like Voluntary Aided, Foundation and Trust Schools, Academies also participate in the scheme for co-ordinated admissions. Independent Schools Independent Schools are privately controlled schools which are not financed or run by a local authority or the government. 2 Apply online at www.schooladmissions.sandwell.gov.uk NB Some secondary schools are acquiring trust Status through the National Challenge programme aimed at raising attainment. These schools are shown in Annexe 4 of this booklet. Manor Foundation Business Enterprise and Sports College and Menzies High School Science College are included in the National Challenge programme but are also subject to reorganisation proposals. For all current Community schools in the programme the admission priorities will be those applicable to Community and Controlled schools detailed in Section 7. For Manor Foundation Business Enterprise and Sports College and Holly Lodge Foundation High School College of Science the admission priorities will be those detailed in Annexe 2.