A Guide to Secondary Education in Barnet 2013
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 d secur an e a sy pp ea lic , a k ti c o i n u q o n a l i r n o apply e F w online k w w .u . rg ea .o dmissions 2 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 Apply for a school place online at www.eadmissions.org.uk Switch on to the online Common Application Form From 1 September 2012 you can apply for a school place online d secur an e a sy pp ea lic , a k ti c o i n u q o n a l i r n o apply e F w online k w w .u . rg ea .o dmissions If your child is due to transfer to a secondary school in September 2013 you need to apply for a school place for them. Use this space to record your username, Why apply online? password and reference number that you • it speeds up the admission process have used to make your application and makes it easier • there is no risk that the application will get Username lost in the post • you can see the result of your application rather than wait for a letter to arrive • you can change your application as many Password times as you like before the closing date • the online system is available 24 hours a day seven days a week up to the closing date of 31 October 2012. After you have submitted your online application, make a note of your application reference number A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 3 Message from Councillor Andrew Harper Barnet is very proud of We know that the secondary school application process can seem daunting and schools and the the diversity of its schools, council together work hard to make the process as all of which provide smooth as possible. The admissions system is co-ordinated across the whole of the London area an excellent education. and is operated by all 33 London boroughs. This Pupils educated in our booklet explains that co-ordinated secondary transfer process in detail and also provides information about borough achieve some all the secondary schools in Barnet. of the best examination It is important that you read the booklet carefully results in the country, and look closely at each school’s admissions criteria in order to make the right choice for your child. both at GCSE and A level. All Barnet schools have open evenings arranged when At the same time, local you will be able to meet staff and pupils. You will find a schools provide a wide list of dates and times on page 16 of this booklet. range of sporting, musical I hope that your child will enjoy his or her time at secondary school and I am sure the education and other activities that children receive in Barnet will give them the skills, give children a rich knowledge and qualifications to help them succeed and broad education. in their future lives. Councillor Andrew Harper Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families 4 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 Contents Message Further information 65 from Councillor Andrew Harper 3 Glossary 68 About this booklet 6 Secondary schools Secondary transfer timetable 7 in other local authorities 69 Co-ordinated admissions 7 Other useful contact details 72 Choosing a school 8 Travelling to school 73 Completing your application Choice Advice Service 74 form 10 FYI 74 Open evening dates 16 Open evening information 17 Barnet Schools 19 Secondary schools and academies in Barnet 21 Ashmole Academy 22 Bishop Douglass School 24 Christ’s College, Finchley 26 The Compton School 28 Copthall School 30 East Barnet School 32 Finchley Catholic High School 34 Friern Barnet School 36 Hasmonean High School 38 Hendon School 40 The Henrietta Barnett School 42 JCoSS (Jewish Community Secondary School) 44 London Academy 46 Mill Hill High School 48 Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet 50 Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School 52 St James’ Catholic High School 54 St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School 56 The Totteridge Academy 58 Whitefield School 60 Wren Academy 62 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 5 6 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 About this booklet This booklet will help you understand the admissions process when your child transfers to secondary school in 2013. In this booklet we explain: When does my child transfer • how to choose a school to secondary school? • how to fill in the application form • children born between 1 September 2001 and 31 August 2002 will transfer to secondary school • how school places are allocated in 2013 • what happens if we cannot offer your child a place • if your child has a Statement of Special at a school you have chosen. Educational Needs, the arrangements for your In this booklet you will also find: child’s transfer will be different and these will be • the secondary transfer timetable explained to you by the SEN Performance Team. You can call them on: 020 8359 7732 • descriptions of all the secondary schools and academies in Barnet • a schedule of open evenings. There is also information about: • in-year admissions • fair access protocol • placing children outside their correct year group • post-16 education • school meals • help with travel costs • school uniform. A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 7 Secondary transfer timetable Date What happens? Online application system opens Barnet primary schools give out transfer information Week beginning 1 September 2012 to Barnet residents Admissions Team to send out information to other Barnet parents 28 June – 10 October 2012 Visit schools (see page 16 for open evening/day details) 19 October 2012 Preferred date for return of applications Supplementary Information Forms to be returned to voluntary aided 19 October 2012 and foundation schools and academies 31 October 2012 Closing date for applications 1 March 2013 Offer letters posted to parents 15 March 2013 Acceptance deadline March – September 2013 Further offers from waiting lists May – July 2013 Appeal hearings for schools Co-ordinated admissions Each year, approximately 78,000 pupils living in London transfer to secondary schools. All London boroughs work together on the secondary How the scheme works transfer process and this is known as the Pan-London As part of the scheme: co-ordinated admissions scheme. • parents can apply for up to six schools on one Common Application Form (CAF) • the CAF is provided by the local authority where you live • a computerised system is used to exchange information about Barnet residents applying for schools outside the borough, and equally other boroughs can tell us about their residents wishing to apply to Barnet schools • if a school is oversubscribed, its published admissions criteria is used to decide who should be offered a place • the scheme makes sure that no child is offered more than one school place • your home local authority will post you the result of your application on 1 March 2013. 8 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 Choosing a school Before you make your application: Read the Visit the information schools that in this booklet interest you... ...go to the open evenings and talk to the teachers find out what they want Talk to your child ...look at exam results and Ofsted reports Consider how your child will get to school... Think about how realistic your choice is by bus, walking, cycling A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 9 available from the school Read the school prospectus... Talk to the Admissions Team... we can give you advice and answer your questions Do your research... Don’t listen to gossip... most schools get more applications than what’s right Think about they have places for other available so... children may not how realistic your ...look at the be the same for choice is admissions your child criteria and the cut off distance for each school 10 A guide to secondary education in Barnet 2013 Completing your application form When you have decided which schools you want to apply for, you are ready to fill out your Common Application Form (CAF). If you live in Barnet you must apply using a Barnet CAF, where possible online. You can list up to six schools on your form, including schools outside Applying online the borough. From 1 September 2012 you can apply for a Year 7 If you live outside Barnet, you can still apply for Barnet school place online. Applying online is a simple schools but you must submit your application to the and quick way to submit your application. council where you live. You can access www.eadmissions.org.uk As well as completing the CAF, all voluntary aided • at home (faith) schools and some foundation schools • at work and academies also require parents to fill in a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to provide • at an internet cafe additional information, such as a reference from your • at a library. priest/minister or information needed in order You will have the added benefit of: to arrange aptitude tests. Jewish voluntary aided schools may require you to provide a Certificate • being able to change your application as many of Religious Practice (CRP). SIFs and CRPs are times as you like before the closing date available directly from the school. Please remember • being able to attach supporting documents an application is not valid unless a CAF has also been • using a secure system completed and the school is named on it. • it being available 24 hours a day, seven Please do not complete more than one application days a week up until the closing date of (paper or electronic), we will only accept the most 31 October 2012 recent one.