Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021

Enjoy • Learn • Achieve

Closing date for admissions is 31 October 2020 Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions Watch a video guide about secondary transfer and view our information film at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions Contents

SECTION 1 • Foreword 4 • Visiting dates 5 • Important dates at a glance 6

SECTION 2 • Apply online 7 • Children with education, health and care plan (EHCP) 8 • Summary of secondary transfer applications 2020 9 • A step-by-step guide to secondary transfer 10 • The Pan Coordinated Admissions System 11 • Admissions policy and oversubscription criteria for Tower Hamlets community schools 12 • Criteria flowchart 14 • Questions and answers on moving to secondary school 15 • Before you apply – dos and don’ts 16

SECTION 3 • Secondary schools and 14-19 provision in Tower Hamlets 17 • Bishop Challoner Catholic Boys’ School 18 • Bishop Challoner Catholic Girls’ School 20 •  22 • Canary Wharf College Crossharbour 24 • Central Foundation Girls’ School 26 • George Green’s School 28 •  30 • London Enterprise Academy 32 •  34 • Mulberry Academy Shoreditch 36 • Mulberry School for Girls 38 •  40 • St Paul’s Way Trust School 42 • Stepney All Saints CofE Secondary School (formerly known as Sir John Cass Foundation & Redcoat CofE Secondary School) 44 • Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College 46 •  48 • Wapping High School 50 • East London Arts and Music College (16-19) 52 • London East Alternative Provision (LEAP) 54 • Mulberry University Technical College (UTC) (14-19) 56 •  - Tower Hamlets (14-19) 58 • South Quay College (14-16) 60

SECTION 4 • Guide to applying online 62 • Secondary schools and registered independent secondary schools in Tower Hamlets 66 • Priority geographical areas for secondary transfer applications 67 • Useful contacts 68

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 3 Foreword by the 1 Corporate Director

Dear parent or carer

Transferring to a secondary school Progress 8, in Grade 9-5 in English and is an exciting and significant time for Maths combined and the EBacc (English your child in his or her school career; Baccelaureate). All Tower Hamlets it can also be a time when both schools are committed to providing a pupils and their parents/carers need broad and balanced curriculum so your support, advice and information. child will benefit from a rich educational offer which makes use of the many and As a family, you will want to know as diverse opportunities provided through much as possible about secondary businesses, arts and other organisations. schools in Tower Hamlets, to help you make the right choice. This guide will We’re proud that Tower Hamlets take you through the process of applying schools are inclusive and that children for a place for your child. It provides with Special Educational Needs and information about all state-maintained Disabilities are educated well and thriving secondary schools in the borough, in our mainstream settings. including contact details and maps showing where each school is located. In addition, we have completed a long- term capital investment programme Throughout the guide, we have tried in the region of £300 million, which to answer many of the most frequently has transformed the environment of asked questions, as well as offering secondary and special schools across advice on how to help your child settle the borough and built bright, up-to-date into his or her new school and to places for pupils to learn and thrive. continue to learn well. This capital investment is ensuring that all of our secondary schools offer very But this is just the start. It is very good accommodation to enhance the important that both you and your son or learning environment. daughter visit your preferred schools to see them first-hand for yourselves. This For more information about any guide lists organised visiting times for all of the schools in this booklet, schools when you will be able to meet call our admissions officers on staff and pupils and see the facilities on 020 7364 4307/5860 or email school. offer. I hope you will accept the invitation [email protected] from the schools to visit and use the opportunity to discuss any issues about We look forward to your child joining your child’s future learning. one of our secondary schools and experiencing quality teaching in a friendly Over 94 per cent of secondary pupils and supportive environment. attend a school judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, which puts Yours sincerely school performance in the top 15 per cent nationally. 2019 GCSE results James Thomas in Tower Hamlets were above the Corporate Director, Children and Culture average in Attainment 8, in London Borough of Tower Hamlets

4 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 Visiting dates 1

The dates and times of visiting events are subject to change in accordance with the Governments social distancing advice. We ask that parents check each schools website for the most up to date information on visiting events that have been planned and also www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions

School Website (for up to date visiting arrangements)

Bishop Challoner Catholic Boys’ School www.bishopchallonerfederation.towerhamlets.sch.uk

Bishop Challoner Catholic Girls’ School www.bishopchallonerfederation.towerhamlets.sch.uk

Bow School www.bow-school.org.uk

Canary Wharf College Crossharbour www.canarywharfcollege.co.uk

Central Foundation Girls’ School www.central.towerhamlets.sch.uk

George Green’s School www.georgegreens.com

Langdon Park School www.langdonparkschool.co.uk

London Enterprise Academy www.londonenterpriseacademy.org

Morpeth School www.morpethschool.org.uk

Mulberry Academy Shoreditch www.mulberryacademyshoreditch.org

Mulberry School for Girls www.mulberryschoolforgirls.org

Oaklands School www.oaklands.towerhamlets.sch.uk

St Paul’s Way Trust School www.spwt.net

Stepney All Saints CofE Secondary School (formerly known as Sir John Cass Foundation & Redcoat www.stepneyallsaints.school CofE Secondary School)

Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College www.stepneygreen.towerhamlets.sch.uk

Swanlea School www.swanlea.co.uk

Wapping High School www.wappinghigh.org

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 5 1 Important dates at a glance

September to October 2020 Parents and pupils visit schools (see page 5 for details, school websites and www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions)

First week of September Parents can view the online secondary booklet at: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions

Tuesday 1 September to Saturday 31 October 2020 Parents apply online naming maintained (non fee paying) schools

Thursday 10 September 2020, 4pm Join the Pupil Services Team and the Transitions team from the Family Information Advice and Support service (formerly Parents Advice Centre) for a presentation on secondary transfer Copy the link below into your browser and join the meeting via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/93255688205?pwd=a2RvY0o4UXd5V2hIdHpmd2xrQW5oQT09

Friday 23 October 2020 (Friday before half term) Date by which parents should submit their online application for processing and checking

Saturday 31 October 2020 Statutory deadline for receipt of applications

Monday 1 March 2021 Letters sent by Pupil Services notifying parents of decisions

Monday 29 March 2021 Closing date for appeals for Tower Hamlets schools that use the council’s admissions policy

March 2021 Parents of pupils without an offer at a preferred school can apply to schools that still have places remaining

April, May and June 2021 Appeals heard for Tower Hamlets secondary schools

September 2021 Your child starts secondary school

6 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 Apply online 2

If you live in Tower Hamlets you need to apply using the online application form. You can apply between 1 September and 31 October 2020 at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions or www.eadmissions.org.uk

It is a simple and easy way to submit your child’s secondary transfer application. How do I get started? Free access to computers You will then be able to: You will need an email address. You can at our Idea Stores • Search for schools in Tower Hamlets register for a free email account with a Please be aware that at the time of and across London number of providers. • Access information about schools publication, the re-opening of Idea and links to school websites Stores following the lockdown means • Make changes to your application I have an email address, that only the Idea Stores at Chrisp up until the closing date what next? Street and are open. You 31 October 2020 may also need to book a time to visit • Receive notification of the outcome Visit www.eadmissions.org.uk or to use the computers that have of your application by email. to register or you can use the link internet access. Bringing your own from the Tower Hamlets website device to use the wifi is not currently We strongly recommend that you submit at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ available, so please check the website your application online by Friday 23 schooladmissions www.ideastore.co.uk to keep up to October 2020 (the week before half date on which services are available, or other Idea Stores that may be open. term) in case you forget your password Who can help me with my or username or lose internet access for Make a note of the following any reason. online application? details as you will need this • Guidance on how to apply online is information to access your in this booklet – see page 62. application and offer in March. • The pupil services team can offer Application reference number: advice and answer any questions on 020 7364 4307/5860 or at school.admissions.gov.uk Username: • Tower Hamlets Transition Support Service provides information and advice about the secondary transfer Password: process to help families manage change and make informed decisions Email: [email protected] Idea Store Chrisp Street Telephone: 020 7364 1533 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road, E14 6BT

Idea Store Whitechapel 321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU

Secondary transfer parents’ session There will be an information and advice session for parents via zoom – please use this link to attend on Thursday 10 September at 4pm: https://zoom.us/j/93255688205?pwd=a2RvY0o4UXd5V2hIdHpmd2xrQW5oQT09 Get information on secondary transfer and ask questions to the pupil services team and the Transitions team of the Family Information Advice and Support Service (formerly Parents Advice Centre).

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 7 Children with education, health 2 and care plan (EHCP)

Tower Hamlets aims to offer every child a place in a local mainstream school.

The arrangements for the admission of In September, at the start of year 6, The panel will make every effort to children with education, health and care Tower Hamlets parents and carers receive comply with parents’ and carers’ plans (EHCP) are different from those for the secondary transfer application pack. wishes in naming their preferred school, children without plans. The parents or although it cannot be guaranteed that carers of children with EHCPs have the For pupils with an EHCP, the it will be approved. Consideration will right in law to request that a particular application pack contains: be given to selecting the second or school, (mainstream or special) is • A covering letter explaining the third preference school if the first choice named in their child’s plan. transfer process cannot be approved. If only one school • The secondary transfer booklet is requested and is not agreed, a place However, the placement must be: • A form on which parents/carers can will be allocated at the nearest suitable • suitable for the child’s age, ability, express their preference for up to school by the panel. aptitude and special educational three schools needs; and There are a number of travel assistance • compatible with the efficient Help with completing the form is options available to children with an education of the other children with available from the primary school, the EHCP that support a safe and supportive whom the child would be educated SEN team on 020 7364 4880 or the journey to and from school. Children or the efficient use of the local Family Information, Advice and Support referred for travel assistance will be authority’s resources. Service (formerly Parents Advice Centre) assessed to evaluate and decide which on 020 7364 6489. type of travel assistance support, if any is Transfer to secondary school is a key most appropriate. item for discussion at the year 5 annual The form should be returned to the SEN review, so that parents/carers have section at the Town Hall (Mulberry Place) It is not an automatic right that all enough time to consider the type of no later than 31 October 2020. It may not children with an EHCP will receive travel provision they would prefer and to visit be possible to consider forms received assistance; this includes but is not suitable schools. after that date. exclusive to children attending secondary school, and children who attend schools Parents and carers are advised, when Please note you must not make an outside of the borough. visiting secondary schools, to carefully online application if your child has consider whether their preferred schools an EHCP. Parents and carers whose children have are appropriate for their child’s needs, an EHCP may appeal to the First-Tier particularly if requesting a place in a In order to make the secondary transfer Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and school in another local authority. process as fair as possible, all requests Disability) if the local authority does not for secondary schools for children with comply with their request. The Family Information, Advice and and EHCP will be considered at the Support Service (formerly Parents Advice Special Educational Needs Secondary For advice on secondary transfer for Centre) invites parents and carers to a Transfer Panel, which is held in pupils with EHC plans, contact the SEN meeting in the summer term of year 5 November each year. team on 020 7364 4880. to learn about the arrangements for transfer, to discuss general issues and concerns, and ask questions about secondary transfer. This meeting is attended by a representative from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) team who will give advice and information and answer parents’ questions. Parents and carers who cannot attend are still welcome to contact the Family Information, Advice and Support Service (formerly Parents Advice Centre) or SEN team for advice and information.

8 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 Summary of secondary transfer applications 2020 2

School Places No of Pupils Number of children accepted under each criterion on 1 March Total available applications admitted by the on SEN Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion closing date grounds 1 2 3 4 5 6

Bow School 240 396 No applicant was refused a place 237

Central Foundation Girls' School 240 635 2 0 1 60 56 0 121 240

George Green’s School 210 350 11 0 0 52 76 0 71 210

Langdon Park School 180 346 No applicant was refused a place 190

London Enterprise Academy 120 193 No applicant was refused a place 78

Morpeth School 240 782 12 0 3 60 94 1 70 240

Mulberry Academy Shoreditch 180 300 No applicant was refused a place 206

Mulberry School for Girls 240 651 7 0 0 60 51 0 122 240

Oaklands School 180 382 4 1 0 26 56 0 43 179

St Paul's Way Trust School 240 1317 26 2 0 60 87 1 64* 240

Stepney Green Maths, 190 595 4 0 0 47 40 0 99 190 Computing and Science College

Swanlea School 210 890 15 0 4 52 64 2 73 210

*8 places were offered under Music criterion

School Places No of Number of children accepted under each criterion on 1 March Total available applications offered by the Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion closing date 1 2 3 4 5 6

Bishop Challoner Boys’ School 120 204 No applicant was refused a place 98

Bishop Challoner Girls’ School 150 237 No applicant was refused a place 111

School Places No of Number of children accepted under each criterion on 1 March Total available applications offered by the Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion closing date 1 2 3 4 5 6

Canary Wharf College 108 472 This information is available direct from the school 108 Crossharbour

School Places No of Number of children accepted under each criterion on 1 March Total available applications offered by the Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion closing date 1 2 3 4 5

Stepney All Foundation Places 40 105 This information is available direct from the school 36 Saints CofE Language Places 16 85 This information is available direct from the school 16 Secondary School** Open Places 152 1244 This information is available direct from the school 156

**formerly known as Sir John Cass Foundation & Redcoat CofE Secondary School

School Places No of Number of children accepted under each criterion on 1 March Total available applications offered by the Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion Criterion closing date 1 2 3 4 5

Wapping High School 84 137 This information is available direct from the school 48

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 9 A step-by-step guide to 2 secondary transfer

responsibility to provide all the information If you need help and advice when Visiting schools that a school needs. completing your application, you can The first thing you should do before call Pupil Services for assistance on 020 7364 4307/5860 or email school. deciding on which schools to apply for is Non-Tower Hamlets residents to visit as many as possible. It is important [email protected] to find out as much as you can about If you do not live in Tower Hamlets, you them. The information given in this booklet must apply online following the instructions The online system is available 24 hours a is only a guide and it will be difficult to issued by your home borough. The contact day, seven days a week, up until midnight reach a decision until you have visited the details for the school admission teams in on the closing date of Saturday 31 schools and met the students and staff. neighbouring boroughs are on page 68. October 2020. However, we encourage The visiting times for the schools can be applicants to submit their application by found on page 5. You can also watch If you are applying to any of the Tower no later than Friday 23 October 2020 the video guides which accompany this Hamlets schools that use the council’s (the Friday before half term) as this will booklet at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ admission policy, you must also complete allow sufficient time for checking. secondaryadmissions. the Tower Hamlets supplementary form, available from Pupil Services. The supplementary form provides additional Medical and social reasons The application procedure information that we require. Failure to If there are special medical or social (Tower Hamlets residents only) complete this form may mean that your reasons that you wish to give in support application is given a lesser priority under At the beginning of September, Tower of your application, you must state this the council’s admission policy. This could Hamlets parents will be able to view the in your online application explaining online secondary transfer booklet at: therefore result in your child not being offered a place. why your preferred school is the most www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ suitable and the difficulties that would secondaryadmissions result if your child had to attend another Additional forms for, Stepney All school. These reasons can include factors Your primary school will give you your Saints CofE Secondary School affecting your child, yourself and other childs Band information - you will need (formerly known as Sir John family members. They must be supported this when making your application online in writing by a professional such as a (see page 15). Cass Foundation & Redcoat CofE Secondary School), doctor or social worker and submitted with your application. You can attach your Tower Hamlets parents whose children Bishop Challoner and Canary supporting documents with your online attend primary schools outside the Wharf College Crossharbour application. Just submit the application borough will also be able to view the first, then click on the ‘attach document’ secondary booklet online. Parents All parents wishing to apply to, button to add the further information. should ask their childs primary school Stepney All Saints CofE Secondary for a teacher assessment of their Band School, Bishop Challoner Federation of Schools or Canary Wharf College (see page 15). If you child has a Changing your preferences statement of special educational needs Crossharbour will also need to complete or an educational, health and care plan, a supplementary form, which you must If you want to change the schools that you please read the information on page 8. obtain and return directly to these are applying to in any way (your preferences schools. If parents do not complete a or choices), you can do so online up until If your child is home educated or at supplementary form it may affect the midnight on 31 October 2020. an independent primary school, you outcome of the application. can view the online secondary booklet Late applications at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ Completing your application secondaryadmissions If you wish to apply or make changes after You should apply online by visiting 31 October 2020 you must call the Pupil Services team on 020 7364 4307/5860 Tower Hamlets residents www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ or email: school.admissions@ applying to schools outside of schooladmissions or towerhamlets.gov.uk.Your application www.eadmissions.org.uk the borough or changes may not be considered until Please then follow the steps set out April 2021, after the decisions have been If you wish to apply to schools outside in the online application guide on taken for those applications that were Tower Hamlets you must check with the page 62. local authority or schools concerned as received on time. However, if there is an to whether you will need to complete any unavoidable reason for your application supplementary forms. Individual schools You should name up to six schools in being late, for example your family has can provide you with admission policies, order of preference on your application only just arrived in Tower Hamlets, we which you should read. It is also advisable form. This will maximise the possibility may make an exception to this rule and, to contact the local authority for a copy of your child being offered a school you where possible, treat your application as of their admissions brochure. It is your would like them to go to. though it was received on time.

10 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 A step-by-step guide to secondary transfer 2

Please note that if you are applying to schools in other boroughs they may have Waiting lists NOTICE different arrangements. If your child has not been offered a place Please note that Stepney Green Maths, at one of your preferred schools, they Computing and Science College will remain on the waiting lists for these changed from a boys’ school to a co- Notifying parents of the schools until the end of the autumn term educational (boys and girls) school results of their applications (December). If you still wish to remain on from September 2019. During the first five years of its transition a special the waiting list after December, you must On 1 March 2021, Pupil Services will exemption is being applied for, which send parents a letter notifying them of complete an in-year transfer form, which will have the following impact on the highest ranked school that is able is available from Pupil Services. Please admissions at Year 7 as follows: to offer a place. If an application for a note that transfers take place at the In the event of the Academy being higher ranked school is unsuccessful, beginning of every term and half term. oversubscribed the 190 spaces will the letter will tell parents how they can You can view the timetable in the guidance be divided equally between boys notes that accompany the in-year transfer appeal against the decision to refuse and girls. This means that no more form on the council’s website. than 95 boys and 95 girls will be a place. Lower ranked offers will be offered places. This exemption could cancelled or withdrawn. For Bishop Challoner, Canary Wharf College mean that some children will be Crossharbour, London Enterprise Academy, refused a place, because there are Parents may also receive letters from more applications than the 95 places Stepney All Saints CofE Secondary voluntary aided and academy schools available for their gender. However, School (formerly known as Sir John Cass explaining why the application was after 1 March (offer day), if places Foundation & Redcoat CofE Secondary refused or an offer of a place was become available they will be filled School) and Wapping High School, please regardless of gender. This arrangement not made. If you receive an offer of a follow the advice in the letter from the school. only applies to applications for Year place at a non-Tower Hamlets school, 7 entry in September. It will continue you will be asked to return a reply slip Parents without the offer of a school for each Year 7 entry up to and until confirming your acceptance of the place can also contact Pupil Services and September 2023. Thereafter, Stepney place. You must return the slip by the Green School’s admissions will operate ask for their child’s name to be placed date stated in the letter. without special regard to maintaining on waiting lists for other Tower Hamlets an equal balance of gender. schools they did not apply to originally.

The Pan London Coordinated Admissions System

Tower Hamlets Council, along with the 32 other London boroughs and councils that border the capital, is part of the Pan London Coordinated Admissions Scheme, which coordinates admissions to secondary schools across London.

The aim of the scheme is that as many only one offer is made and it will be from Where there are more applications than parents as possible receive an offer at the highest ranked school (by parents’ there are places available, the school’s one of their preferred schools – it also preference) that is able to make an offer. published oversubscription criteria is ensures everyone is notified of their The form must then be returned to the used to decide which applicants can offer on the same date. For the 2020/21 council for the borough in which the be offered places. Any other schools academic year, this is Monday 1 March child lives for processing. applied to remain confidential before the 2021. This helps to make sure that no- decisions are made. one receives more than one offer. The councils that take part in the Pan London Coordinated Admissions Councils hold the offer for the highest Scheme use a computerised system to preference on the parent’s form where a How does the scheme work? share the details of applications. They place can be offered and release all other Parents list the schools that they want will then coordinate the offers of places lower preferences, so that these can be to apply to on one form, ranking them to try to make sure that nobody gets offered to others. Potential offers are then in order of preference. The school offered more than one school place. exchanged between councils until they they most want should be listed first, The decision on whether a school place are in a position to make the single best followed by the next one they prefer can be offered is made by the admission offer to parents using all available places. and so on. This is important because authority for the school.

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 11 Admissions policy and oversubscription criteria 2 for Tower Hamlets community schools

Firstly, children with a statement of special educational need or an education, NOTES Priority zone health and care (EHC) plan must be Note 1: Parents of children with The south Wapping priority zone is in offered a place at their preferred school, statements of special educational the area south of Cable Street and Royal unless there are particular reasons why need or an EHC plan should be aware Mint Street, west of Butcher Row, north the local authority is unable to do so (see that we want to make sure that these of the Thames and east of Mansell Street note 1). The place will be provided in the pupils do not, at secondary transfer and Tower Bridge Approach. Children appropriate band. time, become concentrated in a living in this area will have priority for few schools. Our experience shows admission to the designated schools, A quarter of the total places available that this can compromise the most which are Mulberry School for Girls and at the outlined schools are allocated to effective education of the children and Stepney Green Maths, Computing and each of the four bands. If any of these are the best use of resources. This means Science College. oversubscribed in any band, the admission that if any particular school receives criteria below will be used (in descending a large number of applications for The west priority zone is order of priority) to allocate places. pupils with statements, some of these may be refused. All applications the area south of Quaker Street, west of 1. Children looked after by the local will be considered by the Special Brick Lane, north of Whitechapel High authority, previously looked after children Educational Needs Panel. Street and east of Middlesex Street. who have left care under a special Note 2: Confirmation of a child’s Children living in this area will have priority arrangement (residence) or special looked-after status will be required. for admission to the designated school, guardianship order, or those adopted Note 3: Applications under this which is Swanlea. from local authority care (see note 2). category are considered by the Primary to Secondary Transfer 2. Pupils who have a strong medical or Exceptional medical or social reason to attend the school Committee. The committee is made applied to. This can include the parents’, up of a headteacher, a member of social reasons the attendance and welfare service carers’ or other family members’ and a medical professional. They will Where there is a very strong medical or medical conditions and the family’s decide whether the application should social reason for attending a particular social needs. Parents must complete be given priority under this category. school, priority may be given for the relevant section on the application Note 4: Sibling refers to brother or admission. Parents must complete form and attach medical and/or social sister, half brother or sister, adopted the relevant section on the online reports from a suitable professional brother or sister, step brother or sister, application and attach medical and/ (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to or the child of the parent/carer’s or social reports signed by a doctor support the application (see note 3). partner, and in every case, the child or social worker to their application. 3. Pupils living nearest the school who are should be living in the same family unit These reports must be received by the first born of their sex in the case of at the same address. The address 31 October 2020 – a reminder will a single sex school, or the eldest child used should be the one that the child not be issued. The application will be in the case of a mixed school. The usually lives at and attends school from. considered by the Primary to Secondary number of children admitted under this Note 5: Priority will be limited to three Transfer Committee. category will reflect 25 per cent of the places in each year. The staff applicant intake of the school in each band. must complete the relevant section 4. Pupils who have a brother or sister at on the application online and attach Confirmation of address documentation supporting admission the school at the time of admission on these grounds. It is the staff Applications should be submitted (see note 4). applicant’s sole responsibility to provide according to where the child normally 5. A child whose parent is a member of this information. Without the provision resides. This will normally be with an adult staff and has been employed at the of the relevant documents, the child will or adults who have legal responsibility school concerned for two or more not be considered on these grounds. for the child. years at the time of application and/ Note 6: Home to school distances or children of a member of staff who will be measured by the shortest Where the child lives at the property for has been recruited to fill a vacancy walking route from the home address part of the week with different adults who for which there is a demonstrable to the nearest available pupil entrance have legal responsibility, the address skill shortage (see note 5). in constant use to the school, using a where the child spends the majority 6. Pupils who live nearest to the school by computerised digitised map. Please of the week will normally be used. If note that you cannot compare the shortest walking route (see note 6). time is spent between two homes distances to those calculated using any personal or online geographical equally, the parents/carers must agree In categories 3, 4 and 6 above, a higher information system software you may the address to be used and a single priority will be given to pupils who live in have access to. In the situation that application should then be made. This the priority zones of south Wapping or two or more applications measure the will commonly be where child benefit is west Bethnal Green applying to one of same distance to the school, random payable, however all evidence will be the designated schools (see the priority allocation will be used. taken into account. zone section for more information).

12 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 (This includes Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, Central Foundation Girls’ School, George Green’s School, Mulberry School for Girls and Stepney Green Maths, Computing and Science College.) 2

Parents will be required to provide a pupil’s previous behaviour, attitude or acceptable independent proof of their The admission policies for the attendance record. Any meetings held child’s address. They must make sure Bishop Challoner Federation to discuss suitable options and courses that the application form they complete is of Schools, Canary Wharf will not form part of the school’s decision accurate and must contact Pupil Services College Crossharbour, London making process. and tell their child’s headteacher if there is a relevant change after it has been Enterprise Academy, Stepney If you wish to appeal against a decision submitted. Places may be withdrawn All Saints CofE Secondary to refuse your child admission to a if false information is entered on the School (formerly known as Tower Hamlets school’s sixth form, application form. Parents who do not Sir John Cass Foundation you can submit your appeal online provide evidence of their child’s address & Redcoat CofE Secondary at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ as requested, or provide conflicting or secondaryadmissions inconclusive information, may have the School), St Paul’s Way Trust, place withdrawn even if it has already Wapping High School Admission of children outside been accepted. The admission policies for these schools are available on their websites or at www. their normal age group Applicants living overseas may only towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions Children in Tower Hamlets transfer from submit an application if they have an If you are not sure about your child’s primary to secondary school when they address within the local authority area, claim to a place at one of these schools, are 11 years old. The local authority would and documentary evidence can be on religious or other grounds, read therefore expect a child to start secondary supplied to show they will return to the the admission criteria and check with school in year 7, which is the normal age address prior to the September in the the school before applying. Please group for an 11-year-old starting secondary year of entry. This address must not be remember that, where necessary, it is your school. However, it is also acknowledged that of a friend, relative or other address responsibility to complete a supplementary that there may be an exceptional reason of convenience. form for these schools and to return it to for a child to start secondary school them with all of the information requested outside of the normal age group. This For families of UK service personnel with by the closing date. If you don’t, your could be for a child to transfer early, at a confirmed posting in Tower Hamlets, or application will not be fully considered the end of year 5, or for a child to remain crown servants returning from overseas and this could affect the decision. an additional year at primary school when to live within the borough, an address in they reach the end of year 6. Tower Hamlets will be used for admission purposes in advance of arrival in the UK. Applying for school places at If you are a parent of a child who you think This is provided that the application is sixth form (years 12 and 13) needs to start secondary school outside accompanied by an official letter (i.e. from of their normal year group, please write to the Ministry of Defence or Foreign and Most schools in Tower Hamlets have a Pupil Services by 31 October 2020. Your Commonwealth Office), which declares a sixth form. The individual school pages in letter should clearly explain the exceptional relocation date and a unit postal address this booklet will include information about reasons for your request and you must or quartering area address. the sixth form and the section with the school’s contact details has a website also include up-to-date advice from an address where its sixth form admissions appropriate education professional. Siblings in the same year policy can be viewed. group transferring Your request will be considered by the Individual schools take decisions on local authority’s service head for learning Where two or more siblings are in the sixth form admission. Their policies will and achievement. The service head will same year group (e.g. twins) and it’s therefore include: a timetable with a also seek the views of your child’s primary the parent’s wish that they should closing date for the receipt of applications; school and its education psychologist, attend the same school, if one sibling separate admission numbers for internal before deciding whether or not your child’s can be offered a place, the other will and external applicants; and course entry needs can be met within the current automatically be offered a place to criteria that apply to both internal and year group. You will be notified of the ensure they’re not separated. external applicants. decision in writing.

Similar to the admissions arrangements You must also submit a secondary school Changing preferences for entry to year 7, looked-after children application by the 31 October 2020 Parents and carers may not change their and previously looked-after children closing date. Where it is agreed that your preferences unless there is a genuine are given the highest priority for sixth child can transfer early, your secondary reason for doing so, for example a form admission, provided they meet the school application will then be considered change of address. Requests to change school’s course entry criteria. separately, according to the school(s) preferences must be made in writing, admission criteria. There is no guarantee giving the full reasons. When deciding on admission to the sixth that your child will be offered a place at form, a school will not take account of your preferred school(s).

Apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions 13 2 Criteria flowchart

Does your child have a statement of special educational Please contact the Special Educational needs or an education, health and care plan? Needs team on 020 7364 4462. SEN

1 Children looked after: Is your child looked after by Your application will be considered under a local authority or was adopted (or made subject to this criterion and will have the highest a child arrangements or special guardianship orders) priority. Please provide a letter from your immediately after being looked after? child’s social worker to confirm that See page 12 for a full definition. your child is or was looked after.

2 Medical/Social: Does your child, or any other family member, have a strong medical or social need to attend a specific school? If yes then please provide: Your application will be considered • professional evidence (eg from a doctor or under this criterion, which has priority educational psychologist) and over applications considered under • an explanation outlining why this is the only school criteria 3 and 4. that can meet your child’s needs See page 12 for a full definition.

First born: Is your child: 3 Your application will be considered • eldest in the family? eldest girl? eldest boy? under this criterion. The closest 25 per Pupils living nearest the school who are the first born cent of First Born pupils in each Band of their sex, in the case of a single sex school, or the will have priority over applications eldest child in the case of a mixed school. considered under criteria 4 and 5. See page 12 for a full definition.

Your application will be considered Siblings: Does your child have a brother or sister at 4 under this criterion which has priority the school at the time of admission September 2021? over applications considered under See page 12 and 13 for a full definition. criteria 5.

5 Children of staff: Are you a member of staff who has been employed at the school you are applying to for two Your application will be considered or more years at the time of application and/or are you a under this criterion which has priority member of staff who has been recruited to fill a vacancy over applications considered under for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage? criteria 6. See page 12 for a full definition.

6 Distance: All remaining applications will be considered under the distance criterion, with priority given to those children living closest to the school. See page 12 for an explanation of how we measure distances.

14 Ready for Secondary School in Tower Hamlets 2021 Questions and answers on moving to secondary school 2

What is banding? How do I appeal? Further appeals Tower Hamlets has a policy of banding The notification letter will give you The decision of the appeal panel is final. to try to ensure that its schools take in an information about appeal procedures. A fresh appeal can be made where a new even balance of pupils from a range of If you live in Tower Hamlets and application is unsuccessful. However, abilities. All of the borough’s community you are refused a place at a Tower new applications in the same academic schools use banding. This includes Central Hamlets school that uses the council’s year will only be allowed where there has Foundation, George Green’s, London admission policy, you will receive been a relevant change of circumstances Enterprise Academy, Mulberry Academy information on how to make your appeal since the original decision. Shoreditch, Mulberry School for Girls, St online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ Pauls Way Trust, Stepney All Saints CofE secondaryadmissions. Secondary School (formerly known as Sir Do all schools keep John Cass Foundation & Redcoat CofE When making your appeal, please state waiting lists? Secondary School) and Stepney Green your reasons clearly, otherwise it may not Waiting lists are held for the Tower Hamlets Maths, Computing and Science College. be considered. For schools outside Tower schools that use the council’s admission Hamlets, you should immediately contact policy. From March to September, there Given the circumstances with Covid -19 the relevant local authority for details of is a waiting list for each band. All schools it was not possible to carry out the usual the appeal arrangements. You must do must keep a waiting list until the end of the testing arrangements of Year 5 pupils in the this straight away to make sure you do autumn term, (December) at least. If you school summer term 2020, in order for this not miss the appeal closing date. data to then be used for secondary school are refused a place at a voluntary aided banding. The band for a pupil attending a school or a school in another borough, Tower Hamlets primary school will therefore When will my appeal be heard? you will have to check if they will keep the be determined, this year, by a teacher waiting lists any longer than this. Appeal panels are independent of schools assessment in reading. The assessment and admission authorities. They sit during will be based on where the pupils would the summer term and you should know How are the waiting lists kept? have been predicted to have been working their decision before your child starts at the end of Year 5 had schools been Pupil Services will maintain the waiting school in September. At the time of going functioning ‘as normal’ and following the lists for Tower Hamlets community to press, 302 appeals had been heard for national curriculum Year 5 programmes schools. This includes Mulberry Academy the 2020 secondary transfer admissions of study. The results of the assessment is Shoreditch, Central Foundation Girls’, and 16 were successful. used to place a child in one of four bands George Green’s, Mulberry School for Girls, Band A,B, C and D. D is the highest St Paul’s Way Trust and Stepney Green scoring band. Are places reserved Maths, Computing and Science College. for appeals? For pupils applying from primary schools If your child has not been offered a place outside of Tower Hamlets we will also No. Places that become available before at one of your preferred schools, they determine the band by asking the primary appeals have been heard will be filled will remain on the waiting lists for these school for a teacher assessment in reading. periodically from the waiting list. If an schools until the end of the autumn appeal is successful, the school must term (December). You will then need to offer a place to the child concerned reapply to remain on the waiting list after How will I be notified about the causing the number of children to December. See note on page 11. outcome of my application? be admitted to exceed the planned Notification of the outcome of your admission figure. No further places will be There will be separate waiting lists for online application will be made by email. offered until the number of children to be each band - late applicants will be added Emails will be sent from the evening of admitted drops beneath this figure again. to these. Until September 2021 the 1 March 2021. Parents/carers will also waiting lists for each band will be kept in be notified by letter, which will be sent the following descending order of priority: on 1 March 2021. 1. Children with a brother or sister in the school at the time of admission. What if I apply late? 2. Children living nearest the school. If a vacancy arises, it will be offered to If you apply af