Westfield Academy Principal: T.Body BA (Hons), MA
ADMISSIONS POLICY-2016-2017
Next Review Due: Responsible: The Principal Reviewed by Governor’s Admission Committee: Approved by Full Governing Body
1. Process of Application
Applications for places in the normal admissions round for Year 7 at Westfield Academy will be made in accordance with the LA’s co-ordinated admission arrangements and will be made on the Common Application Form provided and administered by the relevant local authority.
2. Admission Criteria The published admission number for Year 7 in 2016/17 is 240. Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria set out below. After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where Westfield Academy is named on the statement, the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below:
• Rule 1 Children looked after and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or a special guardianship order).
• Rule 2 Medical or Social: Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social need to go to the school. A panel of officers will determine whether the evidence provided is sufficiently compelling to meet the requirements for this rule. The evidence must relate specifically to the school applied for under Rule 2 and must clearly demonstrate why it is the only school that can meet the child’s needs.
• Rule 3 Sibling: Children who have a sibling at the school at the time of application, unless the sibling is in the last year of the normal age-range of the school. Note: the ‘normal age range’ is the designated range for which the school provides, for example Years 7 to 11 in an 11-16 secondary school, Years 7 to 13 in an 11-18 school.
• Rule 4 Children who live in the priority area for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained school or academy that is non-faith, co-educational and non-partially selective. Note: Non-partially selective means that the school does not offer any places based on academic ability.
• Rule 5 Children who live in the priority area who live nearest to the school
• Rule 6 Children living outside the priority area on the basis of distance, with those living nearest to the school given priority. These rules are applied in the order they are printed above. If more children Tolpits Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 6NS Telephone: 01923 231 560 | Fax: 01923 210 568 | email: [email protected] | website: www.westfield.herts.sch.uk
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qualify under a particular rule than there are places available, a tiebreak will be used by applying the next rule to those children. Where there is a need for a tie-breaker where two different addresses measure the same distance from a school, in the case of a block of flats for example the lower door number will be deemed nearest as logically this will be on the ground floor and therefore closer. If there are two identical addresses of separate applicants, the tie break will be random.
3. Post 16 admission criteria
Westfield Academy operates a Sixth Form for a total of 300 students. 150 places overall will be available in year 12 (the year 12 ‘capacity’) for its own pupils progressing from year 11. The academy will not admit external applicants unless it is undersubscribed by pupils progressing from its own Year 11 and in such circumstances it will apply the same academic entry requirements as it does to pupils already on roll in the academy and, if a tie-break is necessary to determine who is admitted, it will apply the oversubscription criteria.
The academy will publish, at the beginning of the academic year prior to admission (e.g September 2013. For those seeking admission on September 2014), specific criteria in relation to minimum entrance requirements for the range of courses available based upon GCSE grades or other measures of prior attainment. These criteria are the same for internal and external transfers.
If the sixth form is oversubscribed with internal applicants, the oversubscription criteria will be used as a tie break.
There will be a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for internal pupils refused transfer and external applicants refused admission.
4. Operation of waiting lists Subject to any provisions regarding waiting lists in HCC’s co-ordinated admission scheme, the Academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year Westfield Academy receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate from the date specified within HCC’s co- ordinated scheme as the end co-ordination until the end of the Autumn Term of the new Academic year. This will be maintained by The Academy and it will be open to any parent to ask for his or her child’s name to be placed on the waiting list, following an unsuccessful application. Children’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria set out above. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria.
5. Arrangements for admitting pupils to other year groups, including replacement any pupils who have left Westfield Academy The Academy will consider all such applications and if the year group applied for has a place available, admit the child unless one of the permitted reliefs apply. If more applications are received than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria shall apply. Parents whose application is turned down shall be entitled to appeal.
Updated May 15 Westfield Academy Principal: T.Body BA (Hons), MA
IN YEAR ADMISSION APPLICATION (2016 – 2017) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM (SIF)
If you are seeking a place for your child at Westfield Academy you should complete this Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and return it to the Admissions officer- [email protected]
You should also fill in a county In Year Admission Application Form-this can be found on our website or the Hertfordshire County Council website and return it to the Admissions and Transport team to the address on the form.
Your child’s home address at the date of application is important in deciding whether or not a place can be offered if the academy is oversubscribed. The Academy reserves the right to reject an application and/or withdraw an offer of a place should it be established that false information has been given.
Child’s Surname: ......
First Name(s): ......
Permanent home address: ...... (If parents are separated/divorced please give addresses of both parents, see Item 4 below)
......
...... Post Code: ......
Full name(s) of parent or carer (at the permanent home address)
......
Name and address of parent/carer (if different from above)
......
...... Post Code: ......
Child’s date of birth: ...... (You will be required to show us the original copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport)
Gender Male / Female
7. Home phone number: ......
Mobile phone number: ...... Tolpits Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 6NS Telephone: 01923 231 560 | Fax: 01923 210 568 | email: [email protected] | website: www.westfield.herts.sch.uk
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8. Current school ------
9. Current year group:------
Please attached a copy of your child’s last school report-without this your application cannot be considered.
Westfield Academy SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM (SIF)
Are you moving house? YES / NO
If “Yes” please supply two documents showing proof of address, e.g. Council tax, Tenancy agreement, solicitor’s letter confirming completion date etc.
Please give brief details about the reason you are applying for a place at Westfield Academy for your child.
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The information provided on this form is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998. The information provided is for use by the school and the Local Authority. It may also be disclosed to the Governing Body. Information gathered on this form will be held on computer records. Maintenance of these records and the information contained therein will be subject to the provision of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Please answer ALL of the following questions, having read our admissions criteria.
Criterion 1:
Is this child a Looked After Child, or previously Looked After Child?
(A child who is in the care of a Local Authority?) YES / NO
If you are applying under criterion 1, we will need to see a supporting letter from this child’s social worker and/or advisory teacher.
Criterion 2:
Is it essential for your child to be admitted to the Academy because of special circumstances to
do with significant medical or social needs? YES / NO If you are applying under criterion 2, you must give details of the circumstances when you submit this form. The evidence must relate specifically to this academy, and must clearly demonstrate why it is the only school that can meet your child’s needs. All applications are considered individually, but you should include:
• Specific professional evidence to show why only Westfield Academy can meet your child’s individual needs; • Professional evidence that outlines exceptional family circumstances making clear why only Westfield Academy can meet the child’s needs; • For medical cases, a clear explanation of why the child’s disability or severity of illness makes attendance at Westfield Academy essential.
Applications under criterion 2 will only be considered if they are supported by a letter from a professional involved with your child or family.
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Criterion 3: Will your child have a sibling living at the same address and currently
Attending the academy? YES / NO
If yes, please give the name of the sibling: ......
Criterion 4: YES / NO
Children who live in the priority area for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained school or academy that is non-faith, co-educational and non-partially selective. Note: Non-partially selective means that the school does not offer any places based on academic ability.
Criterion 5:
Children who live in the priority area who live nearest to the school YES / NO
Criterion 6: YES / NO
Children living outside the priority area on the basis of distance, with those living nearest to the school given priority. These rules are applied in the order they are printed above. If more children qualify under a particular rule than there are places available, a tiebreak will be used by applying the next rule to those children. Where there is a need for a tie-breaker where two different addresses measure the same distance from a school, in the case of a block of flats for example the lower door number will be deemed nearest as logically this will be on the ground floor and therefore closer. If there are two identical addresses of separate applicants, the tie break will be random.
Please note the following:
Please enclose a recent original utility bill in your name for your child’s permanent address (unless you are applying under criterion 3, siblings), along with a stamped addressed envelope so that we can return it to you.
Please ensure that you affix the correct postage if you are sending this application by Royal Mail, as we cannot guarantee that we will collect or pay for items which have been underpaid.
Declaration
I/we confirm that:
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• To the best of my/our knowledge, all of the information given above is correct, and I understand that should I have provided any false information the academy may reject this application and/or withdraw the offer of a place.
• I undertake to notify the academy if any of this information changes before any offer of a place is made.
Signed: ...... Full name: ......
Parent/Carer (please delete as appropriate) Date: ......
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