2020/21 Applying for School Places 1 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Apply online for a school place It’s quick and easy You can apply from 1st September 2019 at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ schooladmissions Applications should be submitted by 31st October 2019 for secondary 15th January 2020 for primary If you are a parent resident in Cheshire East, with a child born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016, your child will be due to start primary school in September 2020. If you do not have web access call 0300 123 5012 Late applications may be disadvantaged 2 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Councillor Dorothy Flude Jacky Forster Children and Families Portfolio Director of Education Holder and 14-19 Skills Dear Parents Parents are also asked to think about how their child Your son or daughter will soon be approaching the will travel to school when making their preferences. important milestone where you need to consider Cheshire East is committed to working with schools and apply for a school place to either start in to encourage pupils to walk, cycle, use public reception at primary school or start at secondary transport or car share where possible to minimise school in September 2020. We appreciate this is the impact on the environment and as part of a really important decision for you and your son/ healthy lifestyles for Cheshire East pupils. daughter. If your son or daughter has an Education, Health This booklet aims to provide you with information and Care Plan, the SEND Statutory Assessment about schools and/or signpost you to information and Monitoring Service will work with you to identify in order to support you in identifying your preferred the nearest suitable school which can meet your schools and to advise you on the process of applying child’s needs. for a school place. Most schools offer open days or welcome parents Cheshire East is a high performing authority in terms to visit the school. We would encourage you to look of education outcomes with 80% of primary schools around the school as this enables you to get a real and 60% of secondary schools judged as either good feel for the vision and culture of the school. or outstanding and with most education outcomes If you need support in completing your application above the national average. In 2019, we were able please do not hesitate in contacting the admissions to support 98% of 1st- 3rd preferences in primary team by email at [email protected] and 96% for secondary for Cheshire East residents. or by telephone on 0300 123 5012. Parents are also We continually review and increase capacity at encouraged to follow the Family Information Service both schools to optimise the chance of you being on social media for tips and advice. The service successful in being offered one of your preferences. also runs sessions locally, where parents can access We work closely with housing developers to create advice and support. additional school places where these are needed and We hope that your son or daughter is happy in obtain financial contributions from them to support their new school, enjoys learning and develops school expansions. by participating in the many new and exciting We would urge you to read the information opportunities that schools in Cheshire East provide. contained in this booklet and submit your application by the deadline. Councillor Dorothy Flude Jacky Forster Children and Families Portfolio Holder Director of Education and 14-19 Skills Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 3 Contents Application Timetable 6 Important information: - Residency; re-allocating places 8 - Chronological age groups 8 The Application Process 12 Processing Applications 16 Next Stage in the Process 19 School Transport 22 More Information 24 Other Authorities Contact Details 29 Frequently Asked Questions 30 Application Form 39 Use of Information – Data Protection and Security 41 Contact: School Admissions Email: [email protected] Cheshire East Council Twitter: @CE_Admissions Floor 5, c/o Municipal Buildings Telephone: 0300 123 5012 Earle Street Crewe CW1 2BJ The information contained in this booklet relates to the school year 2020-2021. Although correct at the time of publishing (August 2019), there may be changes before or during the 2020-2021 school year and in subsequent years. Further information can be obtained from the Council and from individual schools. 4 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ schooladmissions Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 5 Application timetable 6 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions The application timetable for admission to the Other UTC/Studio schools within a reasonable reception class in a primary school and year 7 class travelling distance of Cheshire East to which in a secondary school is set out in the table below. residents can apply are listed in the Secondary Please note: Applications for transfer to Knutsford Schools, UTC and Studio School booklet available Academy the Studio and Crewe Engineering and on our website or in hard copy on request. Design UTC must be made direct to the school. Information on how to apply will be provided on Details are provided in the secondary schools the relevant school website. booklet on our website. Process Secondary Transfers Primary Admissions Application process starts – online application form 1 September 2019 1 September 2019 and composite prospectus available. Closing date for applications 31 October 2019 15 January 2020 Deadline for receipt of supporting documentation 9 December 2019 17 February 2020 Offers released 1 March 2020 16 April 2020 Deadline for accepting or declining places. The Local Authority reserves the right to withdraw 16 March 2020 30 April 2020 places not accepted Waiting lists prepared and vacancies re-allocated. Waiting lists will be held in criteria order. Parents offered places on this basis will be required to accept or decline the place 16 March 2020 After 30 April 2020 offered within 10 school days. Appeal application deadlines 30 March 2020 15 May 2020 Appeal hearings (on time applications) 18 June 2020 17 July 2020 (as far as possible) Within 40 days of deadline Within 40 days of deadline where possible, or where possible, or Appeal hearings – late applications 30 school days of appeal 30 school days of appeal being lodged being lodged In Year Applications We receive many ‘in year’ applications and these are generally where families are moving into ‘In year’ applications are those made during the Cheshire East or are moving from one part of the school year into any year group other than the Authority’s area to another. normal point of entry to school. If you are thinking about changing schools for The normal point of entry to Cheshire East schools reasons other than a house move we strongly is in September into: advise that you discuss the proposed transfer • The reception class for a primary school with your current school. • Year 7 to secondary school Information about the application process is • Year 10 to Knutsford Academy: The Studio and published in our ‘In Year Admissions’ booklet. Crewe UTC • Year 12 to a sixth form Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 7 Important Information Residency Re-allocating Places When you apply for a school place your application Offers will be made on the 1 March 2020 will be considered on the basis of the residency (secondary places) and 16 April 2020 (primary of your child. For applications made during the places). If you are unsuccessful with your normal admission round this will be where your application you can request that your child is child lives on the date published for the receipt of added to the school’s waiting list. Any vacancies supporting documentation. You must therefore will be re-allocated from the waiting list after notify us if you move house after you have 16 March for secondary school places and after submitted your application as this could affect 30 April for primary school places. your priority for admission within the oversubscription criteria and your position on Chronological age groups a waiting list, if applicable. Children reach compulsory age at the beginning The place of residence for late applications of the term following their fifth birthday. However, received after the date published for the receipt children are normally admitted to school in the of supporting documentation will be the address September following their fourth birthday. at the time of application. Proof of address and residency may be requested. Address information Important Information provided on the application form may also be verified through liaison with other departments September 2020 Admission: within the Local Authority as with those made during the normal admission round. This will Any child born between: include verifying against Council Tax records. 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 Places offered on the basis of a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application may As a general principle, children in Cheshire East are be withdrawn. taught in the year group for their age range along with other children in the same age range. This is Important Information sometimes referred to as the child’s chronological age group. Please note: In exceptional circumstances you may apply to the admission authority for your child to be taught Citizens outside the UK can be accepted, with outside their chronological age group. the current address being used as the residential address for the application. Please see our website for more information. The only exception to this is for families of service personnel with a confirmed posting to Cheshire East, or crown servants returning from overseas to live in Cheshire East where the future address can be accepted.