MERTON COUNCIL PUTTING YOU FIRST Starting Secondary School 2010 Transfer from Primary to Secondary School Apply online: for Admission in September 2010 www.merton.gov.uk/admissions For children born between 1st September 1998 and 31st August 1999 by Friday 23 October 2009 www.merton.gov.uk 25 Contents Welcome 01 Applying Online 02 Schools in Merton and their location 03 Key dates 06 Guide to applying for a secondary school place 08 Which school should I apply for? 08 How do I apply? 08 How are places allocated? 09 When will I know? 09 What if my application is late or I change my preferences? 09 What is a waiting list? 10 Can I appeal if I don’t get the place I want? 10 My child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs 10 Admissions criteria 11 Merton’s Academies 11 Merton’s Community & Voluntary Controlled Schools 14 Merton’s Voluntary Aided Schools 16 Completing the Common Application Form (CAF) 18 Schools in Merton 20 Bishopsford Community School 20 Harris Academy Merton 22 Raynes Park High School 24 Ricards Lodge High School 26 Rutlish School 28 St Mark’s Church of England Academy 30 Ursuline High School Wimbledon 32 Wimbledon College 34 Schools in neighbouring boroughs 36 Frequently asked questions 41 List of educational terms 44 Translation advice 45 Letter from the Director of Children, Schools and Families Dear Parents and Carers Transferring from primary Please keep this brochure until to secondary school is an you have received and accepted important step in your child’s education. I am delighted an offer of a secondary school that you are considering a place for your child. secondary school in Merton. This brochure provides If you have any questions regarding school an introduction to the admissions, please contact: diverse range of learning School Admissions Team opportunities and specialist Children, Schools and Families facilities provided in Merton’s London Borough of Merton eight secondary schools. While all the schools share Civic Centre common features, just as each child is unique, so each London Road school is unique in the ethos and qualities offered. Morden SM4 5DX Please take your time to find out as much as you can about your local schools to enable you to make a fully Opening hours: informed decision about which schools to apply for. Monday - Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm Visit as many of the schools as you can and involve your child in this process. Phone: 020 8274 4906 Merton is committed to developing its schools and the opportunities available for students. We already have Fax: 020 8545 3443 successful 6th Forms at Ursuline, Wimbledon College, Email: [email protected] St. Ann’s, Harris Academy and St Mark’s Academy. In September 2010 Ricards Lodge and Rutlish will Website: www.merton.gov.uk become 11-19 schools operating a joint co-educational 6th form, and Bishopsford and Raynes Park will each have 6th form provision on site in partnership with Merton College. The new provisions will complement and enhance existing 6th Form learning opportunities. If you have access to a computer, consider applying online. This is a quick, convenient and secure method of applying for your secondary school place in 2010. Finally, I hope the application process runs smoothly for you, and I wish your child every success in their new secondary school. Yvette Stanley Director of Children, Schools and Families London Borough of Merton 01 Applying Online This brochure has two main aims: The online application form is straightforward and asks the same information as the paper form. If you have any • to provide parents and carers of children living doubts about the information you should enter, please in Merton with information needed to apply for a see pages 18 -19 of this guide. secondary school place in this or any other council’s area for September 2010; and Once you have registered to apply online, please keep a note of your user name and password below, so that • to provide information regarding all eight Merton you may return to your form to make amendments until secondary schools. the closing date of 23 October 2009 and to view the outcome from 2 March 2010. Applying online If you apply online, please do not also submit a paper Parents of children living in the London Borough of form. Submitting more than one application could, at Merton can apply online for a secondary place at: the very least, delay your application. www.merton.gov.uk/admissions In 2008/9, 51% of Merton residents applied online. This has several advantages: • no forms will get lost in the post For online admissions • data validation system prevents you from naming incorrect school names and numbers USER NAME/EMAIL: • you will receive an instant email confirmation of your PASSWORD: completed application REFERENCE NUMBER: • it is quick, simple, and no paper is involved • there are no postage costs • it is a safe and secure password operated system • changes and amendments can be made right up to the closing date • there is no risk of data input errors once the online form has been completed. 02 Schools in Merton Bishopsford Community School Rutlish School Lilleshall Road, Morden SM4 6DU Watery Lane, London SW20 9AD Headmaster: Mr A Barker Headteacher: Mr A Williamson Tel: 020 8687 1157 Tel: 020 8542 1212 DCSF number: 315 4061 DCSF number: 315 4500 210 places for Boys & Girls: 240 places for Boys only: 211 preferences were received last year. All those who 427 preferences were received last year. All those who applied by the closing date were offered a place, if they applied by the closing date were offered a place, if they did not receive a higher preference offer. did not receive a higher preference offer. Harris Academy Merton St Mark’s Church of England Academy Wide Way, Mitcham CR4 1BP Acacia Road, Mitcham CR4 1SF Principal: Mr A Halpin Principal: Ms E Holland Tel: 020 8623 1000 Executive Principal: Mr P Evans DCSF number: 315 6905 Tel: 020 8648 6627 180 places for Boys & Girls: DCSF number: 315 6906 618 preferences were received last year. Please contact 180 places for Boys & Girls: the Academy for details of how places were offered. 311 preferences were received last year. All those who applied by the closing date were offered a place, if they Raynes Park High School did not receive a higher preference offer. Bushey Road, London SW20 0JL Headteacher: Mr I Newman Ursuline High School Wimbledon Tel: 020 8946 4112 Crescent Road, Wimbledon SW20 8HA DCSF number: 315 4052 Executive Headteacher: Ms J Waters Tel: 020 8255 2688 240 places for Boys & Girls: 614 preferences were received last year. DCSF number: 315 5400 Places were offered as follows: 196 places for Girls only: 7 SEN/LAC/Social/Medical 763 preferences were received last year. 53 Siblings Please contact the school for details of how places 180 Distance (to 5162 metres) were offered. Ricards Lodge High School Wimbledon College Lake Road, London SW19 7HB Edge Hill, London SW19 4NS Headteacher: Mrs A Jerrard Headmaster: Father A Porter SJ Tel: 020 8946 2208 Tel: 020 8879 9355 DCSF number: 315 4050 DCSF number: 315 4701 240 places for Girls only: 199 places for Boys only: 691 preferences were received last year. 651 preferences were received last year. Places were offered as follows: Please contact the school for details of how places 8 SEN/LAC/Social/Medical were offered. 54 Siblings 178 Distance (to 3260 metres) 03 Location of Merton secondary schools 04 1 Bishopsford Community School 2 St Mark’s Church of England Academy 3 Raynes Park High School 4 Ricards Lodge High School 5 Rutlish School 6 Harris Academy Merton 7 Ursuline High School Wimbledon 8 Wimbledon College 05 Key dates 2009/2010 September 2009 If your child lives in the London Borough of Merton, you should receive your Common Application Forms (CAFs) and this booklet via borough primary schools or by post from Merton School Admissions Team. September Secondary schools’ open days and open evenings. Prospectuses are available for - October 2009 collection from the schools at these events. Friday 23 October 2009 Closing date for receipt of online applications, Common Application Forms and any supplementary forms. After this date your application will be considered as late. 27 November 2009 Admissions authorities rank applications according to admissions criteria. - 15 January 2010 Friday 11 December 2009 Closing date for applications from people moving into the borough, or changing address after 23 October 2009. Monday 1 March 2010 National Offer Day. We will post letters by first class post to tell you the result of your application. Monday 15 March 2010 Date by which you must accept or decline your offer of a school place. June – July 2010 Admission appeals. June – July 2010 All students transferring to Merton secondary schools spend a day at their new school. 06 Open evenings and mornings Bishopsford Community School Open Evening: Tuesday 29 September 2009 6.00–8.30pm Lilleshall Road, Morden, SM4 6DU Personal Tours: Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7, Tuesday 13 and 020 8687 1157 www.bishopsford.org Wednesday 14 October 2009 9.30–10.30am Harris Academy Merton Open Evening: Wednesday 16 September 2009 5.00–8.00pm Wide Way, Mitcham, CR4 1BP Last entry 7.30pm 020 8623 1000 www.harrismerton.org.uk Raynes Park High School Open Evening: Thursday 1 October 2009 6.00–9.00pm Bushey Road, London, SW20 0JL Open Mornings: Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 020 8946 4112 www.raynespark.merton.sch.uk and Thursday 8 October 2009 Tours start at 9.30am and at 11.30am Visitors are welcome at other times, please contact the school office to arrange