Information relating to the School Year 2019 / 2020 INFORMATION FOR PARENTS Admission of Pupils Curriculum Language Policy Transport Welfare General Information Regarding the Education authority’s Policies and Arrangements Lifelong Learning Department INFORMATION FOR PARENTS 2019 / 2020 Published October 2018 Information Parents for 1. INTRODUCTION This document provides information for parents about the Local Authority’s policies and arrangements in pursuance of its duty under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which establishes a legal framework for school admissions. Copies of these documents can be obtained free of charge from the Education Office (tel. 01248 752901 or email [email protected]), from any school maintained by the Authority, and from the County Council’s website at www.anglesey.gov.uk. Reference copies are also available at Public Libraries. Copies will be distributed free of charge to parents of pupils commencing at primary school for the first time or who are transferring from primary school to secondary school. Complete copies of the documents relating to the information provided here, such as the Curriculum, Language Policy, Complaints Procedure and so on, are available at the Education Office (tel. 01248 752918) and Public Libraries. In addition, handbooks are published giving information about the status, organisation and curriculum of each individual school. These documents will be distributed to parents of children who are commencing at school for the first time or who are transferring from primary to secondary school. Any other parent may, on request, obtain a copy from the appropriate school. Although the information in this document is correct at the time of publication, there may be changes in the education service affecting the Authority’s arrangements in the year in question or subsequent years. 1.2 Education Office The Headquarters of the Isle of Anglesey Education Office is at: Lifelong Learning Department Council Offices LLANGEFNI Anglesey LL77 7TW 1.3 List of Schools There are 43 primary schools, 5 secondary schools and one special school in Anglesey and they are listed by area in the appendix, p. 32 - 42. The Authority has recognized a specific geographical area for each school, known as the catchment area. School catchment areas inform admission procedures and school transport policies but reside within a particular catchment area does not guarantee a place at the school for that catchment area. Each list has been arranged according to secondary school catchment area. Each secondary school has been listed with the primary schools which serve its catchment area. 3 Information for Parents When applying for a secondary school place, parents should be aware that it is the home address that denotes the secondary school catchment area, rather than which primary school their child attended. This affects whether school transport will be free or fee- paying to pupils. All schools in Anglesey are co-educational day schools. All secondary schools are 11-18 community comprehensive schools. The majority of primary schools are also community schools but there is one foundation school and a small number of schools linked to the Church in Wales or the Catholic Church, some of which are controlled by the LA, with one being a Voluntary School aided by the LA. The list indicates the status of each school. 4 Information for Parents 2. ADMISSION OF PUPILS The Local Authority is the admissions authority in respect of the 5 secondary schools and 41 primary schools in Anglesey. The relevant governing body is the admissions authority in respect of the one voluntary aided school (St Mary’s School, Holyhead), and the one foundation school (Ysgol Caergeiliog). For more information and advice regarding admission arrangements: In respect of the 5 secondary schools and 41 primary schools, contact: Authority’s Admissions Officer: Admissions Officer Lifelong Learning Department Council Offices LLANGEFNI Anglesey LL77 7TW Tel: (01248) 752915 In respect of St Mary’s School, Holyhead: Mr Richard Jones Headteacher St Mary’s School HOLYHEAD Anglesey LL65 1TR Tel: (01407) 763176 In respect of Ysgol Caergeiliog: Mr Richard Williams Headteacher Ysgol Caergeiliog Foundation School CAERGEILIOG Anglesey LL65 3NP Tel: (01407) 740619 5 Information for Parents 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and related Regulations establish a legal framework for school admissions. It is the intention of the framework to establish arrangements that : Are clear, objective and give every child a fair chance of a satisfactory school place; Give full information for an informed choice; Ensure local admission procedures which are well co-ordinated and easy to follow with minimum bureaucracy and which give parents the opportunity of having their school preference met; Give an effective statutory right of appeal if parents are dissatisfied. 2.1.2 In accordance with Section 84 of the 1998 Act (as amended by Section 40 of the Education & Inspections Act 2006), the Welsh Government has published a School Admissions Code which gives guidelines to admission authorities in respect of undertaking their admissions functions in respect of admissions from July 2013. The Anglesey Schools Admissions Policy is based on this Code. 2.1.3 The Anglesey primary and secondary schools admissions policy complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Rights of the Children & Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011, and does not discriminate on the grounds of disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex or sexual orientation against a person in the arrangements and decisions it makes as to who is offered admission as a pupil. 2.1.4 Pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) must be admitted to the school named on their statement. Applications for admission in respect of children with SEN but without statements will be considered on the same basis as other applicants. 2.1.5 In accordance with the School Admissions Code this booklet publishes information regarding admission arrangements in respect of the relevant age group for every mainstream maintained primary and secondary school in Anglesey. The relevant age group is the age at which pupils are normally admitted to school, i.e. PRIMARY – the September following the 4th birthday (this is the relevant age even for the primary schools which provide part time nursery education from the September following the 3rd birthday). NOTE: The Law does not require a child to start school full time until the beginning of the term following the child’s 5th birthday. SECONDARY – the September following the 11th birthday. 2.1.6 Admission regulations in accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 refer to full time admission in the September following the 4th birthday and legally do not apply to part time admission in the September following the 3rd birthday. 6 Information for Parents 2.1.7 Nursery Education All children have the statutory right to nursery education, funded by the local authority, from the beginning of term following their 3rd birthday. The Isle of Anglesey Early Years Development Plan provides part time nursery education from the beginning of the term following the 3rd birthday. This nursery education is free, for at least 2 hours a day. Provision from the beginning of term following the 3rd birthday to the September following the 3rd birthday is in the Voluntary Sector whilst the provision from the September following the 3rd birthday is in a maintained school in some areas and in the Voluntary Sector in other areas. There are currently 38 primary schools in Anglesey that offer part time nursery education. Appendix 3 (p. 43 - 44) lists the maintained schools and the voluntary nursery groups recognised by the Early Years Partnership which provide part time nursery education. Anglesey County Council are also responsible for administrating the Welsh Government’s 30 hour childcare offer. Details of providers that offer these 30 hours are made available by contacting the Council’s information site i.e. Teulu Môn on 01248 725888 or via email to [email protected]. Gwynedd and Anglesey’s Childcare Team can also be contacted on 01248 352436 or via email to [email protected]. Information regarding the offer itself including a specific criteria and an application form is available on the Council’s website: http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/community/children-and-families/childcare-offer-3-and-4- year-old-government-funded-childcare?redirect=false It should be noted that: Nursery places in primary schools will be allocated in accordance with the LA’s admissions and oversubscriptions criteria (see 3.8.1) attending nursery class in a school, or attending the local voluntary nursery group, does not guarantee a place in the Reception class (see 2.2.3) 2.1.8 The Isle of Anglesey County Council has established an Admissions Forum to facilitate consultation and discussions regarding matters relating to admission arrangements. Headteachers, governing bodies, the LA, agencies that support pupils with special educational needs and diocesan education authorities are represented on the Forum. The Forum develops local consensus and will also ensure that admission arrangements give due regard to other related issues such as planning school places, making provision for children with special needs, changes in admission numbers (AN), catchment areas etc. 7 Information