Secondary School Admissions 2014/2015 Torbay Information for Parents and Students TIPS 1 Please keep this brochure until you have received and accepted an offer of a secondary school place for your child. The information in this booklet is correct at the time of publication in June 2013. Any subsequent amendments can be found at www.torbay.gov.uk Images kindly supplied by St. Cuthbert Mayne School, Churston Ferrers Grammar School and Torquay Academy. This document can be made available in other formats. For further information please contact 01803 208245. 2037/0613 TIPS 1 Admissions guide for Torbay residents for children born between 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003 and for children born between 1 September 1999 and 31 August 2000 for 14-19 Studio School Dear Parent/Carer, I am pleased to present detailed information about the secondary and special schools in Torbay. This brochure provides an introduction to the wide range of learning opportunities and specialist facilities available to your child. We have a strong commitment to secondary education in Torbay. There is a wide variety of schools and with our partners in schools we are proud of what our students achieve in them. In conjunction with our schools we have had an ongoing programme of capital investment to improve the environment in which students learn. Selecting the right school for your child is both challenging and exciting. Individual school websites will give you a real insight into the life of the school. However, there is nothing like a personal visit to see the school in action, taking the opportunity to meet students and staff. Please do take the many opportunities offered by all schools before you make your preferences. I am sure you will be made very welcome, most impressed and reassured that your child will thrive in a Torbay school. Yours sincerely Richard Williams Director of Children’s Services For applications to Devon Studio School, please see separate arrangements on page 11 Pupils transferring to secondary school in year 7 The application form for admission to Torbay schools must only be completed by Torbay residents. It is best to apply online at www.torbay.gov.uk. It is quick, easy, safe and secure to apply online and you will be notified of the outcome of your application on Allocation Day, 3rd March. If you do not have internet access you can complete a paper application form CAF 1 and return it by ● Taking it to your child’s primary school and asking them to date stamp the third copy for you to keep for your records ● Taking it to your local Connections office and asking them to date stamp the third copy for your records ● Posting it to Admissions & Student Services, First Floor South, Tor Hill House c/o Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay TQ1 3DR. You should enclose a stamped postcard addressed to yourself so that we can acknowledge receipt of the application. Apply on time: by 31st October 2013 You can contact us for advice on 01803 208908 or you can e-mail [email protected] 3 TIPS 1 Key dates 2013 June/July/Sept.............Secondary school open days and evenings 13 September.............Deadline for return of registration forms to selective schools if you wish your child .....................................to sit a selective test (11+) 21 & 28 September .....Dates for selective tests 18 October .................Parents sent guidance about which selective schools will be likely to offer a place 31 October .................Closing date for applications Applications can be made from 1 September 2013 via www.torbay.gov.uk. This facility closes at midnight on 31 October. 2014 3 March ......................National Offer Day We will post offer letters by second class post to tell you the result of your application. If you have applied online you will be notified by email after noon on 3 March. 4 April .........................Outcomes for late applications notified 4 April .........................Deadline for appeals to be submitted School open days and evenings School Dates & times 26 June: 9am-12 noon Brixham College 16 September: 6-8pm 19 September: 9am-12 noon 27 June: talks at 10am, 4.15pm & 6.30pm Churston Ferrers Grammar School 13 September: talks at 10am & 6.30pm 26 September: 7pm Paignton Community and Sports Academy 27 September: 2pm St Cuthbert Mayne VA School 19 September: 9.30am-12 noon and 6-8pm 9 July: 5pm-7pm Torquay Academy 3 October: 8.30-10am, 4-7pm 4 October: 8.30-10am 2 July: tours at 9.30am, 2pm & 7pm Torquay Boys’ Grammar School 12 September: tours at 9.30am, 2pm & 7pm 25 June: 2-3.30pm, 6.45-8.30pm Torquay Girls’ Grammar School 10 September: 2-3.30pm, 6.45-8.30pm 19 June: 4-7pm Westlands School 11 September: 4-7pm KEY STAGE 4 TRANSFER 20 September 2-8pm Devon Studio School 24 October 2-8pm 4 TIPS 1 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................6 Step by step guide ...................................................................................................................... 6 Step 1 - ............................................................................................................................. 6 Step 2 - ............................................................................................................................. 7 Step 3 - ............................................................................................................................. 7 Step 4 - ............................................................................................................................. 8 Step 5 - ........................................................................................................................... 11 Step 6 - ............................................................................................................................ 11 Step 7 - ............................................................................................................................ 11 Applications for Devon Studio School .........................................................................................12 Children’s guide to admissions ..................................................................................................12 Financial assistance ................................................................................................................... 13 Choice Advice ............................................................................................................................ 13 In Year admissions .................................................................................................................... 14 School/Academy admissions criteria .......................................................................................... 14 School/Academy location maps ..................................................................................................31 Admissions & Appeals 2013 .......................................................................................................34 St Cuthbert Mayne supplementary form .....................................................................................35 5 TIPS 1 Introduction ● If you wish your child to be considered for a place at a selective school you should also complete a This brochure has two main aims: registration form (available from the school or ● to provide parents and carers of children living from www.torbay.gov.uk) and return it to your in Torbay with information needed to apply for preferred selective school by 13th September a secondary school place in this or any other 2013. You will then be sent details about council’s area for September 2014; and selective tests. ● to provide information about the secondary ● You are asked to list up to three state schools schools within Torbay. on your application form, in the order that you Where this brochure mentions secondary schools, prefer them. this means both local authority-maintained schools ● If any of the schools that you list are in other and academies. councils’ areas, we will pass the relevant details Torbay Council has a coordinated scheme to ensure, to those councils. as far as possible, that each child receives just ● Your child will be considered separately for each one offer of a state school place. This means that school that you have listed. Using the school’s parents cannot hold on to more than one school published admission criteria (the order in which place at a time. places are allocated) the admission authority decides whether or not you can be offered a Step by step guide for entry place. Torbay Council will not pass on the order to Year 7 in which you have listed your preferred schools, nor will we tell schools which other schools you STEP 1: Understanding how the have listed. application process works ● Before places are offered we will check whether Before you complete the application form, it is very your child can be offered a place at more than important that you understand how the process one of the schools you have listed. works: ● If your child can be offered a place at more ● You use one form to apply for up to three state than one school, you will be offered a place at schools in any council area before 31 October the school listed highest on your form. Your 2013. You should complete this form even if application will not be given priority over anyone your child has a Statement of Special Educational who stated it as a second or third preference Needs. unless they