Primary School Guide for Parents 2013-14 Deadline for applications 15 January 2013 Apply online: www.kirklees.gov.uk/admissions Dear parents and carers Welcome to the Directorate for Children and Young People in Kirklees. I am pleased that you are reading our guide on admissions to primary schools in Kirklees. We know that deciding on your preferred schools is an important, exciting and sometimes worrying time and a big step in every child’s life; we hope that this guide provides you with clear information about how the system works. We have included information about admissions procedures in this guide but there is not enough space to include details about all our schools. All schools are different and I hope that you will find time to arrange a visit to some of them or send for the prospectus of schools which interest you. Many schools hold open days and evenings to allow prospective parents to visit the school and talk to staff. All staff, whether based in schools or working in our directorate, work together to ensure that schools offer all children and young people the best possible opportunities. We are very proud of the achievements of children and young people locally and the work of schools to support them. Over the coming years we will be working in partnership to continue to develop and improve the district’s schools and this will support our ambition to raise the attainment, achievement and aspirations of every learner in Kirklees. We hope that we will be able to meet the preference you express. For 2012/13 we did meet a very high level of first preferences and we hope to maintain this for 2013/14. I hope the information in this guide will be helpful to you and that your child will have a happy and successful education in Kirklees. Alison O’Sullivan Director for Children & Young People All parents/carers are strongly advised to read this guide and keep it until their child begins their new school. If your child is not offered one of your preferred schools and you decide to appeal, this guide may be referred to at the appeal hearing. The information in this guide is for the 2013/14 school year. The information here is correct as at 1 August 2012. Please do not assume there will be no changes to these arrangements before the start of, or during, the 2013/14 school year or following school years. We hope that you will find all the information you need in this guide. However, if you still have questions you can contact School Admissions on: 01484 225007/8/9 or by email: [email protected] or you can write to the team at: School Admissions, Ground Floor, Civic Centre 1, High Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2NF You can find more information about applying for primary school on our website: www.kirklees.gov.uk/admissions Contents Introduction 4 Aim 4 Timetable for transfer to junior or middle school in September 2013 5 Timetable for admission to the reception age group in September 2013 5 How to apply 6 What is a co-ordinated admissions scheme? 6 What are the different types of school in Kirklees? 6 How does the process work? 6 How do I make my application? 7 Applying online 7 Why should I apply online? 7 How do I complete the Common Application Form 8 Submitting a paper application 8 How does the admission authority decide which children are allocated places? 9 Can I choose which school my child will go to? 10 Will the order I have listed my schools in be important? 10 Will my child transfer automatically from the nursery, early years or foundation stage unit in primary school to the reception year? 10 Will my child be of higher priority for a place at a school if I name it as my first preference? 11 Will my child be of lower priority for a place at a school if I name it as my second or third preference? 11 Do I have to name three schools? 11 What is the Published Admission Number (PAN)? 11 How do I know which is my ‘catchment’ school? 11 Do I have to include my catchment school in my preferences? 11 Are there disadvantages in applying for a school outside my catchment area? 11 What if I want to apply for an academy, free school, trust school or voluntary aided school? 11 What do I do if I want to apply for a school outside Kirklees? 12 What do I do if I live outside Kirklees but would like my child to attend a Kirklees school? 12 What do I do if I want my child to attend an independent (fee paying) school? 12 What should I consider when choosing my preferences? 12 What questions might I ask when I visit a school? 12 What else might I look for when visiting a school with my child? 12 How can I find out about a school’s uniform policy? 13 How can I find out about the school’s ethos and values? 13 When will I find out which school my child has been allocated? 13 Does the school my child currently attends affect which school will be allocated? 13 When will my child start full-time school? 13 What is a sibling? 13 What is considered to be a child’s permanent home address? 13 Fraudulent applications 13 Withdrawing places 14 Can I change my mind after I have completed my application form? 14 What happens if I move house before places are allocated? 14 What evidence do I need to provide? 14 What happens if I move house after places have been allocated? 15 What happens if I miss the deadline? 15 What if my child has special educational needs but does not have a statement? 15 What should I do if my child has a statement of special educational needs? 15 Can I educate my child at home? 15 Can my child transfer to junior or middle school a year early? 15 What happens if I do not qualify for a place at any of my preferred schools? 16 What if I am not happy with the place I am offered? 16 Can my child be placed on a school’s waiting list? 16 Can my child change schools during a school year? 16 What is infant class size legislation? 17 School Admission Appeals 17 What if my child is not offered a place at my preferred school? 17 Notice of admission appeal 17 Appeal hearing 17 Appeal decisions (all schools) 18 Other information 18 The Advisory Centre for Education 18 Kirklees In-Year Fair Access Protocol 18 School meals 18 Free school meals 18 Packed lunch meals 18 School milk 18 Free bus passes 19 Home to school transport - Pupils with statements of special educational needs 19 Special educational needs 19 The School Governor Service 20 Attendance & Pupil Support Officers 21 Employment of schoolchildren and entertainment licences 21 School health team 21 Charges for school activities 22 Insurance 22 Personal belongings 22 How to complain 22 School re-organisation 22 What are the age ranges of primary and middle schools in Kirklees? 22 Summary of admission arrangements 23 Summary of admission arrangements for academies 23 Summary of admission arrangements for Catholic voluntary aided schools. 29 Summary of admission arrangements for Church of England voluntary aided schools 44 List of Schools 73 Schools in the Batley area 73 Schools in the Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton and Gomersal areas 75 Schools in the Colne Valley area 76 Schools in the Dewsbury area 78 Schools in the Heckmondwike and Liversedge areas 81 Schools in the Holme Valley and Meltham areas 82 Schools in the Huddersfield area 84 Schools in the Kirkheaton, Lepton and Grange Moor areas 88 Schools in the Mirfield area 89 Schools in the Shelley, Skelmanthorpe and Denby Dale areas 89 Special Schools in Kirklees 92 Kirklees primary schools with specialist provision reserved for children with special educational needs 92 Useful addresses 94 Details of schools' policies 94 To contact neighbouring authorities 94 Glossary of Terms 95 Feedback Form Introduction Next year your child will start a new school. It is natural that you should find this an anxious time, as you will want to make the right decision in the best interests of your child. This guide applies to all community, voluntary controlled, voluntary aided, free or trust schools and academies in Kirklees and is designed to explain the procedure for applying for a school place for your child. Please read through the guide, so you understand what will happen and when. If you are unsure about any part of the process, there are several places you can ask for help. These are listed at the back of this guide. To contact School Admissions, please call: 01484 225007/8/9. For more information about how to contact School Admissions, see page 1. Aim This guide aims to explain the admission arrangements in Kirklees as clearly and simply as possible. It aims to: • introduce you to the people/departments who manage Kirklees admission policy • tell you what you must do and when (your responsibilities) • tell you how to carry out your responsibilities • tell you what School Admissions will do and when (School Admissions responsibilities) • explain where to find help. If you feel that this guide fails to meet any of the above aims, please let us know. We would also like to hear any positive comments and have included a feedback form at the back of this guide or you can contact School Admissions on 01484 225007/8/9 or email your views to [email protected] Page| 4 Timetable for transfer to Timetable for admission to the junior or middle school in reception age group in September 2013 September 2013 Week beginning 5 November 2012 From the age of three onwards Kirklees infant and first schools distribute Application forms are available at all Kirklees transfer packs or School Admissions primary schools.