APPLYING FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL 2019/2020 Foreword Dear Parent / Carer Whichever schools you choose to apply for, If you have any questions that are not you will need to visit our website to make covered in this booklet, then please We understand that moving from primary an application. If you do not have computer take a look at our website to secondary school may be an anxious access at home then you can use the www.leicester.gov.uk/admissions, time for parents and children. We know facilities in your local library or the Customer contact the School Admissions Team that you will want to choose the school Service Centre on Granby Street, free of on 0116 454 1009 (Option 1) or email that is right for your child and that enables charge. You can also contact The Choice [email protected]. them to reach their true potential as well Advice Service who run a series of support Please note that the closing date for as benefit from the range of activities each sessions for parents who need help with applications is midnight on 31 October 2018. school has to offer. This booklet aims to help making an application – more details can be We will write to you on 1 March 2019 with a you to do that by giving you information found on page 18. school place offer. about local secondary schools, how to make an application and how school places are Please take the time to read this booklet Finally, we would like to wish your child a allocated. carefully and also visit the schools that happy and successful time at their new you are considering so that you and your secondary school. You can list up to three different schools on child can make up your own mind about your application form – your first, second what they have to offer. All secondary and third school preferences. We will always schools have open days and / or evenings try to offer you the highest preference we for children and their families and these are can. It is always best to use all three of your detailed in this booklet on pages 10 - 16. preferences and to include a school near The schools also have information on their to where you live as one of your preferred websites, including exam results and Ofsted options. Demand for school places is high, information, which you may find useful. in some areas greater than others, and this helps towards you being offered a local school. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2018 2 Everything you need to know SECTION 1 SECTION 3 BEFORE APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL PLACE . 5 HOW WE PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION . 20 Important dates to remember ....................................... 6 SECTION 4 Different types of secondary schools in Leicester and the surrounding area ....................................................... 8 HOW PLACES ARE ALLOCATED . 21 Details of school locations ............................................ 9 Supplementary information forms ...........................................22 Maximise your chances ............................................... 14 Choose your preferred schools carefully ........................... 15 SECTION 5 Your catchment area school ......................................... 15 Priority for children who have a brother or sister RECEIVING YOUR OFFER OF A SCHOOL PLACE . 23 already in attendance at one of their preferred schools ......... 15 What can I do if I am not happy with the school place offered? �����������������23 How does the appeals process work? ........................................ 24 SECTION 2 MAKING AN APPLICATION . 16 APPENDIX 1 - Your home address and what to do if you’re moving house ................................................................... 25 Applying online ........................................................ 17 The Choice Advice Service ............................................ 18 APPENDIX 2 - Fair Access Protocol ........................................ 28 What happens if my application is late? ........................... 19 APPENDIX 3 - Travel and transport to school ............................ 29 Special educational needs (SEN) .................................... 19 What if I want to change my preferences after APPENDIX 4 - How places were allocated at schools within submitting my application? .......................................... 19 Leicester City on 1 March 2018 ............................................... 31 Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2018 3 Data protection We have a legal requirement to make sure you know what we intend to do with your information and who it will be shared with. In order to provide you with a school admissions service, there may be occasions when your information is shared with schools, other council departments and the Department of Education. The details you provide on your form will also be shared with other council departments, including the Corporate Investigations Contact information Team. They will compare the details you provide against If you need more information about the records held by the council , including council tax records, and admissions process, please contact us using one those held by other organisations including credit reference of the methods shown below: agencies. They will check that the details provided match. Any You may find the answer on our website: applications identified that are deemed to be fraudulent or otherwise questionable will be investigated further. www .leicester .gov .uk/admissions We have a duty to: Email: admissions-online@leicester .gov .uk • keep sufficient information to provide services and fulfil our By telephone to our Customer Service Centre: legal responsibilities 0116 454 1009 (option 1) • keep your records secure and accurate Telephone opening hours are: 8.30am – 5pm on Monday to Thursday • only keep your information as long as is required 8.30am – 4.30pm every Friday • collect, store and use the information you provide in a Visit our Customer Service Centre: manner that is compatible with the General Data Protection 91 Granby Street Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 Leicester City Council We will always try and keep your personal data secure, LE1 6FB whether it is held on paper or electronically. Please see our privacy notice for more details. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2018 4 SECTION BEFORE APPLYING 1 FOR A SCHOOL PLACE 1 Visit the schools and have a look on their admission number. This number takes websites into account how many pupils each Arrange to visit schools during their school can accommodate and how many open days and evenings. The dates for children in Leicester need a school place. these are given on pages 10 to 13 of this Read the admissions criteria for each booklet. Also, visit the school websites - school and look to see the priority that The web addresses for each school are applies to your child. This will give you The policies that apply to school shown on pages 10 to 13. an idea of how likely it is you will gain a admissions and transport to school place at a preferred school. You can also operate separately. In particular, if a pupil 2 Read useful reports about the schools find out about how places were allocated is offered a place in a preferred school You can find information on school last year which can be found on our this does not in any way guarantee that performance at www.education.gov.uk/ website here. transport will be available. If transport to schools/performance. To view the most school is an issue for you when applying recent Ofsted report for a school, please 4 Consider how your child will travel to for a school, you are strongly advised to visit www.ofsted.gov.uk and from school contact us before stating your preference. It is your responsibility as a parent/ carer 3 Consider how many places are available 5 Do use all three of your preferences to get your child to school. You must think at each school and who these are very carefully about the distance and Carefully consider three different offered to how your child will travel to school. The schools to list. If you only list one school, Each school has a limited number of majority of children are not eligible for you may end up with one that is much places and this is known as the published free transport to school. further away. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2018 5 Important dates to remember From 12 Application process begins September 2018 Online system opens for applications to be submitted. Schools hold open events so that you can visit and look round – details can be found on pages 10 to 13. Midnight 31 Closing date for applications October 2018 Please ensure that you apply ahead of this date as leaving it until the last minute may mean you miss the closing date if there are any technical issues. If you miss the deadline, this will significantly reduce your chances of getting a place at the school you want. 24 November 2018 If you have missed the deadline we may still accept your application as on-time but only if there are good reasons for this and if it is submitted up to this date. See page 19 for more details. January and All on-time applications are processed February 2019 1 March 2019 Offers of school places are sent out for all on-time applications We will send you an email with your application outcome. We will also send offers letters by second class post. Please be aware that some email providers may delay sending the messages to account holders – applicants will need to check with their own email service suppliers in this regards. Leicester City Council has no control over email delivery times once they have left our servers. Don’t forget to apply by the closing date - midnight 31 October 2018 6 Important dates to remember 29 March 2019 If you want to appeal for a place at one of the schools we manage the appeals process for, you will need to do so by this date to ensure that it can be considered by an independent panel before the start of the new term.