Opportunities for your child in Birmingham Primary Education 2016 To apply online visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions This document contains important information. If you do not understand it please ask a friend or relative, who reads English, to translate it for you or ask them to contact Joseph Tees on 0121 303 1888 and we can arrange a translation. To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Introduction Dear Parents and Carers, Starting a new school is a special and exciting time for you and your child. You will of course have many questions and this booklet gives you information about Birmingham primary schools and helps you apply for a place for your child. If your child is starting school in September 2016, we would ask you to apply online at the following website www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions –Applying online means that you can find out which school your child has been offered by email on the offer day, rather than waiting for your offer letter to be posted to you. The option of using a paper form is still available if you prefer this method. Birmingham City Council operates a ’co-ordinated scheme‘ for primary school admissions which means that families in Birmingham can apply for schools both inside and outside the Birmingham area. If you don’t live in Birmingham but want to apply for a Birmingham primary school, you should do this via the application process of your own local authority. Contact details for neighbouring local authorities can be found in Appendix 3. We are very proud of all of our schools in Birmingham. Whichever school your child attends they will be made very welcome. Achievements in our primary schools continue to improve across the city. All staff in schools and in wider children’s services is committed to ensuring that every child is able to be the best they can be. Schools also have their own prospectuses and websites. I recommend you take the opportunity to read these and also to visit our schools where you will find a lot more information to help you decide which school you would like your child to attend. Last year, over 94% of Birmingham children starting in reception class were offered a place at one of their preferred schools and it is our mission to ensure that your child thrives wherever they go. If you have any questions about your child starting at school, or how to obtain places in other year groups, please contact the Children’s Information and Advice Service on 0121 303 1888 option 4 where staff will be pleased to assist you. I wish your child a happy and successful education at primary school. Peter Hay CBE Strategic Director for People Page 1 To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions How to contact us You can obtain information and advice about school admissions in various ways: Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Telephone: Children’s Information and Advice Service on 0121 303 1888 Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8.45am – 5.15pm Friday 8.45am – 4.15pm Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays: closed. In writing: Birmingham City Council Directorate for People School Admissions and Pupil Placements Service PO Box 16513 Birmingham B2 2FF Other services: Other services within Directorate for People are also available to support you and your child. See Section 6 for further details. To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Page 2 To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Contents Page Introduction Peter Hay CBE, Strategic Director for People 1 How to contact us 2 Section 1 Types of schools in Birmingham 5 Oversubscription criteria Definitions Section 2 Starting school 11 Timetable How to apply online When children start school Completing the Birmingham local authority preference form How places are offered What are my chances of getting my child into the school I want? When will I know what school my child has been offered? What to do if you are not offered one of your preferred schools Frequently asked questions Section 3 Year 2 to Year 3 transfer for September 2016 23 Who needs to apply? List of linked infant and junior schools in Birmingham Oversubscription criteria for Year 2 to Year 3 transfer – community schools When will I know what school my child has been offered? Section 4 In-year admissions – applications for places in other year groups 27 How schools process your application and what happens next Fair access sharing protocols Section 5 Information relevant to all admissions, including: 31 Pupils’ home addresses Home to school measurements Waiting lists How to appeal Section 6 Services to support you and your child, including: 35 Out of school clubs (before and after school clubs) Travelling to school and travelling expenses School meals Education Welfare Service (EWS) Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Service (SENAR) Section 7 Details and admission criteria of individual schools 41 Appendices 239 Page 3 To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Page 4 Section 1 Types of school in Birmingham Page 5 To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions Section 1 Types of schools in Birmingham There are various types of primary school in Birmingham. These include maintained schools managed by the local authority or other organisations and academies that are state-funded but independent from local authority control. In line with legislation, Birmingham City Council co- Academies ordinates applications and offers to all state-funded schools Academies are independent, all-ability, state-funded schools in Birmingham, regardless of the type of school or academy. that are either new schools managed by independent bodies or existing schools that have converted to academy However, different types of schools and academies have status. The Academy Trust at each academy is its own different admission authorities, and therefore different admission authority and is responsible for setting the admission and appeal processes. In particular, academies, oversubscription criteria at their academy, although the local foundation, voluntary aided and free schools may have authority co-ordinates the offer of places for reception class. their own oversubscription criteria, and many of them have supplementary information forms that need to be Free schools completed in addition to the local authority form. You Free schools are new independent, state-funded schools should carefully read and understand the admission that are established by individuals or organizations from a arrangements for these schools before completing your wide range of backgrounds, including charities and child’s application. community groups. The body that established each free school is its own admission authority and is responsible for Community and voluntary controlled schools setting the oversubscription criteria at their school, Birmingham City Council is the admission authority for although the local authority co-ordinates the offer of all community and voluntary controlled schools in places for reception class. Birmingham. The local authority ensures that these schools adhere to the published admission arrangements. Schools in other local authorities The local authority also manages the waiting lists and Birmingham City Council operates a co-ordinated arranges independent appeal hearings on behalf of admissions scheme with other admission authorities in community schools. Birmingham, as detailed above, and with surrounding local authorities. This means that your preferences can be for Voluntary aided schools schools that are inside and outside of Birmingham. If you These are schools that have been set up by voluntary apply for schools in another local authority then you should bodies, such as churches or foundations. The governing contact that authority for their information booklet. This will body at each voluntary aided school is its own admission help you to decide whether your application is likely to be authority and is responsible for setting the oversubscription successful based on their admission policies. If you are criteria at their school, although the local authority co- applying for a school in another local authority which gives ordinates the offer of places for reception class. priority for social/medical reasons, you should submit any supporting evidence with your application. If you are Foundation schools applying online you should send supporting information to The governing body is the admission authority at each [email protected]. However, if you are foundation school. The governing body is responsible for resident within Birmingham (i.e. If you pay your Council Tax setting the oversubscription criteria at their school, to Birmingham), for normal admission rounds, i.e. your although the local authority co-ordinates the offer of places child is starting school or transferring from an infant to a for reception class. junior school, your application must be made to Birmingham City Council even if one or more of your Page 6 To apply online – visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions preferred schools is situated within a neighbouring local Any child with an Education, Health and Care Plan/ authority’s area. For all other year groups you should statement of special educational needs is required to contact the relevant authority to establish how they deal be admitted to the school that is named in their with in-year applications. Contact details for surrounding plan/statement. This gives any such child overall priority local authorities can be found in Appendix 3. for admission to the named school. This is not an oversubscription criterion. Oversubscription criteria Children are admitted to schools in accordance with Definition of looked after or previously looked parental preference as far as possible. However, where after children there are more applications than there are places available, Looked after children or children who were previously places at schools will be offered based on the looked after but immediately after being looked after oversubscription criteria for that school.