In Year Admissions www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions 1 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ schooladmissions 2 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Contents Application Process 4 General Information 8 Fair Access Protocol 13 School Transport 17 Admission Appeals 18 Applications 21 Use of Information – Data Protection and Security 23 Contact: School Admissions Email: [email protected] Cheshire East Council Floor 2, c/o Municipal Buildings Twitter: @CE_Admissions Earle Street Telephone: 0300 123 5012 Crewe CW1 2BJ Fax: 01270 686491 This document is available in alternative formats on request. Please call the Customer Services on 0300 123 5012. Although correct at the time of printing (August 2017), there may be changes before or during the year and in subsequent years. Further information can be obtained from the Council and from individual schools. Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 3 Application process 4 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Before you Apply Please note: ‘In year’ applications are those made during the • Applications for transfer to Knutsford Academy school year into any year group other than the the Studio and Crewe Engineering and Design normal point of entry to school. The normal UTC must be made direct to the school point of entry to Cheshire East schools is in • Applications to sixth forms must be made direct September into: to the school • the reception class for a primary school Other UTC/Studio schools within a reasonable • year 7 to secondary school travelling distance of Cheshire East to which residents can apply are listed in the Secondary • year 10 to Knutsford Academy Schools, UTC and Studio School booklet available The Studio and Crewe UTC on our website or in hard copy on request. • year 12 to a sixth form Information on how to apply will be provided on the relevant school website. We receive many ‘in year’ applications and these are generally where families are moving into You can also: Cheshire East or are moving from one part of the 1. Visit our website at Authority’s area to another. If you are thinking www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions about changing schools for reasons other than for more information about schools in Cheshire a house move we strongly advise that you East, including school contact details. discuss the proposed transfer with your current school. 2. Check our website for updated information showing schools with vacancies. Applications for Cheshire East schools will not normally be accepted more than 6 school 3. Follow links on our website to external websites weeks prior to the intended date of admission. including the latest Ofsted Reports. An exception to this will be at the end of the 4. Find out more information about schools using summer term when applications can be made the school’s own website. around 8 school weeks prior to the intended date To apply for a place in a Cheshire East of admission. This is to ensure that any appeals school you will need to complete an application procedures can be implemented before the end and the best way to do this is by completing of the school term in July. the online application form at Before making your application, you should www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions contact your preferred school to enquire about admission and vacancies at the school. You may also want to make an appointment to visit the school so that you can meet the headteacher, staff and pupils and have a look around the school. Follow us on Twitter: @CE_Admissions 5 Important Information Important Information Please note: Applications from UK or European Economic Details of your child’s current or most recent Area (EEA) citizens outside the UK can be education and any support that your child accepted, with the current address being used receives from other agencies will be requested. as the residential address for the application. This information is collected to ensure that you Please see our website for more information. receive appropriate support with your child’s admission to another school. The only exception to this is for families of service personnel with a confirmed posting to Cheshire East, or crown servants returning If you express a preference for a school designated from overseas to live in Cheshire East where the as having a religious character (faith school) you future address can be accepted. Evidence of will be asked to state the religious denomination this must be provided. of your child. You may also be required by the faith school to complete a supplementary information form. Forms will be available from Ready to Apply the school or on the Local Authority’s website but we advise that you discuss this with the school. When you are ready to apply for a school place you Supplementary information forms will request will need to go online to complete our electronic information in addition to that provided on the application form. Alternatively, telephone common application form such as membership 0300 123 5012 to make a telephone application of, or relationship with the church or a reference or request a hard copy of the application form, from a priest or other religious minister as proof of which you can complete and return to the religious commitment. Local Authority. You will be able to express three school Before proceeding with your application, you preferences ranked in your order of priority. will be advised that your child’s current or most Preferences will be forwarded electronically to recent school will be contacted to request further schools that you have named on your application information to assist the admissions process. form in the order of preference, and to the Local Sharing information is in the best interest of your Authority. On completing your application, you child to ensure a successful admission. If you do will be notified on screen that your application has not wish to proceed with your application on this been received. If you provided an email address basis, the form will advise you to contact the Local you will also receive a copy of the information you Authority on 0300 123 5012 for more information supplied. We advise that you contact your first about this process and your rights under the Data preference school to progress your application. If at Protection Act 1998. any time during the application process you have The form will ask you to provide your name, any questions or require support, you can contact address and contact details and to confirm your the Local Authority on 0300 123 5012 to speak to relationship to the child. You will also be asked an Admissions Officer. to provide your child’s name, date of birth and address and information about any brothers or sisters. 6 Apply online at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schooladmissions Fair Access Protocol If a place cannot be offered you will receive a letter or email from the school’s admission authority In order to ensure that a place is offered at a informing you of the decision of the admission suitable school as quickly as possible, some authority and of your legal right of appeal. applications will be processed in accordance with the Local Authority’s agreed Fair Access Protocol. Admission to school will normally take place This will only be implemented with the parent’s within 10 school days from the date of offer for approval and therefore, in all cases, where this is primary schools and within 20 school days from deemed appropriate to ensure a positive outcome the date of offer for secondary schools, although for the family, parents will receive full information this cannot be guaranteed. You are advised to before this procedure is implemented. This process discuss the start date with the school and this may take a little longer than the standard 10 school can then be confirmed to you in your offer letter. days to ensure full support is given, albeit the The letter/e-mail will include information about priority will be to secure a school place for your your legal right of appeal and confirmation of the child within a reasonable time. All your school reason/s why your application is unsuccessful, preferences and the ranked order of these will if this is relevant. be taken into account when a decision is taken Once your offer is confirmed in writing, you will on the school place offered. This process will not need to contact the school to accept or decline the affect your legal right of appeal. Details about this school place within no more than 10 school days process are provided later in this booklet. from the date of your offer letter. After you Apply If you are having difficulty securing a school place you should contact the Local Authority Applications will normally be processed within for advice on 0300 123 5012, which can include no more than 10 school days from the receipt information about alternative schools with of application and where there are spaces in the vacancies in your area. relevant year group a place will normally be offered to you. In cases where a school is oversubscribed and cannot offer all applicants a place, the admission authority will rank the applications in accordance with their published oversubscription criteria. These are the same criteria used to prioritise applications at the normal point of admission in September. Please refer to the booklet relevant to the academic year of entry for your application year group i.e. Primary school or Secondary school booklet. Admissions Authority Category of School All Community and Cheshire East Council Voluntary Controlled Schools in Cheshire East All non-Cheshire East Maintaining Local Community Authority and Voluntary Controlled Schools All other schools – Academy Trust/ Academies, Foundation, Governing Body of the Voluntary Aided and School Free Schools.