A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDERBEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATIONThere is a co-ordinated admissions process inEngl<strong>and</strong> with exchange of in<strong>for</strong>mationbetween Local Authorities (LA). This meansthat you must apply to your home LA <strong>for</strong>any state-maintained secondary school inEngl<strong>and</strong>.The main points of Reading BoroughCouncil’s co-ordinated scheme are:• If you live in Reading Borough then youmust apply to Reading Borough Councileither online atwww.reading.gov.uk/schooladmissionsor by completing a paper application<strong>for</strong>m;• You can name up to four preferences• You are advised to put more than onepreference• Preferences should be ranked with yourhighest preferred school first• You must include any state maintainedschool you would like your child toattend including schools in other LocalAuthorities ie. Ox<strong>for</strong>dshire, WestBerkshire, Wokingham. This includesvoluntary aided schools, foundationschools, grammar schools <strong>and</strong>academies;• You may also need a supplementary<strong>for</strong>m <strong>for</strong> some schools;• You must apply by 31 October 2012;• Applications <strong>for</strong> schools named by<strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> are considered by theappropriate admission authority <strong>for</strong> theschool without reference to preference• That every parent/carer who has applied<strong>for</strong> a school place by the closing datereceives an offer of only one schoolplace;• The offer of a place by the LA may beon behalf of other admission authorities;• Offer letters will be posted on 1 March2013 <strong>for</strong> on-time applications;• You will be required to accept the placeby the 15 March 2013;• All schools will run waiting lists until atleast the end of December 2013. Somemay hold waiting lists longer.How can I find out more about aschool?It is important that you find out as much aspossible about the schools you areconsidering.You will probably already have an idea ofsome of the things about a school which areimportant to you or your child. You mayhave talked to other <strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong>, <strong>and</strong>although their ideas may be helpful, youshould always make your own judgement.You should visit the schools, by attendingthe Open Day or Evening or by appointmentwith the school. The Open Evenings/Dayslisted on page 19 are <strong>for</strong> schools serving theReading Borough area. In<strong>for</strong>mation aboutopen evenings/days <strong>for</strong> other schools can beobtained from the maintaining LocalAuthority or the school.In<strong>for</strong>mation evenings or drop in sessions <strong>for</strong><strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> have been arranged at someReading primary schools when a member ofthe Admission Team will be available to giveimpartial advice on the admission process.Further in<strong>for</strong>mation about these sessions isincluded in the application pack.You should obtain a copy of the school’sprospectus/brochure which will includedetails about:7If you have any queries please contact the Admissions Team on 0118 937 2550 or email: admissions.team@reading.gov.ukApply online at www.reading.gov.uk/schooladmissions