A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

• school’s aims <strong>and</strong> objectives• the curriculum offered• attainment <strong>and</strong> achievements of pupils• attendance figures• out of school activities <strong>and</strong> clubs• in<strong>for</strong>mation on policies, such asbehaviour <strong>and</strong> disciplineYou can find other in<strong>for</strong>mation about theschool from the school’s website.You can get in<strong>for</strong>mation about attainment<strong>and</strong> assessment results, Ofsted reports <strong>and</strong>school profiles fromhttp://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/You should consider the following points<strong>and</strong> use available in<strong>for</strong>mation to decide onthe likelihood of getting a place at yourpreferred school(s)• How far your child will need to travel<strong>and</strong> how they will get there? How muchwill it cost? Will you be entitled to anyassistance with travelling expenses? Seepage 66 <strong>for</strong> details on Reading BoroughCouncil’s transport policy. Will thedistance be a problem if your childwants to take part in after-schoolactivities.• Does the school have a sixth <strong>for</strong>m?• Does it give preference to faithdenomination?• How many pupils there are <strong>and</strong> howmany places are available? Was theschool over-subscribed in previousyears? In<strong>for</strong>mation on the individualschools in Reading on pages 20 to 53gives in<strong>for</strong>mation about how manyapplications there have been <strong>for</strong> eachschool <strong>and</strong> how places have beenoffered in the past. Other LAs have thisin<strong>for</strong>mation in their <strong>guide</strong>s <strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>carers</strong>. This in<strong>for</strong>mation is a <strong>guide</strong>only as Admission Authorities cannotanticipate significant changes, <strong>for</strong>example a school not admitting alldesignated area applicants or a schoolhaving to reject applications <strong>for</strong> thefirst time.• Whether your preferred school is thedesignated school <strong>for</strong> your homeaddress. You can check this from ourwebsite <strong>for</strong> Reading Schools;www.reading.gov.uk/education<strong>and</strong>learningor contact the Admissions Team byemail or telephone.If you do not do so, <strong>and</strong> it is not possible tooffer one of your preferred schools, yourdesignated area may not have any placesavailable because they have been allocatedto children whose <strong>parents</strong> have named theschool as a preference. In thesecircumstances you may be offered a place ata school some distance away.When you have decided which school youwould like your child to attend you mustsubmit an application to Reading BoroughCouncil by the 31 October 2012 . You willneed to bear in mind that you do not have aright to choose which school your child willgo to. You only have a right to express apreference <strong>for</strong> a school. The admissionauthority <strong>for</strong> your preferred school(s) willconsider your application <strong>and</strong> if there areplaces available a place will be offered.However, If there are more applications thanplaces available the admission authority <strong>for</strong>the school will have to apply their oversubscriptioncriteria.Where can I get help with myapplication?If you have any questions about theadmission process you can either:• Telephone the Admission Team on0118 937 2550 or• Come into the Civic Centre at any timeduring office hours 9.00 a.m - 5.00 p.m.If you would like impartial advice on anyaspect of school admissions you cancontact:If 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 8