A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

Tie-BreakerIf the school does not have enough places<strong>for</strong> all applicants in a particular category –places will be allocated to those livingnearest to the school measured in a straightlinebetween the data point of the home<strong>and</strong> the data point of the school. The datapoint is the unique address point <strong>for</strong> eachproperty supplied by Ordnance Survey. Thedistance between the two points ismeasured using Reading Borough Council’smapping software. The data point <strong>for</strong> thehome <strong>and</strong> the school can be seen onReading Borough Council’s website.DEFINITIONSSiblingSiblings are children who have either thesame mother or father, or they are childrenwho live together in a family unit <strong>and</strong> withtheir parent/<strong>carers</strong>(s). Siblings must also liveat the same address as each other. If they donot live at the same address, then they arenot treated as siblings.Home addressSee page 3.Strong Medical/Social GroundsChildren with a chronic medical condition orstrong social grounds which is fullysupported by written confirmation from theprofessional person involved in the case,who states that Highdown School is the onlyschool that the pupil can attend because ofthe medical or social reasons.Multiple birthThe policy <strong>for</strong> school admissions is thatplaces are offered according to theoversubscription criteria. In the event thatit is not possible to offer places to allchildren of multibirths (twins etc) anadditional place(s) would be allocated to theother sibling(s).Waiting ListsAfter 1 March 2012 a ‘waiting list’ will beadministered if the school has moreapplicants than places available. A child’sposition on the waiting list is determinedaccording to the over-subscription criteria.When a place becomes available this will beoffered to the next child on the waiting list.Positions on the waiting lists may go up ordown due to student withdrawals or newarrivals. The waiting list will be retained untilthe end of December 2013. Waiting lists arenot kept beyond the 31 December <strong>for</strong> Year 7<strong>and</strong> not at any time <strong>for</strong> other year groups.In Year admissionsApplications <strong>for</strong> entry to Year 7 after 31August 2012 <strong>and</strong> applications <strong>for</strong> entry toYear 8 to Year 11 at any time are treated as inyear admissions.If numbers in the appropriate year group arebelow the admission number then a placewill be offered. If there are moreapplications than places available thenapplications will be considered according tothe published over-subscription criteria.Highdown School <strong>and</strong> Sixth Form Centre willparticipate in the Reading Local Authority’sagreed protocol.Applications will normally be considered <strong>for</strong>entry to their chronological year group.Applications <strong>for</strong> entry to a different yeargroup (e.g. in the case of a student movingfrom overseas where it maybe moreappropriate to consider intake one yearbelow normal) are considered by theappropriate Deputy Headteacher at theschool. Each case will be considered on itsown merits <strong>and</strong> circumstances. Thoserefused places outside the normal agegroups will be in<strong>for</strong>med of their statutoryright of appeal.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 26