A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

The tests will take place at Reading School onFriday 5 October 2012 <strong>and</strong> the LA will offerplaces to applicants living in Engl<strong>and</strong> on behalfof Reading School on 1 March 2013. ReadingSchool will offer places to <strong>parents</strong> who resideoutside Engl<strong>and</strong> on 1 February 2013.Deadline of receipt of applicationsThe deadline <strong>for</strong> receipt of applications toReading School is Monday 24 September2012. Residents in Engl<strong>and</strong> must apply totheir LA by the published closing date ofthat Local Authority.Applications received after thedeadlineApplications received after the deadline willbe treated as late applications. However,applications that are received late <strong>for</strong> a goodreason may be considered, if received be<strong>for</strong>e4 January 2013. Such cases might be if illnessprevented a single parent/carer fromreturning the <strong>for</strong>m on time, if the reason <strong>for</strong>lateness is supported in writing by a medicalprofessional involved in the case. Any suchc<strong>and</strong>idates will be tested on 14 January 2013.Test ResultsThe result of the entrance test will beposted to <strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> on 23 October2012. If you son is accessed as suitable <strong>for</strong>admission to Reading School you may wishto list Reading School as one of yourpreferences. However being assessedsuitable <strong>for</strong> admission to Reading School willnot guarantee a place as it is extremelylikely that there will be many more boyswho qualify than places available. In this casethe over-subscription criteria will be appliedto all where an application is received on thelocal authority <strong>for</strong>m.Special Educational NeedsThe <strong>parents</strong> of any child with specialeducational needs or a disability, who areapplying <strong>for</strong> a place at the School, shouldwrite to the Special Educational NeedsCoordinator so that the School can makeappropriate provision <strong>for</strong> the entry tests.Fraudulent ApplicationsAny in<strong>for</strong>mation that is subsequently provento be inaccurate will potentially invalidatethat application.Oversubscription CriteriaGrammar Schools are permitted to select theirentire intake on the basis of high academicability. To be considered <strong>for</strong> admission to theschool all applicants must take the entrancetests set by the school the results of which willbe used to allocate places.A cut-off point will be determined, belowwhich students will be deemed not tobenefit from the style of education providedat Reading School <strong>and</strong> these students willnot be offered a place <strong>and</strong> will not there<strong>for</strong>ebe ranked according to the over-subscriptioncriteria below.All applicants above the cut-off point will beranked in the following order <strong>and</strong> withineach category strictly by their per<strong>for</strong>mancein the test:i) The applicant has a statement of specialneeds <strong>and</strong> has named Reading Schoolspecifically on the statement.ii)iii)iv)The applicant is a child in care orpreviously in care.Children of members of the UK ArmedForces.The applicant has a boarding need.A waiting list ranked as above will be used tooffer further places if any original offers aredeclined either by the LA, or by the<strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> themselves. Parents ofchildren above the cut-off point who changetheir preference following allocation day i.ebecause their child was offered a higherpreference will be added to the waiting listaccording to the over-subscription criteria.The tie-break situationIf two or more borderline applicants havethe same ranking, then places will beallocated r<strong>and</strong>omly.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 44