A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

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are included in the Local Authority CoordinatedAdmissions arrangements.ApplicationAlso known as the Common Application Form(CAF).Parents/<strong>carers</strong> must apply <strong>for</strong> a secondaryschool place to their home Local Authority.Applications can be submitted online or on apaper application <strong>for</strong>m. Reading BoroughCouncil residents must apply to ReadingBorough Council either online atwww.reading.gov.uk/schooladmissions/ or ona Reading Borough Council paper application<strong>for</strong>m.Department <strong>for</strong> Education (DfE)Is the central government departmentresponsible <strong>for</strong> children <strong>and</strong> schools. The DfEpublish the School Admission Code. This islegal framework that all Local Authorities <strong>and</strong>schools must follow <strong>for</strong> school admissions.Reading Borough Council’s co-ordinatedadmission scheme <strong>and</strong> the schools’ admissionpolicies comply with the legal requirements ofthis code. The latest version of the SchoolAdmission Code can be obtained from theDfE website. www.education.gov.uk.Designated AreaDesignated area (sometimes known as‘catchment area’) is a geographical area fromwhich children are given priority <strong>for</strong> admissionto a school as part of the oversubscriptioncriteria. If there are more applications thanplaces available children living in thedesignated area of a school will be givenpriority but it does not guarantee admissionto that school. A map of Reading BoroughCouncil area on page 60 shows the designatedof schools that include addresses in theBorough. More detailed in<strong>for</strong>mation on thedesignated areas in Reading is available fromReading Borough Council’s websitewww.reading.gov.uk or from the AdmissionsTeam. Some voluntary aided schools may useparishes or other boundaries. In<strong>for</strong>mationabout designated areas <strong>for</strong> schools in otherLocal Authorities can be obtained from thatauthority.Home AddressThe definition of home address can varydepending on the policy of the admissionauthority. You will need to check <strong>for</strong> yourpreferred schools. The following is thedefinition used <strong>for</strong> Reading schools.Applications <strong>for</strong> schools are processed onthe basis of the child’s single permanenthome address where they live with theirparent(s) or carer(s). Where the home addresshas changed from the address provided bythe primary school be<strong>for</strong>e the 9 September2012 or changes during the applicationprocess, evidence regarding the new address<strong>and</strong> disposal of the previous address througha contract of sale or change of tenancyagreement may be required. Parents/<strong>carers</strong>will be asked to declare that the addressused will be the child’s home address beyond1 September 2013. Any change of addressafter submitting the application must benotified to Reading Borough Council. Theoffer letter sent on 1 March 2013 will be sentto the home address used to allocate theplace at the named school. If the homeaddress has changed <strong>and</strong> the Admission Teamhave not been notified then the placeoffered in the letter may be withdrawn. TheAdmission Team may check the records heldby Reading Borough Council Tax Departmentto confirm the home address supplied. TheAdmission Authority, or Reading BoroughCouncil on their behalf, reserve the right tocarry out investigations <strong>and</strong> seek furtherevidence e.g child benefit, medical cards. If achild spends part of the week with <strong>parents</strong> atdifferent addresses, the home address will bewhere they usually spend the majority of theschool week (Monday to Friday, includingnights) with a parent. Where a family claimsto be resident at more than one address,justification <strong>and</strong> evidence of the family’scircumstances (e.g legal separation) will berequired. Temporary addresses whilstretaining a previous permanent home will notbe accepted. If a child does not live with a3If 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
parent or legal carer i.e a single parent familywhere the parent is ill <strong>and</strong> the child lives witha gr<strong>and</strong><strong>parents</strong> <strong>for</strong> the majority of the week.A full explanation will need to be supplied,together with supporting evidence from aprofessional supporting the family/child. TheAdmission Authority has the right to rejectapplications or withdraw a school placebased on fraudulent or intentionallymisleading in<strong>for</strong>mation concerning a child’spermanent home address. There will be aright of appeal to an independent appealpanel should this happen. The AdmissionsTeam occasionally receives in<strong>for</strong>mation frommembers of the public concerning potentialmisleading or fraudulent applications. Signedstatements will be required to support suchallegations together with supportingevidence in order that such allegations canbe investigated. The names of anyonesupplying in<strong>for</strong>mation will be withheld inaccordance with the Council’s WhistleBlowing Policy which can be found on theCouncil’s website www.reading.gov.ukLocal Authority (LA)The Local Authority (LA) is responsible <strong>for</strong> themaintained schools in its area.Your home LA is the LA in which you live. Thismay be different from the LA in which yourchild goes to school. It is the Council to whichyou pay Council Tax. Reading Borough Council(RBC) is a Local Authority.Looked After Children (LAC)These are children who are in the care of alocal authority or provided withaccommodation by that authority; or in anarrangement supported by the LocalAuthority. The Local Authority is thecorporate parent.Medical/socialIt is important that you check whether theadmission authority of your preferredschool(s) uses this category as part of oversubscriptioncriteria <strong>for</strong> admission. It is notused by all admission authorities <strong>and</strong> whenused it is given different levels of priority. Ifyou believe your application meets the criteriayou must check how the admission authorityof your preferred school will consider yourapplication <strong>and</strong> what evidence you mustsupply. It will not be sufficient to tick theboxes online or on the paper <strong>for</strong>m assupporting evidence must be provided by youor the professional supporting your request atthe time of application.National CurriculumThe current National Curriculum provides abroad <strong>and</strong> balanced education <strong>for</strong> all children,<strong>and</strong> is divided into four key stages accordingto age. It includes statutory assessments,consisting of tests <strong>and</strong> teacher assessments, atthe end of key stage 2 <strong>and</strong> teacherassessments at the end of key stages 1 <strong>and</strong> 3.The Key Stages in Secondary School are:Year 711-12 yearsYear 8 Key Stage 3 12-13 yearsYear 913-14 yearsYear 1014-15 yearsYear 11 Key Stage 4 15-16 yearsYear 1216-17 yearsYear 13 Post 16 17-18 yearsNORSt<strong>and</strong>s <strong>for</strong> number on roll <strong>and</strong> means numberof children attending a school.OfstedThis is the abbreviated name of the Office <strong>for</strong>St<strong>and</strong>ards in Education, which is thegovernment department responsible <strong>for</strong>inspecting <strong>and</strong> producing inspection reportson schools. Ofsted reports are available fromschools or fromhttp://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ orwww.ofsted.gov.ukIf 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 4
Page 1 and 2: MOVING ON TOSECONDARY SCHOOL2013-20
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTSTimetableExplanation of Ter
Page 5: EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED INTHIS GU
Page 9 and 10: for each end point
Page 11 and 12: • school’s aims and</st
Page 13 and 14: HOW TO APPLY FOR A SECONDARYSCHOOL
Page 15 and 16: If your child does not attend a Rea
Page 17: Can school 1 beoffered?YesOffer pla
Page 20 and 21: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSThis section m
Page 22 and 23: OPEN EVENINGSBlessed Hugh Faringdon
Page 24 and 25: Late Change of PreferenceA late cha
Page 26 and 27: communion with the See of Rome’.T
Page 28 and 29: Highdown School& Sixth Form CentreS
Page 30 and 31: Pre-Admission MeetingAs part of the
Page 32 and 33: Any applicant unsuccessful in the s
Page 34 and 35: Open EveningOpen Evening - Monday 2
Page 36 and 37: e inaccurate will potentially inval
Page 38 and 39: normally be achieved in a single si
Page 40 and 41: lowest score to qualify for
Page 42 and 43: address is NOT in the designated ar
Page 44 and 45: Reading SchoolErleigh RoadReadingRG
Page 46 and 47: Children who are not in the normala
Page 48 and 49: Boarding needChildren with a boardi
Page 50 and 51: ii)iii)iv)needs and</strong
Page 52 and 53: Entrance TestsThe entrance tests wi
Page 54 and 55: Reading Girls’ SchoolNorthumberl<
Page 56 and 57:
Admissions to other Year GroupsAppl
Page 58 and 59:
Process of Application2. (a) Arrang
Page 60 and 61:
(e) If we are unable to distinguish
Page 62 and 63:
22. As the Year 10 entry is followi
Page 64 and 65:
Schools in Other Local AuthoritiesI
Page 66 and 67:
Schools in West Berkshire Council c
Page 68 and 69:
Post 16 and Sixth
Page 70 and 71:
circumstances transport application
Page 72 and 73:
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CHARGINGAND G
Page 74 and 75:
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDSWhat are s
Page 76 and 77:
within the Borough of Reading” is
Page 78 and 79:
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ANDCONTACT DET
Page 80:
Every effort has b
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A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

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