A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

IN YEAR ADMISSIONSParent/<strong>carers</strong> living in Reading Borough seeking aplace in any year group at any state school mustapply to Reading Borough Council <strong>and</strong> completethe Secondary In Year Application Form which isavailable from the Admissions Team or from thewebsite. Applications will be passed on Fridaysfollowing receipt of the application either to theGoverning Body of the Reading school namedas preference or to the Local Authority in whichthe preferred school is located. The GoverningBody of the school or Local Authority willin<strong>for</strong>m Reading Borough Council whether aplace is available. This process should not takelonger than ten school days. Reading BoroughCouncil will then in<strong>for</strong>m the parent/carerwhether a place is available at their preferredschool.Where applications have been made <strong>for</strong>Wokingham Borough Council schools<strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> will be in<strong>for</strong>med about theoutcome of their application by that authority<strong>and</strong> Reading Borough Council will be in<strong>for</strong>med.Schools must not make offers direct to<strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong>. If the child has moved intoReading <strong>and</strong> has no school place we aim toensure the child has started at their new schoolwithin 20 school days. Request to transfer fromone local school to another, where there hasnot been a change of address, will beconsidered in the same way but the child wouldnot normally transfer to a new school until thebeginning of a new term.Sometimes is may be necessary to considerapplications as part of the ‘Fair Access Protocol’.This may mean that the application processtakes longer as it may be necessary to obtainschool reports from previous schools to helpschools identify any special needs or supportneeded to ensure a smooth transition to a newschool. The Fair Access Protocol supports thefollowing groups of pupils:• Managed moves - pupils who have arecord of challenging behaviour <strong>and</strong> are atrisk of permanent exclusion• New to area pupils with known seriousbehaviour difficulties• New to area pupils or application whohave serious attendance problems• Pupils who have had one permanentexclusion• Traveller pupils• Pupils attending alternative education –normally Cranbury College requiring reintegrationto mainstream provision• Children returning from the criminaljustice system without a school place• Children withdrawn from schools by theirfamily, following fixed term exclusions <strong>and</strong>unable to find another place• Children known to the police or otheragencies• Children of refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekers• Children who have a record of ElectiveHome Education judged to beunsatisfactory• Children who are unplaced following amove to Reading Borough• Homeless children• Children with unsupportive familybackgrounds, where a place has not beensought• Children who are <strong>carers</strong>• Children with disabilities or medicalconditions• Children of UK service personnel <strong>and</strong>other Crown Servants• Children with special needs – (but withouta statement)• Children in Care of a Local AuthorityChildren without a school place will takepriority <strong>for</strong> places over children on school’swaiting lists.A <strong>guide</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>carers</strong> on In YearAdmissions is available from the website.A copy of Reading Borough Council’s FairAccess Policy is available from the websitewww.reading.gov.uk/schooladmissionsIf 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 64