A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

circumstances transport applicationswill be considered if the distancebetween the home <strong>and</strong> the school ismore than 3 miles by the nearest safewalking route.Parents must not assume theirdesignated area school will be oversubscribed<strong>and</strong> their child would notget a place <strong>and</strong> there<strong>for</strong>e not list theschool as a higher preferencee) had to change schools outside thenormal admission round (i.e. not atthe beginning of Yr 7) <strong>and</strong> the schoolthat has been allocated by the LA isfurther than 3 miles safe walkingdistance from the pupil’s home.Unless you qualify under category a) abovethe following rules apply to transportprovision.You are not eligible <strong>for</strong> help with transportif you did not list your designated areaschool <strong>and</strong> your designated area schoolbecame over-subscribed, <strong>and</strong> so thismeant that your child was allocated a placeat a different school.Walking distanceWalking distance is defined by law <strong>for</strong> a childwho is 8 years old, or older, as 3 miles or4.828 km, measured by the nearest availablesafe walking route. This 3 miles safe walkingroute may not be the same as the routedriven by a vehicle. Reading Borough Councilmeasures the 3 miles safe walking route.Availability of free home to schooltransport if a child does not attendthe designated area schoolIf you do not send your child to yourdesignated area school your child will not beeligible <strong>for</strong> free home to school transport.Exceptions to this are- if your child attends a denominationalschool which is more than 3 miles safewalking distance, but less than 12 milesstraight-line distance from your home- it is not possible to offer a place at yourdesignated area school <strong>and</strong> school allocatedis more than three miles from your home.Free home to school transport <strong>for</strong>denominational schoolsA denominational school is usually aVoluntary Aided School with a religiousaffiliation. Reading Borough Councilcurrently provide denominational transportto Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School<strong>and</strong> The Piggott Church of Engl<strong>and</strong> (CE)School, Wargrave because these are thenearest maintained denominational schoolsunder 12 miles available to Reading residents.To qualify <strong>for</strong> denominational transport toBlessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic Schoolparent(s) need to worship regularly at aRoman Catholic Church. To qualify <strong>for</strong>denominational transport to The PiggottChurch of Engl<strong>and</strong> (CE) School parent(s)need to worship regularly at a Church ofEngl<strong>and</strong> Church. For both of these schoolsthe following also apply;a) the denominational school is morethan 3 miles safe walking distancefrom your home, <strong>and</strong>b) a denominational certificate is signedby the priest/minister of your normalplace of worship.Your child will not be provided with freetransport if there is a nearer appropriatedenominational school to where you live.Your child will not be provided withfree transport if either school is more than12 miles or 19.31 km in a straight line fromyour home. Please note that this distance of12 miles or 19.31 km is measured in astraightline distance from the child’s hometo the school entrance, <strong>and</strong> not measured bya safe walking route.67If 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