Draft Admissions Policy
Model Admissions Policy 2011-12
A Word version of this draft policy is available from Brian Hedley, Assistant Director: b.hedley@newcastle.anglican.org
Please use this as a template and customise it for your school. Populate the red writing with your own information and delete red support notes before publishing
Put the name of your school and the year to which the policy applies here
The governing body of ********** Voluntary Aided Church of England School is the Admissions Authority for the school and they intend to admit up to *** pupils to the reception year group in September 2011/12. This arrangement follows consultation between the governing body, Local Authority, all other schools in the area and all other Admission Authorities in the area.
The school is open to receive applications for admissions from the parents of all children. We must give priority to children with a statement of special educational needs which names the school, and those in the care of the local authority (looked after children). In the event of the number of applications exceeding the number of places available priority will be given to applications in the order of priority indicated below.
Over-subscription Criteria
Governors should decide the order of priority and rearrange the criteria as appropriate then delete this red text before publishing
• Children with a brother or sister at the school at the time when they would be admitted to the school. See note 2
• Children of parents/carers worshipping regularly and frequently at the Parish Church of (name of church or churches). (Regularly and frequently is defined as attendance at least once per month over the last twelve months. It is sufficient for just one parent/carer to attend). See notes 3 and 4
• Children who live in the Parish(es) of (name of church or churches). See notes 3
• Children of parents worshipping in another Christian Church who wish their child to attend this school because of its Christian foundation.
• Children who have special medical needs or other special circumstances, (supported by medical/professional opinion) See note 5
• Other children.
Tie Breaker
Where there are places available for some but not all applicants within a particular criterion, distance from home to school will be the deciding factor, with preference given to those whose home address is nearest to the school when measured as the crow flies from the front door of the child’s home address to the main gate of the school using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system.
Waiting List
The school office will maintain a waiting list of applicants until 31 December each year. In the event of a place becoming available in the appropriate class during the year and there being more applicants on the waiting list than places available, the selection criteria and tie breaker indicated above will apply.
Notes
1. Parents are asked to let the head teacher know at the time of application whether their child has a disability. Parents should be assured that the nature of the disability is not grounds for refusing the application. The school will make every reasonable adjustment to ensure that disabled children are not put at a substantial disadvantage in accessing a full curriculum and that they will not be treated less favourably, without reasonable justification, than their able-bodied peers.
2. Brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of a parent’s/carer’s partner – in every case the child should be living in the same family unit at the same address.
3. If applicants are seeking admission under criterion of living in the Parish or worshipping regularly and frequently at a Parish Church as above, they will be asked to provide evidence that they worship regularly and frequently, e.g. a letter from the incumbent.
4. A map showing the parish boundaries can be inspected at the school office.
5. If applicants are seeking admission under criterion of special medical needs or other special circumstances, they will be asked to provide appropriate evidence, e.g. a letter from a doctor or specialist. The governors must be satisfied that there is a specified medical reason which makes attendance at this school essential.
Important
• Nursery admissions are entirely separate and parents are asked to note that attendance at the school’s nursery does not guarantee a place in the reception class.
• Parents who are refused a place have a statutory right of appeal. Further details of the appeals process are available by writing to the Chair of Governors at the school address.
• If a place is offered on the basis of false information (e.g. address or Church attendance) or if parents do not respond within the stated timescale to the offer of a place the governing body reserves the right to withdraw their offer.
The school finds it very helpful to have an early indication of the number of children to be admitted to the reception class the following September. However, it must be stressed that formal written applications for admission must be made on the form provided by the Local Authority and returned to the Local Authority by the stated date. Places will then be allocated by strict application of the above criteria, with no reference to the date of application. Parents will be notified as to whether or not their child has been allocated a place by the Local Authority.
___________________________________ Chair of Governors
__________________ Date.