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Secondary Transfer & Admissions 2009

Secondary Transfer & Admissions 2009. 16 September 2008 6:00 – 6:45p.m School Hall. Key Dates for Parents :. Secondary Common Application Forms. Parents are invited to express four preferences in priority order. Putting down one school only will not improve the chance of getting a place.

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Secondary Transfer & Admissions 2009

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  1. Secondary Transfer & Admissions 2009 16 September2008 6:00 – 6:45p.m School Hall

  2. Key Dates for Parents:

  3. Secondary Common Application Forms • Parents are invited to express four preferences in priority order. Putting down one school only will not improve the chance of getting a place. • SCAFs can be submitted online. If this is the case, parents must not submit a paper copy. (However, please print a copy of online form and give it to us in school). Online very successful last year – offers a faster, smoother and easier experience. www.kent.gov.uk/ola • SCAFs must be completed and returned to us at school by 5 November 2008 (Kent LA collecting all forms on 7 November 2008). If the deadline is missed, your SCAF will not be considered until after 3 March 2008. • Choice Advisors are available to help any parent who is unsure about the transfer process. Further details can be found in your booklet. Contact details - Tel: 01622 694073 E-mail: choiceadvisor@kent.gov.uk • We are here to help! If you have any difficulties in completing the SCAF, please come and ask.

  4. Place Allocation • The Local Authority operates an ‘Equal Preference’ scheme. This basically means that secondary schools do not know if they are your first, second, third or fourth choice. (This gives all of our children from Woodlands Junior School the same opportunities and chances as all children in Tonbridge). • The order in which you place schools only matters if you are given more than one offer – if this is the case, priority will be given according to your SCAF priority choice. • It is important you are aware of the ‘over-subscription criteria’ that schools use when allocating places. Please refer to your Secondary Admissions booklets for guidance.

  5. You could apply to… You could also apply to… Tonbridge School (boys) – Foundation Award (not Year 7 though: sent to prep) Sevenoaks School (mixed)- bursaries Walthamstow Hall (girls)- Scholarships and bursaries Rochester College (mixed)- Scholarships Worth (boys)- Scholarships These five schools are ALL fee paying schools.

  6. Before completing your preferences… • You know your child – although we are here to offer advice and support, the best way of deciding which secondary school is right for your child is to go and visit them. Try and go when the school is functioning on a ‘normal’ day – the best way to see a school for real is to see it with pupils in it! Which school will meet the need of your child best?

  7. Distance counts! • Home to school transport is a consideration for many parents of children that are transferring to secondary school. • The criteria to receive home to school transport are that the child must be attending the nearest appropriate school for transport purposes and the distance between home and school must be more than 3 miles via the shortest available walking route. • The Local Authority measure distance in a straight line using OS address point data. • During your visit to the secondary school ask about ‘catchment areas’ – refer to your booklet for more details (Parish guidance) • Are you going to be able to get your child to the school of your choice? Consider travel arrangements and transport.

  8. Transport • The admissions and transport policies are completely separate – the most appropriate school for admissions may not be the nearest appropriate school for transport purposes. • Children will not automatically receive travel assistance to any school that offers them a place. • Families entitled to free school meals or working tax credit may receive transport assistance to one of their three nearest appropriate schools that are between 2 to 6 miles away. (2 – 15 miles if the child is attending a church school on denominational grounds). If this applicable to any of you, please come and see me for further details. The Local Authority will require proof of receipt. Eligibility will be reviewed on an annual basis.

  9. Offers • On 2 March 2009, the Local Authority will be sending all parents offers – one school only. • Parents will receive postal offers on 3 March 2009. • Online applications will receive their offer via email after 4:00pm on 2 March 2009. • If you are happy with the offer – great! Make sure you accept the offer before 26 March 2009 (the place could be lost if you fail to accept on time). If you are not happy with the offer, please come and see me as soon as possible. An appeal must be put in before 26 March 2009.

  10. Appeals • Any parent has the right to appeal to any school named on their SCAF which refuses them a place. • There will be further information about appeals in the letter or email received on 2 or 3 March 2009. • If you are going to appeal a decision, please come and see me. Evidence may needed to support the appeal. Appeals happen quickly – we need to be up to speed!

  11. Online Applications – www.kent.gov.uk/ola • After the problems with the online system two years ago, Kent LA worked hard to correct problems last year. As a result, the online experience was very positive and all online applications received offers on the scheduled day. • Parents can use their log in details to edit their application, view their online application at any time and view their offer details after the allocation date. • SCAFs can be submitted online before the deadline (7 November 2008). • Online applications must not send in a paper copy (although I ask you return a printed form to us at school). • Online offers will be sent via email (although if you do not have an email address offers will be posted). The email offer will not be sent until after 4:00pm on 2 March 2009.

  12. Judd, Skinners’ & Tonbridge Grammar School • The New School Admissions Code require grammar schools which rank all pupils according to aggregated test scores not to give special priority to siblings. • This means that the ‘over-subscription criteria’ for the three schools named above have changed slightly. Read guidance notes in Admissions Handbook. • Siblings may, of course, still be offered a place at these schools, but only if they qualify through their ranked score.

  13. Summary • Your completed SCAF must be returned to us at school by 5 November 2008 (collected by Kent LA on 7 November). • If you are completing the SCAF online, please print a summary copy and hand in to school before 7 November. It will help us to support and track your application. • Visit all schools of interest to see which school would suit your child best. You know your child – talk to them, be realistic and continue to encourage and support them in all they do. • When your offer arrives in March, ensure you respond – accept the offer or appeal. Please see me if appealing. • You are not on your own! We are here to help and support you – to make the transfer process as stress free as possible. • Support your child throughout the whole year – their SATs in May are also important to them, and us!

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