Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education 2014

1. (PESE) Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education 2014

2. 2013Year 6 placements • Mascalls 5 • Invicta 5 • Maidstone Boys 3 • Maidstone Girls 0 • Bennett Memorial 1 • Hugh Christie 0 • Malling 0 • Oakwood 2 • Weald 2 • Hillview 1 • Judd 1 • Skinners 1 • St Simon Stock 1 • Wrotham 1 • Hadlow Free School 3 • Other (private / moved) 2 94% 0f Kent Applications got into their first or second choice school.

3. KCC Transferring to secondary School http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education/applying_for_a_school_place/transfer_to_secondary_school.aspx http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education/applying_for_a_school_place/transfer_to_secondary_school.aspx

4. ‘Admission to Secondary School’ Information about; • Application process • Transport • Individual Schools

5. Key Dates • 1st July Closing date for Kent Test Registration • September PESE Information booklet available. • 11th and 12th Sept Kent Test takes place • 16h Oct Kent Test Assessment decisions sent to parents (email / post) • September / October Attend open evenings and sessions at secondary schools • 31st October Closing date for applications • 3rd March 2014 Offer of one school place sent to parents by home LA. (after 4pm for email confirmations) • 19th March 2014 Parents confirm to LA if they wish to join school waiting list. • 21st March 2014 Last date to confirm acceptance to LA. • 2nd April 2014 Date by which you can lodge an appeal • April to June Admission Appeals heard. • 23rd April 2014 Vacant places reallocated by KCC • 24th April 2014 Parents can apply to individual schools.

6. On-line Applications SCAF • You are encouraged to apply on-line. • School IT facilities and support will be made available. See office staff to book a slot. • Parents are invited to select 4 choices in PRIORITY ORDER. Selecting only one does NOT improve your chances. • Take care to choose the correct school in the drop down boxes • Print off two copies, retain one and bring the other to school.

7. www.kent.gov.uk/olaOn-line Applications You will need to register on line before submitting your application. Parents who have previously submitted a Kent Test application will be able to pick that up and add details of preferences and resubmit. You do NOT need an email address to apply on line, although the provision of one will allow you to receive confirmation of your application. (check Spam filter is off) Once registered you can edit your application up until close date and view details at any time. If you have submitted an On-line application, do NOT submit a paper one too.

8. Closing Date • Applications MUST be received by KCC (post or email) by 31st October 2013

9. Kent Test • LA will write to parents advising them of the assessment decisions on 16th October. • Parents who registered on line and provided an email address will receive the assessment by email after 4pm on 16th October. • There is no parental right of appeal against the outcome to a child’s assessment, but parents may make an admission appeal after 2nd April to the independent appeal panel if the child is refused admission to any school they applied for. • A Grammar school assessment does not guarantee a grammar school place. Allocation rests on each schools published oversubscription criteria for admission.

10. Other Local Authority Schools All will have their own deadlines. If you are seeking a school in a different Local Authority, check their own web site.

11. School Choices • Invited to make 4 choices in rank of preference. • Schools are informed of people who have applied for places, but are not told of order. • Schools rank depending on published criteria. (distance, siblings, pass Kent Test etc) • If more than one school offers, the LA will send parents the offer of the highest placed on the form. • If no schools offer, the LA will offer a suitable alternative.

12. Distances Non negotiable! Measured in a straight line using Ordnance Survey software. Taken from a fixed point in the home to a defined point at the school.

13. Offer of School Place • 3rd March 2014 Offer of one school place sent to parents by home LA. (after 4pm for email confirmations) • 19th March 2014 Parents confirm to LA if they wish to join school waiting list. • 21st March 2014 Last date to confirm acceptance to LA. • 2nd April 2014 Date by which you can lodge an appeal • April to June Admission Appeals heard. • 23rd April 2014 Vacant places reallocated by KCC • 24th April 2014 Parents can apply to individual schools

14. Transport To be eligible, the child must; • Attend the nearest appropriate (age /Special) school • The distance between school and home must be more than 3 miles via the shortest walking route. • Free transport may be available for parents in receipt of benefit or for religious schools. • Home to School Transport application form available on line.

15. Freedom Pass • For pupils in year 7 -11 • £100 a year • Unlimited travel weekdays and weekends on most buses.

16. What next? Look through the booklet entitled ‘Admission to Secondary School in Kent 2012’. Visit schools to get a feel for them. Don’t dismiss anything yet. Make sure you keep to the deadlines. Keep Mereworth School informed of your decisions. This presentation will be put on the website. Consult it if you need re-assuring. Don’t panic! This is a challenging time for your child. You need to provide stability and re-assurance. They still have a year at Mereworth and need to be able to enjoy the experience and make progress with their learning.