BORROWDALE C E PRIMARY SCHOOL

ADMISSIONS POLICY

2012/2013

Full-time children are admitted to Reception in Key Stage One in September at the beginning of the school year in which they will have their fifth birthday.

THE ADMISSION NUMBER

The admission number for each intake is 7 pupils.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications should be submitted using the Local Authority’s (LA’s) admissions form SPT/1. Form SPT/1 and more information about the application process are contained in the parental information pack published for parents by the LA.

The closing date for admission to Reception in September 2012 will be December (date to be advised) 2011 and places will be allocated in April (date to be advised) 2012.

The right of admission in Church Aided School lies with the governing body of the school.

Admissions to the school will be on the basis of catchment, family, church and geographical considerations.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

If at any time there are more applicants than places available, children will be admitted in the following order of priority, which will be applied in conjunction with the notes below.

1.  Children looked after, i.e. in public care giving priority, if necessary, to the youngest child(ren). [see note 1 below]

2.  Children living in the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school at the time of their admission. [see note 2 below]

3.  Children from within the catchment area whose parents regularly attend a arecognisedChristianchurch [see note 3 below]

4.  Other children living in the catchment area giving priority to those living closest to the school measured by the shortest walking route measured from the main school gate to the front door of the home by road, using the Local Authority GIS measuring system.

5.  Children living outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school at the time of their admission. [see note 2 below]

6.  Children from outside the catchment area whose parents regularly attend a arecognisedChristianchurch. [see note 3 below]

7.  Children living outside the catchment area, giving priority to those who live closest to the school, measured from the main school gate to the front door of the home by road, using the Local Authority GIS measuring system.

Note 1 - A child looked after, i.e. in public care, is defined in the School Admissions Code as a child who is looked after by a local authority within the meaning of Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.

Note 2 - If it is necessary to prioritise in categories 2 or 5, priority will be given to those children with the youngest siblings. Brothers and sisters are those living at the same address and includes step and foster children.

Note 3 - If it is necessary to prioritise in categories 3 or 6 the measurement criteria in categories 4 and 7 respectively will be used. To be considered under category 3 or 6 parents must provide proof that they have attended arecognisedChristianchurch at least once a month for at least six months prior to the application. This may relate to more than one church.

Applications will be prioritised using the above criteria. An exception may be made if a child has a statement of special educational needs naming Borrowdale C of E School, as in these circumstances the Governing Body would have a statutory duty to admit the child concerned.

THE CATCHMENT AREA

The catchment area means the area formed by the ecclesiastical parish of Borrowdale. A map of the catchment area is available on request.

THE RIGHT OF APPEAL

Appeals Procedure:

If your child is not offered a place at Borrowdale School, you have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel, which is entirely independent of the Governing Body. The only exception to this is if your child has a statement of Special Educational Needs. In these circumstances your right of appeal would be to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. If you require further information about this, you should contact the Special Needs Service.

How do I appeal?

If your child is not offered a place at Borrowdale School, you will be notified in writing. You should appeal by writing to the Clerk to the Governors at the school. You will be given at least 10 school days from the date of notification that your application was unsuccessful, to prepare and submit your written appeal to the Independent Appeal Panel. You will also be given at least 10 school days notice of the date, time and venue of the appeal in order that you may attend the hearing to present your case, if you so wish.

WAITING LIST

Once places have been allocated, children refused a place will continue to be considered for any vacancies which become available. The Governors of Borrowdale Primary School will maintain a waiting list for at least one term in the academic year of admission. This is the process for the normal admissions round. Parents can at any time ask for their child’s name to be admitted into other year groups or placed on the waiting list, should there not be spaces available. Vacancies will always be allocated by applying the admissions policy and the length of time on the waiting list will not be a consideration.

LATE APPLICATIONS

Following the allocation of places in the Reception intake the LA will, at the end of May, re-allocate any places which become available as a result of parents not wishing to take up their offer.

Applications received after the closing date will be considered after the allocation decisions have been made, except in exceptional circumstances, such as when a family has just moved into an area. If there is space available, places will thereafter be allocated in the order in which they are received. If places are over-subscribed and a place becomes available, the admissions policy will be applied to those on the waiting list at the time it is confirmed that a space is available.

DEFERRED ENTRY TO RECEPTION

If a child who has not reached statutory school age has been allocated a place in Reception and their parent wishes to delay their entry the place will be held open. The place must be taken up when the child reaches statutory school age or by the start of the summer term at the latest.

Signed: Alan Leyland (Chair of Governors)

Date: 2 February 2011

Review Date: September 2011