Secondary school admissions brochure 2016/17

Transcription

Children and Adults Services
Secondary
School
Admissions
in County Durham 2016/2017
Apply online:
www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Admission to Secondary Schools in County Durham
11 September 2015 Secondary School Admissions Guide
for parents and application form published for parents.
Apply online at www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions or complete an application
and return to the School Admissions and Transport Team, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UJ
no later than 31 October 2016.
Does your child have a statement of Special Educational Needs, are they
undergoing a Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs,
or do they have an Education, Health and Care Plan?
No
On 1 March 2016 the School Admissions and Transport Team
will inform you in writing of the school place offered to your child.
This will be in line with your preference where possible.
See page 7 for details of admission criteria for community and
voluntary controlled schools and section 2 for other schools.
See page 16 for details of the
Home to School Transport Policy
Yes
Durham LA determines, in consultation with you,
a school place through the Statutory Assessment
and Review Procedure.
You should contact the SEND Team
for further information.
03000 265878
Is the secondary school place offered acceptable to you?
No
If you did not apply for a school place via the online application
process, and wish to add your child's name to the waiting list for a
place at a preferred school(s) return the form sent with your offer
letter by 15 March 2016. If you did apply online, please access
the Primary School Proforma hyperlink and complete the Waiting
List section.
See page 12 for details of how places are offered to children
on the waiting list.
We recommend that your offer of a school place is not refused
unless/until another school place is allocated or an alternative
education provision is confirmed. This is because if you refuse
the school place offered, it may be reallocated and may not be
available if you do not secure a place at another school. To
accept the school place offered, respond to your offer email. If
you did not apply online, return the acceptance form
sent with your offer letter by 15 March 2016.
Yes
Accept the place by responding to
your offer email. If you did not apply
online, return the acceptance form
with your offer letter by
15 March 2016.
Do you wish to appeal against the decision not to offer your
child a place at the preferred school?
Yes
Please contact a member of the School Admissions and
Transport Team on 03000 265896 and complete the notice of
school admissions appeals form available at
www.durham.gov.uk/schoolappeals
and submit by 17 May 2016.
No
You need to take no further action.
An appeal will be arranged and heard by an Independent
Appeals Panel between May 2016 and July 2016.
See page 10 for further details.
Please note that a different process exists for the Apollo Studio Academy and UTC South Durham
- See Section 2
Contents
SECTION 1
How to apply for a secondary school place for September 2016
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General information
How to apply online
How to apply using the application form
Late applications
Co-ordinated admissions
Applications for other Local Authority (LA) schools
Equal preference
Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
1
2
3
3
5
5
5
6
How places are offered
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Oversubscription criteria, community secondary schools, foundation schools
and academies (not faith academies)
Additional information
Reserving places
7
8
10
What to do if you do not get a place for your child at one of your preferred schools/academies
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Appeals
Waiting Lists
11
12
Other admission information
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In-Year Fair Access
Transfer of children between schools/academies
In-year admissions
Applying for an in-year place in another LA Area
Admission of children outside their normal age group
Children of UK service personnel
Withdrawing an offer or a place
Sixth Forms
13
13
13
13
13
14
14
14
Home to school travel
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Home to School/College Transport policy
General transport information
Sustainable Modes of Travel strategy
School Travel Planning and School Travel Plans
16
22
22
22
Other useful information
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Clothing
School meals
Charging for school/academy activities
The National Curriculum
23
23
23
23
Individual school/academy information
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25
Contents
SECTION 2
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Admission policies for:
- Voluntary aided (faith) academies/schools
- Apollo Studio Academy
- UTC South Durham
30
56
58
SECTION 3

Map of nearest community secondary school, foundation school or
academy boundary (non-faith)
63
Foreword
Dear Parent/Carer
This Guide is intended to provide you with all the information you
will need to apply for a school place for your child.
Children in County Durham benefit from many schools with superb
facilities and dedicated, talented staff. Our admissions system is
designed to help you express your preferences for those schools
which you believe will most suit your child’s needs.
Durham County Council, the Local Authority (LA), recognises that
your child’s education is one of the most important aspects of their
life. It influences their formative years and their future. We hope
that this guide helps you find a place in the school that is right for
your child so that he or she will have a happy and successful start
to their school career.
Councillor Ossie Johnson
Cabinet Member for Children
and Adults Services
Rachael Shimmin
Corporate Director,
How to apply Online
Please read the whole of this Parents’ Guide carefully as it tells you everything you need to know
about obtaining a place at the secondary school for your son or daughter. If you still have
questions you should contact the School Admissions and Transport Team or the relevant
admissions authority for the school/academy. The offer of a school place will be made by Durham
LA in respect of all maintained schools and academies in the Durham LA area.
General information
separate applications and work out if your child
qualifies for a place using the oversubscription
criteria. If your child qualifies for more than one
school or academy you have listed, Durham LA
will offer a place at your highest ranked
preference. If we cannot offer you one of your
preferences Durham LA will offer you a place at
the nearest suitable school or academy with
places available.
Children born between 1 September 2004 and 31
August 2005 will be eligible to start secondary
school in September 2016.
County Durham Local Authority (LA) sets the
admission policy and oversubscription criteria for
community and voluntary controlled schools
within County Durham (see page 7).
The
Governing Bodies of voluntary aided (faith)
schools and foundation schools set the admission
policy and oversubscription criteria for their own
schools, as do the Academy Trusts for the
academies (see page 7 and Section 2).
You are strongly recommended to list three
schools/academies in your application. Listing
only one school/academy will not improve your
chances of being offered a place at that
school/academy and may lead to Durham LA
offering your child a place at a school/academy
you would prefer your child not to go to.
Repeating the name of the school/academy in
your application does not improve your chance of
gaining a place there. Please remember to enter
the correct date of birth for your child, your correct
address and mention any sibling links they have
at the school/academy in your application.
You can express up to three preferences for your
child to be admitted to a secondary school,
including voluntary aided (faith) school,
foundation school and academy. You can apply
for a place inside and outside of the Durham LA
area. If you would like more information about an
individual school or academy please contact them
directly, details are at the back of this guide. If
you want to know more about schools or
academies in other LA areas you will need to
contact the relevant LA for advice.
Places are allocated by strictly following the
admission policy for the schools/academies
applied for. The policies can and do differ. The
admission oversubscription criteria for all
community and voluntary controlled schools are
on page 7. You can see the oversubscription
criteria for voluntary aided (faith) schools, the
Apollo Studio Academy and UTC South Durham
in Section 2. The oversubscription criteria for
foundation schools and academies (non-faith) are
the same as those for community and voluntary
controlled schools (page 7).
DURHAM
LA
MUST
RECEIVE
YOUR
APPLICATION FORM BY 31 OCTOBER 2015.
YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ON
TIME IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE
OF GETTING THE PLACE YOU WANT.
Remember, you can contact Durham LA at any
time for advice or help:
School Admissions and Transport Team, County
Hall, Durham, DH1 5UJ
e-mail: [email protected]
or telephone 03000 265896
or visit www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Once you have read the relevant admissions
criteria you can complete an application. You can
apply online or use the application form available
on Durham LA's website or from the School
Admissions and Transport Team. Please put the
schools academies in ranked order, top
preference at number 1. Durham LA will treat
your first, second and third preferences as
In addition, most schools/academies hold open
events where parents and children can visit the
school. See the back of this Guide for the
relevant contact information.
1
How to apply on-line
If you have access to a computer linked to the internet and a current e-mail address
please apply online. Internet access is available through any County Durham
Library and staff there will be pleased to help you set up an e-mail address.
There are many benefits of applying
online including:
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it’s quick, secure and easy to use;
it can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week;
you can apply from home, work or a
library;
your application cannot get lost in the
post;
the system guides you through the
application process;
you will receive an e-mail confirmation of
the receipt of your application;
you can change your application any time
up to the closing date.
you will receive your offer of a school
place by email.
If you want to change anything on your form
prior to the closing date you can do so by
accessing your form by typing in the website
address:
www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions and
access the system as before. You must then
click ‘submit application’. You will get an
email message to say your application has
been re-submitted successfully. Please look
out for this email. If you do not receive the
email contact the School Admissions and
Transport Team.
To complete the online application
form:
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access the internet on your computer and
type in:
follow the instructions for completing the
form using the link provided
press the ‘submit application’ button
you will then receive an e-mail confirming
receipt.
If you have any problems applying contact
the Online Admissions Helpline 03000
265896
You will not be able to apply online after the closing date of 31 October 2015.
2
How to apply using an application form
If you do not wish to apply online please complete an
application form available from and to be returned to:
School Admissions and Transport Team
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UJ
Forms must not be returned to the school
A form can also be downloaded from the website
PLEASE REMEMBER WE MUST RECEIVE
YOUR APPLICATION BY 31 OCTOBER 2015.
application provided they are received before 8
February 2016, the date the allocation
procedures begin.
You may want to return the application form by
*"Royal Mail Signed for ™" or "Royal Mail
Special Delivery Guaranteed" as, in the event
of non-receipt, proof of "Royal Mail Signed for
™" or "Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed"
will be required. If you apply online you will
receive an e-mail confirming receipt. If you
apply using an application form, you will receive
an acknowledgement letter confirming receipt
of your application form. Allegations from late
applicants stating that their application form has
been lost in the post or lost by Durham LA will
not be considered without proof of receipt from
you. Remember, it is your responsibility to
ensure that the application is received by the
School Admissions and Transport Team. Do
not return your form to a school.
If you believe that there are very exceptional
circumstances which prevented submission of
your application form by the stated deadline
then you must provide Durham LA with clear
evidence so that it can consider why you were
unable to submit an application form by the
deadline of 31 October 2015. Durham LA will
consider each case on an individual basis and
the decision will be final. You need to be aware
that if it is agreed to consider a late application
for very exceptional reasons this does not
mean that your child can be offered a place. It
simply means that your application will be
considered in accordance with the admission
criteria along with all others which were
received on time.
*"Royal Mail Signed for ™" and "Royal Mail
Special Delivery Guaranteed" provide proof of
signature on delivery.
For applications received between 9 February
2016 and 21 March 2016 the LA will, on the 22
march 2016, the re-allocation day, offer a place
in accordance with parental preference, where
possible, and if not possible, at the nearest
school with places available.
Late applications
Applications received after the closing date of
31 October 2015 and prior to 8 February 2016,
will be considered and, as far as possible, will
be offered a school place on 1 March 2016.
Completed common application forms which
are received for good reason after the closing
date will be accepted and treated as an on time
For applications received between 22 March
2016 (the re-allocation day) and 31 August
2016 inclusive, offer/refusal letters will be sent
out within 14 days of the LA receiving the
application form and a reminder issued after 7
days. Any parent approaching a school direct
3
How to apply using an application form
must be referred to the LA. The LA will enter
the details on to its central database, issue a
copy of the application form to the relevant
admission authority* and, after discussion and
agreement with the relevant admission
authority, offer a place at the school highest in
the parents' order of rank that has a place
available, or if this is not possible, at the
nearest suitable school that has a place
available.
If your application form is received late your
chances of being offered a place at one of your
preferred schools will be greatly reduced. Most
parents who were refused a place last year
were as a result of applying late. Places are
not kept back for any late applicants.
4
Co-ordinated admissions
Durham LA will determine the offer of a school place for every child living in
the Durham LA area starting secondary education in September 2016.
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school/academy will be applied. All admission
authorities use an equal preference system.
Durham LA will identify the offer of a place
for community and voluntary controlled
schools, as the admissions authority for
these schools. If more children want a
place than there are places available,
Durham LA will offer places according to the
admissions policy and oversubscription
criteria.
Please note you should make sure you
understand the effect of each admission policy
before making your preference on the
application form.
Where none of your preferences can be met,
your child will be offered a place at the nearest
suitable school/academy with a place available.
The definition of a 'suitable school/academy' for
admissions purposes is a maintained
school/academy that offers an efficient full-time
education suited to the age, ability, aptitude and
any special educational needs of the pupil, in
the view of Durham LA.
If you have included a voluntary aided (faith)
school/academy
on
your
application
Durham LA will forward your details to that
school so that your application can be
considered, in line with the school's
published
admission
policy
and
oversubscription criteria (see Section 2).
They will then provide Durham LA with a
ranked list of applications. This process will
also apply in the case of foundation schools
and academies (non-faith), unless a service
level agreement exists for Durham LA to
undertake this function on their behalf.
On 22 March 2016 the LA will reallocate any
places that may have become available since 1
March 2016 strictly in accordance with the
relevant published oversubscription criteria and
in the following order of priority:
1. those who have been offered a school place but
who ranked the school at which a place has now
become available higher on the common
application form than the school at which they
were offered a place on 1 March 2016 and who
have confirmed that they still wish to be offered a
place at the higher ranked school;
2. those who have not been offered any school place
because their applications were received late i.e.
after 8 February 2016 and those who have been
offered a school place but who now wish to apply
for a place at an alternative school.
Durham LA will co-ordinate all the offers to
ensure that every child in Durham gets one
offer of a school place. Durham LA will do
this by applying the ranking information in
the following way:
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Where your child is eligible for a place at
only one of the preferred schools/
academies, a place at that school/
academy will be offered to your child.
Where your child is eligible for a place at
two or more of the preferred schools/
academies, your child will be offered a
place at whichever school/academy you
ranked the highest.
In most cases children will get a place at the
preferred school/academy but there are
circumstances where this may not be possible.
All schools/academies have an admission
number, i.e. a maximum number of children
that a school/academy will take. This number
is agreed each year and the admission
number for all County Durham LA schools for
2016/2017 and the number of applications
received for the previous academic year are
published at the back of this Guide. Where a
school was oversubscribed and it was
necessary to apply the oversubscription criteria,
the criterion under which the last pupil was
admitted is highlighted in order to assist you.
Applications for other LA schools
We will liaise with other LAs if applications are
received for a place in another LA’s
schools/academies.
Equal preference
An ‘equal preference’ system is in place which
means that all first, second and third
preferences for a particular school/academy will
be looked at together (equal preference) and
the
oversubscription
criteria
for
each
All Places will be offered by Durham LA.
5
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Children and young people with an
Education, Health and Care Plan follow a
separate transfer process to a new school.
Parents of children with SEN will be expected
to express preferences for a school place.
Durham LA has a duty to consult the named
school and to ensure that it can meet the
child's special educational needs before
agreeing a school placement.
The
consultation should take place in good time to
ensure the school place is secured for
September 2016.
Durham LA has always placed a high priority
on meeting children and young people's SEN
and has invested highly in this area. Nearly
all children and young people with SEN in
County Durham can be successfully included
in mainstream education but there may be
times in their school life that some children
will need additional help with their learning.
This can normally be provided within their
own school, in partnership with the child,
young person, parents or carers and with the
involvement of other agencies as appropriate.
For children and young people with
Statements of SEN, Durham LA has until
April 2018 to convert them to an Education,
Health and Care Plan. Durham LA will
consider this through the Annual Review
meeting and will prioritise those children who
are due to transfer the following September.
From September 2014, the statutory
assessment process for children and young
people with a SEN was replaced by a new
co-ordinated assessment. This assessment
might lead to an Education, Health and Care
Plan for children and young people with
significant learning difficulties across the 0-25
year age range.
The Parent Partnership Service
This assessment is for children and young
people with a severe learning difficulty.
During the assessment, we will seek the child
or young person's views, parents' views, as
well as seeking advice from the child's
teacher and other specialists where
necessary.
The Parent Partnership Service is an
independent confidential service offering
information, advice and support to parents
and carers of children with SEN and
disabilities.
When the assessment is complete, Durham
LA might decide to issue a SEN Support Plan
or an Education, Health and Care Plan. Both
of these plans will include outcomes that we
all want to achieve and provide details of the
support needed. Children, young people and
their parents or carers will be involved in
making decisions about the support needed
to meet the agreed outcomes within a plan.
The Parent Partnership Service can be
contacted on 03000 267006
Parents who want further information
regarding their child's difficulties should
contact the school SENCO or the Head
Teacher in the first instance.
Applying for a school place if your
child has an Education, Health and
Care Plan
6
Oversubscription
criteria
for
community secondary schools,
foundation schools and academies
(not faith academies)
Where there are more requests for places
than
those
available,
the
following
oversubscription criteria will be used to
allocate places strictly in order of priority:
1. Children who are 'looked after' or a
child who was previously looked after
but immediately after being looked
after became subject to an adoption,
child
arrangements
or
special
guardianship order*.
(a)
For those children who have applied
for a place at the nearest school to
their home address (category 4),
priority will be given to those who
would otherwise have to travel the
furthest distance to the next nearest
school1.
(b)
For other children (category 5), priority
will be given to those children who live
nearest to the school applied for.
In the unlikely event of the school being
oversubscribed within categories 1, 2 or 3
tiebreaker (b) will apply.
Please note that if only one final place can be
offered and two applicants live equidistant
from the school, the LA's system of random
allocation will apply.
A looked after child is a child who is, at
the time of making an application to a
school, (a) in the care of a LA, or (b) is
being provided with accommodation by a
LA in the exercise of their social services
functions (see the definition in section
22(1) of the Children Act 1989).
Footnote1: 'School' means any maintained
secondary school, foundation school or a DfE
maintained academy (non-faith) in County
Durham. Distance will be measured by the
shortest walking route***.
2. Medical reasons
*
Children with very exceptional medical
factors directly related to school
placement (see page 8).
3. Sibling links
Children who have a sibling** already
attending the school and who is expected
to be on roll at the school at the time of
admission.
4. Applicants to their nearest school
Those children who have applied for a
place at the nearest school to their home
address measured by the shortest
walking route***.
An adoption order is an order under
section 12 of the Adoption Act 1972 or
section 46 of the Adoption and Children
Act 2002. A child arrangements order is
an order setting the arrangements to be
made as to the person with whom the
child is to live under section 14 of the
Children and Families Act 2014. Section
14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a
'special guardianship order' as an order
appointing one or more individuals to be a
child's special guardian (or special
guardians).
** Sibling is defined as children who live as
brother or sister in the same house,
including natural brothers or sisters, half
brothers or sisters, adopted brothers or
sisters, step brothers or sisters and
children of the parent/carer's partner.
5. All other applicants
Tie-breaker
Where the school is oversubscribed within
any of the above categories the following
tiebreakers will be applied:
7
*** In assessing home to school distance
Durham LA measures by the shortest
walking route. Routes are measured from
the centre point* of the child's house, or in
the case of a flat from the centre point* of
the building, to the nearest school site
entrance.
A Geographic Information
system (GIS) is used to identify and
measure the shortest walking route. The
GIS only identifies routes on the
Ordnance Survey Integrated Transport
Network (ITN) and Urban Paths Network
(UPN), which are national recognised
datasets. The LA will not include any
other routes or use other methods of
measurement.
In all cases the GIS
identifies the route to be measured by
connecting in a straight line the centre
point* of the child's house to the closest
point on the nearest route on the
ITN/UPN.
Additional information relating to all
applications for a school/academy
place.
Medical reasons
Some admission authorities will consider
individual applications for children with very
exceptional medical factors directly related to
school placement. This kind of application
must be supported in writing by relevant
professional agencies, i.e. a doctor and it is
the parents’ responsibility to provide the
relevant documentation.
This supporting
evidence should be wholly persuasive and
set out the particular reasons why your child
requires their placement at a particular school
rather than any other school and the
difficulties that would be caused for the child
if they had to attend another school/academy.
Supporting evidence will be considered by
the relevant admission authority and may
require liaison with relevant health care
professionals.
The provision of any
information/evidence does not necessarily in
itself guarantee the offer of a place at your
desired school/academy.
The relevant
admission authority will make the final
decision on the application.
*In accordance with the co-ordinates of the
Basic Land and Property Unit on the National
Land and Property Gazeteer.
Section 3 contains a map which gives an
indication of the nearest community
secondary school, foundation school or
academy (non-faith) boundary, measured by
the shortest walking route (by Durham LA
as described above). This map is intended to
be used as a guide. If you have any queries
regarding the nearest school to the home
address please telephone the School
Admissions and Transport Team on 03000
265896 for assistance.
8
Independent school you should apply directly
to the Independent school concerned.
Personal details
The child's address is used in applying the
admission criteria. When you complete the
application you should give the child's current
address at the time of application. Please
include the postcode so that Durham LA can
assess your application correctly.
Durham LA reserves the right to seek
proof of address of you and the child, and
will always do so if you are offered a place
for your child at an oversubscribed
school, and withdraw any offer of a place
made on the basis of any fraudulent or
intentionally misleading information you
provide. Where an offer is withdrawn on
the basis of misleading information, the
application will be considered afresh. A
right of appeal will be offered if the
subsequent offer of a school place is
refused. Where the child has started at
the school/academy a place will not be
withdrawn unless that place was
fraudulently obtained. In such cases the
length of time that the child has been at
the school/academy will be taken into
account.
Please note:

you should not give the address of child
minders or other members of your family
who may share in the care of your child;

if you own more than one property, you
should only state the property where you
and the child actually live, or spend the
most time at during the school year (i.e.
Mondays to Fridays, term-time only).

If parents are separated and the child
lives for periods of time with each parent,
the address used will be the property
where the child is mainly resident during
the school year (i.e. Mondays to Fridays,
term time only);

By submitting an application, you agree
and consent to Durham LA checking with
council tax and electoral registration
records kept by Durham County Council
concerning the address you have given as
your place of residence in order to
confirm that those records show you as a
resident at the property, but the onus is
on you to prove your address, if asked.
Durham LA will not consider temporary
addresses as being the child's address.
This means that if, for example, you and
the child live temporarily with other family
members or move to temporary
accommodation for any reason, the child's
address remains that at which you and the
child were living before the temporary
move took place.
If your permanent address changes from
the time you submit your application to
the date that places are allocated i.e. 8
February 2016 you must write to Durham
LA immediately to advise of this. Address
changes notified after the date of
allocation cannot be taken into account
when offering places at the offer date i.e. 1
March 2016.
In addition, if the child's permanent address
changes, you must notify the School
Admissions and Transport Team immediately
as this may affect the offer of a place made to
your child.
You should also notify Durham LA in writing
of any change in your circumstances which
would affect the offer of a place, including a
change in your school/academy preference,
or if you intend to move out of County
Durham, or if you intend to place your child at
an Independent school. If you do intend to
apply for a place for your child at an
The following privacy notice details how we
use the information we collect in relation to
the school admissions and who we share the
information with:
9
Privacy Notice - Data Protection Act 1988
Foundation Trust. This will include the name,
date of birth, address and school attended.
Department for Education
Durham County Council is committed to
dealing with your information safely and
securely. We need to collect and share
information in order to deliver our services
effectively. We take our responsibility to
protect your information seriously and we will
use in in accordance with the legal
requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Durham County Council is also required by
law to pass information to the Department for
Education. If you need more information
about how the Department for Education
stores and uses your information please go to
the following website:
Durham County Council is a data controller
for the purposes of the Data Protection Act.
The information you provide to us on your
admissions application form and in any
supporting documents will be used to process
your application and to ensure the efficient
co-ordination and fair allocation of school
places.
http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstati
stics/datadatam/b00212337/datause
Durham County Council may also share this
data for the following purposes:
Reserving places




If you require any further information about
the school admissions data that we hold or
how we share it please contact the School
Admissions and Transport Manager on 03000
265876.
Places cannot be reserved in schools/
academies in the expectation of further
applications from families moving into the
area.
to enable the forward planning of school
budgets
to assist in the development of Policy
proposals
to assist with the provision of school
transport
for the prevention and/or detection of
crime.
Durham County Council may use the
information you have provided for research
and statistical purposes. We will ensure that
statistics are developed in such a way that
individual children cannot be identified from
them.
Providing Information to Support the
School Nursing Service
In order to support the School Nursing
Service with the delivery of local and national
health initiatives, e.g. health screening and
child immunisation programmes, Durham
County Council will share school admissions
information with Child Health Services at
County Durham and Darlington NHS
10
What to do if you do not get a place for your child at one of
your preferred schools/academies
Although Durham LA is able to offer a high
percentage of parents one of their school
preferences, sometimes there are not enough
places to accommodate every child in a
preferred school.
You can appeal for more than one
school/academy in order of priority. You may
want to attend an appeal for more than one
school/academy. The outcome of one does
not affect the other and accepting a place at
an alternative school does not affect the
outcome of an appeal.
Parents will receive from Durham LA one
offer of a school/academy place. If your child
cannot be offered a place at one of your
preferred schools, Durham LA will offer your
child a place at the nearest school/academy
to your home address that has places
available.
You can appeal once for admission of your
child to a particular school/academy for any
given academic year. An admission authority
will only determine a second appeal for any
given academic year where it accepts there
has been a significant and material change in
the circumstances of the parent, child or
school relevant to the question of admission.
If you do not wish to accept the place offered
you should contact Durham LA's School
Admissions and Transport Team on 03000
265896 for advice and information on other
schools. If, after discussing the issue with
Durham LA, you are still unhappy with the
school you are offered you can add your
child's name to the waiting list for any school.
You can also appeal against the decision.
Your appeal will be heard within the following
timescales:
Before deciding whether to appeal, you will
probably want to think about the admission
policy for admitting children, your reasons for
wanting your child to attend the school and
how strong a case you have. You may also
want to consider visiting the school/academy
where you have been offered a place or
alternative schools/academies that still have
places available.
If you decide to appeal, your appeal will be
heard by a panel which is independent of the
school/academy and Durham LA and the
decision made by the panel will be binding on
all parties.
To ensure that your appeal will need to be
heard with applicants for the same school by
the end of the Summer term you need to
submit your appeal by 13 April 2016.
Appeals not submitted by this date will still be
heard at the earliest date available, which
may be after other appeals for the school
have been heard. You will be sent full details
of the appeals procedure.

for applications made in the normal
admissions round, appeals will be heard
within 40 school days of the deadline for
lodging appeals (13 April 2016);

for late applications, appeals should be
heard within 40 school days from the
deadline for lodging appeals (13 April
2016) where possible, or within 30 school
days of the appeal being lodged;

for application for in-year admissions,
appeals will be heard within 30 school
days of the appeal being lodged;

any appeals submitted after the
appropriate deadline will still be heard, in
accordance with whatever timescale is set
out in the timetable published by the
admission authority.
Please note that if your appeal is successful
and it is not your nearest suitable
school/academy, you will be responsible for
transporting your child to school, unless you
qualify under the National Extended
Transport Rights Policy (see the Home to
School Travel section of this guide for further
information).
11
What to do if you do not get a place for your child at one of
your preferred schools/academies
Please Note: If after 1 September 2016 you
are successful in your appeal for a school
place for your child, he/she must take up the
place (i.e. start school) within two weeks of
notification in writing of the offer of a school
place. Failure to do so will result in the offer
being withdrawn unless there are exceptional
circumstances preventing the child's start at
school.
Durham LA will consider any
exceptional circumstances before deciding
whether the offer of a place will still stand.
Durham LA's decision on this matter will be
final.
then place your child in the correct position
on the waiting list and will contact you if a
place becomes available to which your child
is entitled. Proof of address will be required.
To add your child’s name to the waiting list for
a place at a voluntary aided (faith) school
please contact the relevant school.
All offers of a school place from any waiting
list will be made by Durham LA.
To appeal for a place at the school you want
your child to attend please speak to an
appeals officer on 03000 265896 and read
the information before completing the form
which is available on:
www.durham.gov.uk/schoolsappeals
Waiting lists
You can add your child’s name to the waiting
list for a place at a community or voluntary
controlled school or academy if you have not
been offered a place at your preferred school.
Please contact the School Admissions and
Transport Team. Tel: 03000 265896. Please
note the length of time on the waiting list
cannot be taken into account and waiting lists
will be ranked in the order of the
oversubscription criteria of each individual
school. Waiting lists will be maintained by
Durham LA throughout the school year, for
every year group at all oversubscribed
community and voluntary controlled schools.
Parents can contact Durham LA to find out
their child’s position on the waiting list,
however, this must be treated with some
caution as individual positions may change
on a regular basis due to additions or
deletions of children on the list. Vacancies
can often arise at short notice and those on
the waiting list should be prepared to take up
a place as soon as it is offered.
If you move house whilst your child’s name is
on the waiting list you must let Durham LA
know in writing immediately. Durham LA can
12
Other admission information
In-Year Fair Access
In-Year admissions
Durham LA has in place an In-Year Fair
Access Protocol to ensure that access to
education is secured quickly for children who
have no school place. Admission of children
under the In-year Fair Access Protocol will
take precedence over children on a waiting
list who are attending another school.
Applications received on or after 1 September
2016, will be treated as in-year admissions.
Durham LA will manage the in-year
admissions for schools in County Durham.
The same admission policy applies for in-year
admissions as for the normal admission
round. Admission to schools/academies is
dependent upon the availability of places in
the appropriate year group at the time of
application. Durham LA and schools that are
their own admission authorities cannot hold
back places for parents who decide in the
future to move to any part of County Durham.
You will need to complete an application
form. Please contact Pupil Casework on
03000 265906.
Children covered by this protocol are any who
are hard to place in a school and the protocol
balances the circumstances of the pupil and
the circumstances of the school. All schools
in an area admit their fair share of children
with challenging behaviour.
For more
information please contact Pupil Casework on
03000 265906.
Transfer
of
children
schools/academies
between
Applying for an in-year place in
another LA area
Once a child has begun attending a particular
secondary school/academy, it is usually in
their best interests to remain at that school/
academy.
However, families sometimes
move house making it impractical for the child
to continue to attend the same school/
academy.
If you live in County Durham but are applying
for an in-year place for your child in another
LA area you must make an application to the
LA in which the school is located.
Admission of children outside of
their normal age group
A child could only transfer to another
secondary school/academy if places were
available. Please contact Pupil Casework on
03000 265906 for further information
regarding available places and help with the
process. You will need to complete an
application form if you wish to secure a place
in an alternative school/academy. Should
you request a place at a school/academy that
has no places available, then Durham LA will
inform you about the appeals process and
you can also place your child's name on the
school/academy's waiting list. It is unwise to
withdraw a child from one school/academy
before admission to another has been
agreed. It is expected therefore that your
child will continue to attend their current
school/academy during the application
process.
Where a child has been educated out of their
normal age group, the parent may request
admission out of the normal age group when
they transfer to secondary school. It will be
for the admission authority of that school to
decide whether to admit the child out of their
normal age group. The decision will be made
on the basis of the circumstances of each
case and in the child's best interests, and the
age group the child has been educated in up
to that point will be taken into account.
13
Other admission information and Sixth Forms
Children of UK service personnel
Sixth Forms - Applications for Year
12
For families of service personnel with a
confirmed posting to the Durham LA area, or
crown servants returning from overseas to
live in the Durham LA area, Durham LA will
allocate a place in advance of the family
arriving in the area provided the application is
accompanied by an official letter that declares
a relocation date and a Unit Postal Address
or Quartering Area Address when considering
the application against their oversubscription
criteria. This will include accepting a Unit
Postal Address or Quartering Area Address
for a service child. Durham LA will not refuse
a service child a place because the family
does not currently live in the area, but cannot
reserve blocks of places for these children.
Some County Durham secondary schools,
foundation schools and academies offer sixth
form of study for students. The majority of
the sixth form students transfer from Year 11,
but places are available for external students.
The entry requirements for sixth forms are
largely dependent on the course of study that
a student wishes to access. They are the
same for internal and external students.
Details of specific entry requirements and
courses available may be obtained from the
school/academy. The availability of courses
is dependent upon the number of applicants
and the financial sustainability of the course
and the Governing Body/Academy Trust of
the school/academy determines this.
Withdrawing an offer or a place
Durham LA will not withdraw an offer unless it
has been offered in error, a parent has not
responded within a reasonable period of time,
or it is established that the offer was obtained
through a fraudulent or intentionally
misleading application. Where the parent has
not responded to the offer, Durham LA will
give the parent a further opportunity to
respond and explain that the offer may be
withdrawn if they do not. Where an offer is
withdrawn on the basis of misleading
information, the application will be considered
afresh, and a right of appeal offered if an offer
is refused.
A school/academy will not withdraw a place
once a child has started at the school, except
where that place was fraudulently obtained.
In deciding whether to withdraw the place, the
length of time that the child has been at the
school/academy will be taken into account.
14
Other admission information and Sixth Forms
Entry requirements and
oversubscription criteria for
community secondary schools,
foundation schools and academies
(but not faith academies) sixth
forms:
* Details of the entry requirements are available
from the individual Sixth Forms.
**
An adoption order is an order under section
12 of the Adoption Act 1972 or section 46 of
the Adoption and Children Act 2002. A child
arrangements order is an order setting the
arrangements to be made as to the person
with whom the child is to live under section
14 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Section 14A of the Children Act 1989
defines a 'special guardianship order' as an
order appointing one or more individuals to
be a child's special guardian (or special
guardians).
***
Sibling is defined as children who live as
brother or sister in the same house,
including natural brothers or sisters, half
brothers or sisters, adopted brothers or
sisters, step brothers or sisters and children
of the parent/carer's partner.
Priority will be given to:
1. Students who have attended the school in the
previous academic year (during Year 11) and
who satisfy the school's *entry requirements
for the course available and then,
2. All other students of the relevant age who
satisfy the school's entry requirements* for the
course available.
Where the school is oversubscribed within
category (1) the following will be applied, strictly
in order of priority:
a) Children who are 'looked after' or a child who
was previously looked after but immediately
after being looked after became subject to an
adoption, child arrangements, or special
guardianship order**. A looked after child is a
child who is, at the time of making an
application to a school, (a) in the care of a LA,
or (b) being provided with accommodation by
a LA in the exercise of their social services
functions (see the definition in section 22(1) of
the Children Act 1989).
**** In assessing home to school distance
walking route. Routes are measured from
the centre point* of the child's house, or in
the case of a flat from the centre point* of
the building, to the nearest school site
entrance. A Geographic Information system
(GIS) is used to identify and measure the
shortest walking route.
The GIS only
identifies routes on the Ordnance Survey
Integrated Transport Network (ITN) and
Urban Paths Network (UPN), which are
national recognised datasets. Durham LA
will not include any other routes or use other
methods of measurement. In all cases the
GIS identifies the route to be measured by
connecting in a straight line the centre point*
of the child's house to the closest point on
the nearest route on the ITN/UPN.
b) Students who will have a sibling*** at the
secondary school during the coming
academic year.
c) All other students.
d) Distance from home to school measured by
the shortest walking route****, with those
living nearest the school receiving priority.
* In accordance with the co-ordinates of the
Basic Land and Property Unit on the
National Land and Property Gazeteer.
Where the school/academy is oversubscribed
within category (2) the above criteria will be
applied, strictly in order of priority with the
exception that, after b), the following will apply: all
other students who previously attended in Year
11, a maintained school or academy with 11-16
provision only.
Sixth Forms - voluntary aided
schools and academies
The Governing Body of the school/academy is
responsible for determining a school/academy's
Sixth Form admission policy. These can be found
n Section 2 of this Guide.
Applicants refused admission to a sixth form are
entitled to appeal to an independent appeals
panel.
15
distance from the nearest suitable
school, provided that they attend that
school. For those aged under 8 years
the maximum walking distance has
been determined by legislation to be
two miles and for those aged 8 to 16
years as three miles.
Home to School/College Transport
Policy
Please note that the Home to School
Transport Policy is under review and
some elements of provision may not be
available from September 2016. You are
therefore strongly advised to visit the
Durham County Council's website for up
to date information on the provision of
any travel assistance described in this
Guide or contact the School Admissions
and Transport Team on 03000 265896.
4. Durham LA does not have a similar
duty to provide free travel for children
attending nursery units/schools or for
post compulsory school age students.
5. In assessing home to school distance
walking route. Routes are measured
from the centre point* of the child’s
house, or in the case of a flat from the
centre point* of the building, to the
nearest
school
site
entrance.
A
Geographic Information System (GIS) is
used to identify and measure the
shortest walking route. The GIS only
identifies routes on the Ordnance Survey
Integrated Transport Network (ITN) and
Urban Paths Network (UPN), which are
national recognised datasets. Durham
LA will not include any other routes or
use other methods of measurement. In
all cases the GIS identifies the route to
be measured by connecting in a straight
line the centre point* of the child’s house
to the closest point on the nearest route
on the ITN/UPN.
General Principles Applying to Free Travel
1. This policy applies to Durham County
Council, the Local Authority's (LA),
duty to provide “home to school” travel
arrangements at the start of the day, and
“school to home” travel arrangements at
the end of the day. A child’s “home”
is the place where he/she is habitually
and normally resident. W here children
reside at more than one address, the
address used will be the property where
the child is mainly resident during the
school year (Mondays to Fridays, termtime only). Durham L A will issue only
one bus pass from one address during
an academic year. W here there is joint
custody for which both parents qualify,
individual agreements will be reached
between both parents and Durham LA
as to which address will be used.
National Land and Property Gazetteer.
2. To qualify for free travel children and
students of compulsory school age are
required to attend the nearest suitable
school. Free travel will only be made
available in exceptional circumstances
to other than the nearest suitable
school. You are advised to take this
into consideration when applying for a
school
place.
“Suitable
School”
throughout this policy is defined and
in accordance with paragraphs 33 and 34.
In all instances where Durham LA's
used for the 2016/17 academic year,
which could be in respect of any
admission to any school/academy and for
any application for home to school
transport, the October 2015 release of the
UPN/ITN datasets will be those so used
UNTIL the October 2016 datasets are
released, whereupon at that point the
October 2016 datasets will be utilised.
3. Durham LA will provide free travel for
children of compulsory school age, who
live beyond a reasonable walking
16
With the exception of Greenfield
Community College (Newton Aycliffe Site
and Shildon Site) and Sherburn Village
Primary School (Sherburn Hill Site and
Sherburn Village Site) where a school
operates on two sites, the site the pupil
will attend for the majority of the
academic year for which transport is
applied will be the one used for the
purpose of measurement of home to
school distance. Durham LA may have a
duty to provide free travel where the home
to school distance is less than the
maximum walking distance and where
the home to school walking route has
been assessed as unsafe. The courts
have held that a route is available if a
child, accompanied as necessary, can
walk along it with reasonable safety.
Durham LA has an agreed policy on the
criteria to be used when assessing
whether a route is unsafe and will apply
this policy in all circumstances. All
walking routes are periodically reviewed
to determine if they are suitable, if a route
can be made suitable, or if an alternative
suitable walking route can be identified.
provision and, where appropriate, hold
parents responsible for any damage their
children cause to vehicles and other
property.
8. Durham LA provides free travel on the
basis of information made available by
parents and students. Durham L A
reserves the right to request reasonable
written evidence to verify information
supplied to it before an award of free
travel is made.
9.
Should any information made available
to Durham L A be deemed to be
inaccurate Durham L A reserves the
right to remove the provision of free
travel
and
to
seek
reasonable
compensation for the cost of any travel
that has been provided.
10. Parents have a right to express a
preference for the school they wish
their child to attend and the relevant
admission authority is required to offer a
place in accordance with that preference
if a place is available. Local authorities
are not required to provide free travel if
the parent makes a choice to send their
child to a school that is not the nearest
suitable school.
6. Durham LA is required to provide
reasonably safe home to school travel.
Occasionally some children exhibit poor
behaviour on school buses and public
service operations. This behaviour may
put that child and other children travelling
on the same vehicle at risk. W here this
happens Durham LA endeavours to take
all reasonable measures to overcome this
problem. Occasionally, however, it may be
necessary to restrict home to school
transport arrangements for children where
this difficulty cannot easily be resolved
and the behaviour of that child puts
themselves and/or others at risk of harm.
11. Free travel may be made available by
Durham LA outside the scope of the
general policy
in
individual
and
exceptional
circumstances
(see
paragraphs
2 and 23(b) for more
information). If you feel that there are
exceptional and individual reasons why
you or your child should be provided
with free travel, you should write to the
Senior Officer, School Admissions and
Transport Team, Children and Adults
Services, County Hall, Durham, DH1
5UJ
and
explain
what
these
circumstances are and provide as much
written evidence to support your request
as possible.
7. Durham LA endeavours to ensure
reasonable pupil behaviour on vehicles
used for home to school travel. Where
children cause willful damage to those
vehicles, however, Durham LA reserves
the right to restrict home to school travel
17
12. In determining whether a child should
receive free or supported school travel,
and how this is provided, Durham L A
will consider the issues of cost and
value for money for Durham L A in
coming
to
any
decision.
Such
consideration can not, of course, remove
any legal duty on Durham LA.
15. In addition, free travel may be made
available to allow, typically, Year 10
and 11 pupils to remain at the same
school to
complete
their
GCSE
studies following a house move by their
parents, where the pupil was attending
the nearest suitable school prior to the
move.
Free Travel for Pupils Attending Secondary
Schools Aged 11 to 16 Years
Free Travel for Children and Young
People with a Statement of Special
Educational Need (SEN) or Education,
Health and Care Plan
13. Free travel is generally made available
to enable pupils to attend the nearest
suitable school where the home to school
distance is over three miles.
16. Free travel is generally made available
to enable children with a Statement of
SEN or an Education, Health and Care
Plan to attend the nearest suitable
primary or secondary school and
where the home to school distance is
over two miles for children aged under 8
(but Durham LA will provide this up
until the start of the academic year after
their 8th birthday), or more than three
miles for children aged 8 to 16 years.
14. For children transferring to secondary
school who are eligible for free school
meals, or whose parents receive their
maximum level of Working Tax Credit,
free transport will be provided to:
 One of their three nearest qualifying
secondary schools, if that school is
more than two but less than six miles
from the child’s home; or
 The
nearest
secondary
school
preferred because of your religion or
belief* for pupils whose parent(s)
adhere to that particular faith, where
that school is more than two but
less than 15 miles from the child’s
home.
17. A number of mainstream schools have
specialist provision for children and
young people with particular types of
SEN. Children and young people do not
require a Statement of SEN or an
Education, Health and Care Plan to be
considered for a place in an enhanced
mainstream
provision
school. For
children and young people offered a
place in an enhanced mainstream
provision, free travel is generally made
available to the nearest suitable primary
or secondary school with that type of
provision and where the home to school
distance is over two miles for children
aged under 8 (but Durham LA will
provide this up until the start of the
academic year after their 8th birthday), or
more than three miles for children aged
8 to 16 years.
*For this purpose, parental adherence
to the Roman Catholic faith has been
defined as where at least one parent
and the pupil are baptised Roman
Catholic; and to the Anglican faith where
at least one parent is a confirmed
Anglican and the pupil is a baptised
Anglican.
The six mile upper limit to a choice of
schools and the 15 mile upper limit to a
school preferred on the grounds of
religion or belief are not walking routes
therefore these routes will be measured
along road routes.
18
18. W here a decision is taken that a child or
young person should attend a Special
School, free travel will be made
available to
the
nearest
suitable
Special School, identified by the LA, and
where the home to school distance is
over two miles for children aged
under 8 (but Durham LA will provide
this up until the start of the academic
year after their 8th birthday), or more
than three miles for children aged 8 to 16
years.
21. Travel assistance
is
not
made
available for part-time students (i.e.
those studying less than 15 guided
learning hours per week over a 30 week
period) and students who commence a
programme of learning after their
nineteenth birthday. Students attending
independent fee-paying establishments
are not entitled to travel assistance.
22. Post 16 students have the option to
apply for a concessionary seat on a
school vehicle operating into a school
with sixth form provision (see paragraph
27(a)).
Personal Budgets
19. The parent/carer of a child with an
Education, Health and Care Plan, or
the young person if he or she is
between the ages of 16 and 25 years,
has the right to request a personal
budget for some or all of the provision.
Transport would only be recorded in a
Statement of SEN or an Education,
Health and Care Plan in exceptional
circumstances. Transport costs could
be considered as part of a personal
budget if a child or young person is
entitled to
free home to school
transport
or
post-16
transport
assistance. In making a
decision,
Durham L A would have to be satisfied
that:
Free Travel in Other Circumstances
23. Free travel may be made available for
children of statutory school age who
attend the nearest suitable school when
they live under the maximum walking
distance from that school in the following
circumstances:
(a) Based on an Assessment of
whether the Walking Route is Safe
Free travel may be made available
for children if the walking route from
home to the nearest suitable school
is assessed by the County Council
to be unsafe. If a walking route is
assessed as unsafe it is not deemed
to be available for use by pupils.
Such walking routes are, therefore,
not taken into account in assessing
the home to school travel distance.
You should note that the Courts
have held that a route is available if
a child, accompanied as necessary,
can walk it with reasonable safety to
school. Durham L A has an agreed
policy on the criteria to be used
when assessing whether a route is
unsafe and will apply this policy in
all circumstances. All walking routes
are
periodically
reviewed
to
determine if they are suitable, if a
route can be made suitable, or if an
alternative suitable walking route can
be identified.
 Any different arrangements
would
meet the needs of the child or young
person; and
 No additional costs would be incurred
by the County Council.
Travel
Assistance
for
Students
Attending Post Compulsory Education
Aged Over 16 Years
20. Post 16 students who, in the view of
Durham LA, are unable to travel
independently, e.g. are unable to access
a viable public transport system or by
reason of a medical condition, will receive
assistance with transport.
19
(b) Exceptional
and
Circumstances
Individual
arrangements.
Assistance with Home to School Travel
Costs
Free travel may be made available
outside the scope of the normal
home to school/college travel policy
in
exceptional
and
individual
circumstances. If you feel that there
are
exceptional
and individual
reasons why you or your child
should be provided with free travel
you should write to the Senior
Officer, School Admissions and
Transport Team, Children and Adults
Services, County Hall, Durham, DH1
5UJ and explain what these
circumstances are and provide as
much written evidence to support
your request as possible. The
Senior Officer’s decision will be
confirmed in writing.
27. W here free travel is not normally made
available by Durham LA assistance with
home to school/college travel may be
available in the following circumstances:
(a)
Concessionary Travel
W here places surplus to the
requirements of Durham LA are
available on school buses they may
be made available for use by any
pupil or student. This type of
support with travel is referred to as
“concessionary”
travel
within
County Durham. Durham LA is not
under any obligation to make
concessionary
travel
places
available and may charge for such
places.
The
charge
for
concessionary travel is £1.50 per
day, which may be paid in
instalments. The charge is subject
to review and may be increased
prior to the start of the academic
year. For further information on
concessionary travel please contact
Sustainable Transport, telephone
03000 264444, Option 4 or email
[email protected]
Types of Free Travel
24. Free travel may be made available
through a seat on a school contract
vehicle (bus or taxi) or by the provision
of a bus pass for use on a public service
bus, at the discretion of Durham LA.
Escorts on vehicles are only provided for
those children who have a Statement
of SEN or an Education, Health and
Care Plan and only where these identify
the need for escort provision.
(b) Students attending
Residential Colleges
25. Other arrangements, including the
payment of daily fares, may be made at
the discretion of Durham LA.
Specialist
Transport will be provided at the
beginning and end of each term in
the academic year, i.e. a total of 12
single journeys will be funded.
26. The type of free travel provided may, at
the discretion of Durham LA, change
during the period of schooling of any
child. Travel arrangements are reviewed
periodically during the academic year to
ensure best value and appropriate
arrangements for entitled travellers.
Where it is necessary to change travel
arrangements during an academic year,
a minimum of two weeks notice will be
given prior to the implementation of new
20
(c) Other Situations
not already been reviewed in Stage 1.
Within 40 working days of receipt of the
parents request an independent appeal
panel will consider written and verbal
representations from both the parent and
officers involved in the case and will give
a detailed written notification of the
outcome within 5 working days.
Durham LA will not normally provide
assistance with travelling expenses
in other situations. However, for
those who are not entitled to free
transport or assistance under this
policy, further public transport
options may be available to help a
pupil or student attend school or
college. For further information
please contact Sustainable
Transport, email
[email protected]
telephone 03000 264546, Option 4.
31. Parents/carers can complain to the Local
Government Ombudsman only if they
consider that:


Appeals Process
28. Durham LA has a two stage appeal
process for parents/carers who wish to
challenge a decision about:
there was a failure to comply with the
procedural rules or
if there are any other irregularities in
the way the appeal has been handled.
32. If a parent/carer considers the decision of
the Independent Panel to be flawed on
public law grounds, the parent may also
apply for judicial review.
 the transport arrangements offered;
 their child’s eligibility;
 the distance measurement in relation
to statutory walking distances; and
 the safety of the route
The Definition of Suitable School
33. A suitable school is the maintained
school or academy which, in the view
of Durham LA, offers an efficient fulltime education suited to the age, ability,
aptitude and any special educational
needs of the child and at which there is
a place available for the child.
Individual subject choices will not be
considered in determining the nearest
suitable school. For children whose
nearest suitable school is in a
neighbouring authority, Durham LA will, if
the parent would prefer a school place in
County Durham for their child, also
provide free transport to the nearest
suitable school within County Durham,
providing that other eligibility criteria (e.g.
distance) are met.
Stage 1 – Review by a Senior Officer
29. Parents/carers have 20 working days to
appeal against the decision about home
to school transport made by Durham
LA. Parents should write to the Senior
Officer, School Admissions and Transport
Team, Children and Adults Services,
County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UJ, detailing
why the decision should be reviewed,
giving details of any personal/family
circumstances
and
including
any
supporting evidence to be considered.
Within 20 working days of receipt of this
letter parents will be advised in writing of
the Senior Officer’s decision.
34. If the nearest suitable school is a
voluntary aided maintained school,
transport will be provided over the
distance limit (see paragraph 3) to this
and to the nearest suitable non
voluntary aided maintained school.
Stage 2 – Review by an Independent
Appeal Panel
30. Parents/carers have 20 working days
from the receipt of Durham LA's Stage 1
written decision notification to make a
written request to escalate the matter to
Stage 2 citing circumstances that have
21
healthy and sustainable travel and reduce car
dependency.
General transport information
You can find out more information about local
transport in your area on the Durham County
Council website www.durham.gov.uk . These
pages will give you information about bus and
rail timetables.
You can get local bus
timetables and information on school
transport from Sustainable Transport:
Durham County Council gathers information
as to the current methods of travel to
school/academy.
Hands-up surveys are
regularly taken in schools. We were able to
collect information for 3,018 secondary
school children. Of these we know that
20.2% walk to school, 61.3% use a bus, 17%
travel by car, 0.4% cycle and 1.1% use a taxi.
Sustainable Transport
Regeneration and Economic Development
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Schools/academies are also encouraged to
participate in either or both of the Walk to
School campaigns:
Telephone: 03000 264444, Option 4
Sustainable
Strategy
Modes
of
Travel
Durham County Council publishes a
Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy. This
Strategy acts as a framework pulling together
all relevant strategies and policies into one
document. You can find out more from the
Durham
County
Council
website
www.durham.gov.uk
School Travel Planning and School
Travel Plans
A School Travel Plan sets out a tailored
package of measures which aim to both
reduce the number of single occupancy car
trips made on the school journey and to
encourage more children and parents to walk,
cycle, car share or use public transport on the
journey to and from school.
Measures may include the development of a
‘Walking Bus’ scheme, a ‘Park and Stride’
initiative or a ‘Five Minute Walking Zone’.
Occasionally the physical environment in and
around a school may need improving to
encourage sustainable travel. The aim is to
make
the
journey
to
and
from
school/academy safer, whilst promoting
22

National Walk to School Week is in May.

International Walk to School Month is in
October.

Clothing
All children are expected to attend school
appropriately dressed. To assist parents,
some schools have adopted guidelines on
clothing and information regarding uniform
policies can be found in a school’s/academy's
prospectus available from the school/
academy concerned.
Schools/academies
must not act as sole suppliers of school
uniform. Durham County Council does not
make any grants towards the provision of
school uniforms. However, Durham County
Council processes applications from parents
for assistance from the School Benevolent
Fund. This is a registered charity and as long
as parents are in receipt of benefits that
entitle their children to a free school meal
they can receive a grant towards the cost of a
pair of shoes or a winter coat. To find out
more please telephone 01388 772906 or
email
[email protected].
Parents who are in real difficulties over the
purchase of clothing for children may find that
other agencies could help in certain
circumstances e.g. the Department of Work
and Pensions.

Children who receive any of the above
benefits in their own right are also entitled to
receive free school meals.
Charging for school/academy
activities
Schools must not charge for a school/
academy visit that is during school/academy
hours or is outside school/academy hours but
is being undertaken as part of the National
Curriculum, or as part of a syllabus for a
prescribed public examination.
In these
cases a charge may be made for board and
lodging on residential visits but the charge
must not exceed the actual cost, and children
in receipt of free school meals (because their
parents are in receipt of certain benefits) are
exempt. Schools/academies may ask for
voluntary contributions towards the cost of
board and lodging.
A small, termly charge is made for
instrumental music tuition and instrument hire
provided by the Durham Music Service. For
more information please telephone 03000
262368.
School meals
Schools are legally required to provide meals
that comply with the School Food Standards.
Children whose parents receive the following
support payments are entitled to receive free
school meals:






Working Tax Credit run on, paid for 4
weeks after you stop qualifying for
Working Tax Credit.
Universal Credit.
16-19 financial support
If your child is aged 16 to 19 and in full-time
education at a school sixth form or college,
they may be entitled to some financial
support. For more information please contact
the sixth form and/or colleges.
Income Support (IS).
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
(IBJSA).
Income-related Employment and Support
Allowance.
Support under part VI of the Immigration
and Asylum Act 1999.
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not
also entitled to Working Tax Credit and
have an annual gross income (as
assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and
Customs) of no more than £16,190.
The Guarantee element of State Pension
Credit.
The National Curriculum
All funded schools are required to have a
balanced and broadly based curriculum which
promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental
and physical development of children and
prepares them for the opportunities,
responsibilities and experiences of later life.
23
Children of compulsory school age in
community and foundation schools, including
community special schools and foundation
special schools, and in voluntary-aided and
voluntary-controlled schools, follow the
National Curriculum. The subjects of the
National Curriculum in Year 7-9 are English,
Maths, Science, Art and Design, Citizenship,
Computing, Design and Technology, Modern
Foreign Languages, Geography, History,
Music and Physical Education.
In Years 10-11 the subjects of the National
Curriculum are English, Maths, Science,
Citizenship,
Computing
and
Physical
Education.
The arts (comprising art and design, music,
dance, drama and media arts), design and
technology, the humanities (comprising
geography and history) and modern foreign
language are not compulsory National
Curriculum subjects after the age of 14, but
all children in maintained schools have a
statutory entitlement to be able to study a
subject in each of these 4 areas.
Academies and free schools are required to
follow the curriculum set out in their DfE
funding agreement.
Schools, academies and free schools also
have to provide careers education and
guidance (during Years 8-13), Sex and
Relationship Education (SRE) and Religious
Education. Parents can choose to withdraw
their child from all or part of the religious
education curriculum and the non-statutory
elements of SRE. Depending on the school,
your child may also have lessons in Personal,
Social and Health Education (PSHE).
Children in Years 10 and 11 are usually
between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. At
the end of Key Stage 4 most children sit
national examinations, usually GCSEs.
All schools, academies and free schools are
required by the DfE to publish information on
their curriculum content and approach on
their school website.
24
The following lists contain useful information about the schools/academies in County Durham.
Every school/academy also publishes its own booklet of information. Parents interested in
obtaining copies should contact the schools/academies and/or visit their websites.
Schools/academies also hold open days/evenings in order to give parents more information. You
should contact the schools/academies for more details.
Approximate number of children:
The approximate number of children represents
the number of children attending the school in
January 2015.
Published Admission Number (PAN):
For community and voluntary controlled schools
the PAN is set by Durham LA, in consultation
with the school. It represents the maximum
number of children likely to be admitted to Year
7 during the academic year 2016/2017. For
voluntary aided (faith) schools and foundation
schools, the Governing Body is the admission
authority and for academies it is the relevant
Academy Trust, and these set the PAN.
The school/academy specialism is indicated in brackets next to each school/academy.
Please note that the final column on the following pages shows the criterion applied to the last
entrant (the last child to be offered a place at the school). This may give you an indication of the
likelihood of your child being offered a place at the school, however, it cannot be relied upon as
there are many variables that could affect the allocation of school places (e.g. number of
applicants, number of siblings, distance from school etc.)
25
North Area
School
Ref No
School and Address
Tel No
Age
Range
Approx
No of
Children
PAN
2016/17
No of Applicants
September 2015
Preferences
1
st
2
nd
3
rd
(11-16)
300
4117
Consett Academy
Ashdale Road, Consett, DH8 6LZ
(01207)
507001
11-18
1201
(11-16)
Sixth Form
100*
190
30
4
4052
Fyndoune Community College
Findon Hill, Sacriston, Durham
(Humanities)
(0191)
3710277
11-16
373
95
69
12
4
4000
North Durham Academy
Kings Head Site, High Street,
Stanley, Durham, DH9 0DQ
(01207)
292180
227
37
23
4054
The Hermitage Academy
Waldridge Lane, Chester-le-Street
(Technology)
(0191)
3887161
1091
(11-16)
168
Sixth Form
- not set*
223
77
17
4694
St Bede's Catholic School &
Sixth Form College
Lanchester
Lanchester, Durham
(Language)
(01207)
520424
1504
(11-16)
210
Sixth Form
- 100*
236
70
20
4047
Park View School
11-18
1381
(11-16)
232
Sixth Form
not set*
226
123
29
11-16
527
138
91
77
13
4099
Criterion
applied to
last entrant
11-18
1148
(11-16)
300
Sixth Form
100*
(a) Church Chare, Chester-leStreet
(0191)
3882248
(b) North Lodge Premises,
Chester-le-Street
(0191)
3882416
Tanfield School, Specialist
College of Science and
Engineering
Tanfield Lea Road, Stanley
(01207)
232881
11-18
11-18
Distance
8.34 miles
*Relates to PAN for external students to Year 12 only. NB This need not be set if the school only receives ad hoc
applications
26
South West Area
School
Ref No
School and Address
Tel No
Age
Range
Approx
No of
Children
PAN
2016/17
No of Applicants
September 2015
Preferences
1
4681
St. John's School and Sixth
Form College, a Catholic
Academy
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop
Auckland
(Technology)
(01388)
603246
11-18
4162
Bishop Barrington School
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop
Auckland
(Sports)
(01388)
603307
4150
Ferryhill Business and
Enterprise College
Merrington Road, Ferryhill
(Business and Enterprise)
(01740)
651554
4178
King James I Academy
South Church Road, Bishop
Auckland
(Arts)
(01388)
603388
4171
Staindrop School an Academy
Cleatham Lane, Staindrop
(Business and Enterprise)
(01833)
660285
4174
Teesdale School
Prospect Place, Barnard Castle
(Science)
(01833)
638166
4154
Whitworth Park School and
Sixth Form College
Whitworth Lane, Spennymoor
(01388)
815634
st
2
nd
3
rd
1328
(11-16)
220
Sixth Form
70
246
90
38
11-16
682
165
148
91
27
11-16
570
165
103
27
10
11-18
765
(11-16)
161
Sixth Form
- 50*
126
79
50
11-16
538
150
120
36
8
636
(11-16)
156
Sixth Form
Not Set*
109
19
5
1054
(11-16)
274
Sixth Form
Not Set*
174
39
16
11-18
11-18
Criterion
applied to
last entrant
applications
27
Central Area
School
Ref No
School and Address
Tel No
Age
Range
Approx
No of
Children
PAN
2016/17
No of Applicants
September 2015
Preferences
1
st
2
nd
3
rd
4185
Belmont Community School
Belmont, Durham
(Arts)
(0191)
3865715
11-16
762
175
147
47
21
4192
Durham Community Business
College for Technology
Ushaw Moor, Durham
(0191)
3730336
11-18
440
(11-16)
95
71
13
12
4200
Durham Johnston
Comprehensive School
Crossgate Moor, Durham
(Language)
(0191)
3843887
11-18
1503
(11-16)
238
Sixth Form
- 50*
311
161
63
4691
St Leonard's Catholic School
North End, Durham
(Technology)
(0191)
3848575
11-18
1348
(11-16)
232
Sixth Form
- 15*
243
112
74
4190
Framwellgate School Durham
Newton Drive, Framwellgate
Moor, Durham
(0191)
3866628
11-18
1052
225
Sixth Form
- Not Set*
157
139
89
4128
Parkside Academy
Hall Lane Estate, Willington,
Crook
(01388)
746396
11-16
702
180
164
20
8
4139
Wolsingham School and
Community College
Tunstall Road, Wolsingham
(Art)
(01388)
527302
(11-16)
150
Sixth Form
- 30*
89
31
14
11-18
622
Criterion
applied to
last entrant
Distance
3.274 miles
applications
28
South East Area
School
Ref No
School and Address
Tel No
Age
Range
Approx
No of
Children
PAN
2016/17
No of Applicants
September 2015
Preferences
1
4214
4280
4176
Dene Community School
Manor Way, Peterlee
(Technology)
Easington Academy
Stockton Road, Easington
(Science)
Greenfield Community College
a Specialist Arts and Science
School**
(a) Greenfield Way, Newton
Aycliffe
(0191)
5546000
11-16
599
170
st
99
2
nd
33
3
Criterion
applied to
last entrant
rd
14
(0191)
5270757
11-16
717
150
161
48
22
(01325)
300378
11-16
1020
240
212
63
20
124
60
20
Nearest
school
criteria of
late
applications
3.085 miles
from next
nearest
school
(b) Middridge Lane, Shildon
4693
St Bede's Catholic
Comprehensive School and
Byron College
Peterlee, West Way, Peterlee
(Humanities)
(0191)
5876220
11-18
859
(11-16)
150
Sixth Form
- Not Set*
4019
Seaham School of Technology
Burnhall Drive, Seaham
(Technology)
(0191)
5161600
11-16
813
240
158
13
6
4231
Sedgefield Community College
Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield
(Sports) - A Specialist Sports
College
(01740)
625300
11-16
922
195
226
35
17
Distance
5.594 miles
4215
The Academy at Shotton Hall
Waveney Road, Peterlee
(0191)
5180222
11-16
1148
230
284
91
24
Distance of
Lates 2.539 miles
4218
Wellfield Community School Specialist Maths and
Computing College
North Road East, Wingate
(Maths and Computing)
(01429)
838413
11-16
497
180
123
25
7
4175
Woodham Academy
Washington Crescent, Newton
Aycliffe
(01325)
300328
11-16
746
240
147
53
15
* Relates to PAN for external students to Year 12 only. NB This need not be set if the school only receives ad hoc
applications
** Greenfield Community College operates on two sites. You will need to indicate on your application which site you
would prefer your child to attend.
29
Section 2
If you are considering applying for a place in a voluntary aided (faith)
school/academy, you should consult the oversubscription criteria outlined in the
following pages because they are not the same as those for community and
voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools and non-faith academies.
All foundation schools and non-faith academies have the same admission policy and
oversubscription criteria as those for community and voluntary controlled secondary
schools.
Applications can be made to Apollo Studio Academy and UTC South Durham which
are for the age range 14-19 only. Information on how to apply is contained in this
section.
30
Section 2
ST. BEDE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
AND SIXTH FORM COLLEGE,
LANCHESTER
Oversubscription criteria
Where there are insufficient places available
to meet all parental preferences, priority will
be given to applications in the following order:
____________________________________
Admission policy
(First priority in each category will be given to
siblings (see note 3) that is, children who will
have older brothers or sisters attending the
school in September 2016)
This admissions policy has been formally
adopted by the Governing Body of the above
Catholic secondary school in Durham LA.
1. Looked After Catholic children in the care
of a LA or children that were looked after
by the LA and immediately after that
became subject to an adoption, child
arrangements
order
or
special
guardianship order (see definitions).
The partner parishes are:
All Saints Lanchester
St Patrick’s, Consett
St Patrick’s Dipton
St Mary’s, Blackhill
St Mary’s, South Moor
Our Lady and St Joseph’s, Leadgate
St Joseph’s, Stanley
Sacred Heart, Byermoor
St Pius Xth, Moorside
Our Lady of the Rosary, Shotley Bridge
St Theresa’s, Annfield Plain.
2. Catholic children resident in one of the
partner parishes who attend a Catholic
primary school.
3. Catholic children resident in one of the
partner parishes who do not attend a
Catholic primary school.
The admissions policy criteria will be applied
on an equal preference basis.
4. Other Catholic children who attend a
How and when to apply
5. Other Catholic children, who do not attend
a Catholic primary school.
Applications must be made on the Durham
LA application form which must be returned
by 31 October 2015.
6. Other looked after children in the care of a
LA or children that were looked after by
the LA and immediately after that became
subject
to
an
adoption,
child
arrangements
order
or
special
guardianship order (see definitions).
Late applications
Any applications received after the closing
date will be accepted but considered only
after those received by the closing date.
7. Children, who are baptised or dedicated
members of other Christian Churches and
attend a Catholic primary school.
Children who have a Statement of SEN or an
Education, Health and Care Plan which
names St Bede's school will be admitted to
the school.
31
8.
Children of other faith traditions who
attend a Catholic primary school.
9.
Other children who attend a Catholic
primary school.
Section 2
members of other Christian Churches
and do not attend a Catholic primary
school
A special guardianship order is an order
child's special guardian or guardians.
3. Definition of sibling
11. Children of other faith traditions who do
not attend a Catholic primary school.
Sibling refers to brother or sister, half
brother or sister, adopted brother or sister,
step brother or sister, or the child of the
parent/carer’s partner where the child for
whom the school place is sought is living
in the same family unit at the same
address as that sibling.
12. Other children who do not attend a
If applicants are seeking admission under
criteria 7, 8, 10 or 11 above, they must
provide a letter of support to confirm their
church membership from their minister or
faith leader.
Tie-breaker
Where there are places available for some,
but not all applicants within a particular
criterion, distance from home address to the
school will be the deciding factor.
Additional notes
1. Definition of Catholic
Children who have been baptised as
Catholic or have been formally received
into the Catholic Church. All applicants
seeking admission under any of criteria 1
to 5 will be asked to provide evidence and
the school will also seek evidence that
the child has been baptised as a Catholic
or has been received into the Catholic
Church. A baptismal certificate or a letter
from their priest confirming their baptism
or reception into the Catholic Church will
suffice.
In assessing home to school distance
measures are by the shortest walking route.
Routes are measured from the centre point*
of the pupil's house, or in the case of a flat
from the centre point* of the building, to the
nearest school site entrance. A Geographic
Information System (GIS) is used to identify
and measure the shortest walking route. The
GIS only identifies routes on the Ordnance
Survey Integrated Transport Network and
Urban Paths Network, which are national
recognised datasets. The school will not
include any other routes or use other
of the property to the closest point on the
nearest route on the ITN/UPN.
2. Definition of a Looked After Child
A looked after child is a child who is in the
care of a LA in accordance with section 22
of the Children Act 1989 at the time of the
application for admission to school is
made and whom the LA has confirmed will
still be looked after at the date of
admission.
An adoption order is an order made under
Act 2002.
Right of appeal
Where a parent has been notified that a place
is not available for a child, every effort will be
made to help the parent to find a place in a
suitable alternative school. Parents who are
A child arrangements order is an order
outlining the arrangements as to the
person with whom the child will live.
32
Section 2
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.
schools who will support the faith ethos within
our school and Sixth Form.
Admission to
requirements)
Home address
Year
12:
(entry
Students applying for admission into Year 12
must fulfil the following entry requirements:
It is the parental address which will be used
in applying the admission criteria.
This
means that, when stating your choice of
school, you should give the parental/guardian
address at the time of application. The
address of childminders or other family
members who may share in the care of your
child should not be quoted as the home
address.
For Advanced courses Level 3:


Waiting lists
If your child has been refused admission, a
waiting list is available throughout the year
where priority will be given according to the
above criteria based on the information
provided at the time of application. The
waiting list will be maintained to the end of
the Autumn Term by the school.
a minimum of 5 A* - C grades at GCSE or
equivalent in 5 different subjects; it must
include English or Mathematics; this will
give students access to a range of Level 3
courses/subjects.
the minimum entry requirements specified
by the subjects of their choice.
It is a recommended that students who are
predicted mostly to achieve C grades at
GCSE should include vocational subject
choices.
Based on the applicants performance at
GCSE, qualified staff will provide information,
advice
and
guidance
as
to
the
appropriateness of courses on offer at St
Bede’s and alternative institutions.
ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
AND SIXTH FORM COLLEGE,
LANCHESTER - SIXTH FORM
ADMISSION POLICY
Once 80 conditional offers to external
candidates will be made, there will be a
waiting list for external students who meet the
entry requirements above.
______________________________
This Admissions Policy applies to students
seeking admission to Year 12 at St Bede’s
Sixth Form College and includes admission
into Year 13.
Oversubscription Criteria
Students already on the roll of St Bede’s
Catholic School, who meet the general entry
requirements and subject specific criteria, will
be offered a place in Year 12.
In determining admissions to the Sixth
Form, the Governors seek to preserve the
religious character of this Catholic
voluntary aided school and Sixth Form
College.
Applications from students from other
schools, who meet the general entry
requirements and subject specific criteria for
the courses for which they have applied, will
be considered for a place in the school sixth
form.
St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form
College is a voluntary aided academy within
the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
Whilst giving priority to the admission of the
existing St Bede’s Year 11 students to Sixth
Form, we warmly welcome applicants of other
33
Section 2
If there are too many applications and there is
too great a demand for available courses,
students, from other schools, who satisfy the
academic criteria, will be offered places in
order of the following criteria.
recognised datasets. The college will not
include any other routes or other methods of
measurement. In all cases the GIS identifies
the route to be measured by connecting in a
straight line the centre point* of the property
to the closest point on the nearest route on
the ITN/UPN.
1. Looked after Catholic students in the care
of a local authority or children that were
looked after by the local authority and
immediately after that became subject to
an adoption, child arrangements order or
special
guardianship
order
(see
definitions).
2. Catholic students, who live within the
boundaries of the partner parishes.
Year 12 Admissions Schedule
3. Catholic students who attend other
secondary schools and live outside the
boundaries of the partner parishes.
Students who wish to apply for a place in
Year 12 will be invited to attend, with their
parents or carers, our Sixth Form Open
Evenings and/or Saturday “drop in “ sessions,
held in the autumn and spring term. They will
have the opportunity to speak to individual
subject departments about the courses
offered as well as our Progression Coach
who will give independent information, advice
and guidance (IAG).
4. Other Looked after students in the care of
a local authority or children that were
an adoption, child arrangements order or
special
guardianship
order
(see
definitions).
5. Students, who are baptised or dedicated
members of other Christian Churches.
Applications for Year 12 must be completed
using the school application form, by the date
specified by the school (check the school
website for details). Applications received
after this deadline may be placed on a waiting
list.
6. Students, who are members of other faith
traditions.
7. Other students who wish to attend the
Sixth Form.
Within each category listed above priority will
be given to those with siblings still in the
school at the time of admission. Where there
are places available for some, but not all
applicants within a particular criterion,
distance from home address to the school
entrance will be the deciding factor.
For internal applicants, information will be
requested from subject teachers to check
suitability for students’ course choices. Each
student will attend an IAG discussion service
with a member of the Sixth Form Pastoral
team or Leadership and Management Team
and his/her parents or carers within the
school to discuss his/her subject choices. A
place will be offered on condition that the
student
meets
the
school’s
entry
requirements as detailed above and the
availability of course choices subject to
timetabling and places available within each
class.
34
Section 2
Following the meeting, a letter will be sent to
students confirming the decision made
regarding a place. All offers will be made
on condition of students meeting the
school entry requirements and subject to
the viability of the course running for that
academic year.
Please note the majority of A level courses
have specific entry requirement beyond 5 A* C including Maths and English.
Students holding conditional offers will have
their place confirmed following receipt of the
GCSE results in the summer.
St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form
College serves the parishes of All Saints
Lanchester; St Patrick’s Consett; St
Patrick’s Dipton; St Mary’s, Blackhill; St
Mary’s, South Moor; Our Lady and St
Joseph’s, Leadgate; St Joseph’s Stanley;
Sacred Heart, Byermoor; St Pius Xth,
Moorside; Our Lady of the
Rosary,
Shotley Bridge; St Theresa’s Annfield
Plain.
Additional notes:
1. Partner Parishes
On Enrolment Day, following receipt of GCSE
results, if students wish to change their
subject choices there will be a further IAG
discussion service to advise them on the
most suitable options. Changes will be
dependent on places being available within
subject classes.
Admission to Year 13:
(entry requirements)
Students who have been baptised as
Catholics or have been formally received
to 3 will be asked to provide evidence and
the school will also seek evidence that the
child has been baptised as a Catholic or
has been received into the Catholic
suffice.
Year 12 students continue with their studies
into Year 13, on condition that they fulfil the
entry criteria.
The school has places
available for external students who wish to
join Year 13 where their examination board
syllabus is compatible with that studied at St
Bede’s. All Year 12 students will apply to
study in Year 13. The vast majority of
students will study 3 subjects in Year 13. The
entry criteria are as follows:


3. Definition of a looked after child
Assessment data from their Year 12
studies indicates they are on track to be
successful in their final examinations at
the end of their Year 13 studies and
care of a local authority in accordance
with section 22 of the Children Act 1989 at
the time the application for admission to
school is made and whom the local
authority has confirmed will still be looked
after at the date of admission.
Relevant independent IAG supports the
appropriateness of a student continuing
their studies into Year 13 in line with their
career aspirations.
Year 13 Admissions Schedule
Act 2002.
Students who do not meet the entry
requirement will be advised upon a change of
direction and relevant courses.
35
Section 2
child’s special guardian or guardians.
Right of Appeal
Where a parent has been notified that a
place is not available for a child, every
effort will be made to help the parent to
find a place in a suitable alternative
school. 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.
4. Definition of Sibling
Waiting Lists
5. Applicants seeking admission under
criteria 5 and 6 above, must provide a
letter of support to confirm their church
membership from their minister or Faith
leader.
If a student has been refused admission,
a waiting list is available where priority will
be given according to the above criteria
based on the information provided at the
time of application. The waiting list will be
open until the end of the autumn term.
Tie-breaker
school will be the deciding factor.
ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC
COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL,
PETERLEE
______________________________
GIS only identifies
only routes on the
Network and Urban Paths Network, which are
national recognised datasets. The college
will not include any other routes or use other
Admission policy
The Admissions Policy has been formally
Separate arrangements are made for
admission to Years 12/13 (Byron College
Sixth Form) and are available from the
College directly. Parents are asked to note
that admission to any of Years 7 to 11 is no
guarantee of entry into Byron College.
36
Section 2
The catholic partner schools are:
2. Catholic children who attend a Catholic
partner primary school.
St Mary Magdalen's, Seaham; St Cuthbert's,
New Seaham; St William's, Trimdon; St
Godric's, Thornley; St Joseph's, Blackhall; St
Joseph's, Murton; Our Lady Star of the Sea,
Horden; Our Lady of Lourdes, Shotton; Our
Lady of the Rosary, Peterlee; St Mary's,
Wingate.
3. Catholic children who attend another
primary school.
4. Looked after children in the care of a LA
or children that were looked after by a LA
and immediately after that became subject
to an adoption, child arrangements order
or special guardianship order (see
additional note 2).
The Admissions Policy Criteria will be applied
5. Children who are baptised or dedicated
attend a Catholic Primary School.
by 31 October 2015.
6. Children of other faith traditions (not
included in 5 above), who attend a
Catholic Primary School.
Late applications
date will be accepted and considered only
7. Other children, who attend a Catholic
Primary School.
do not attend a Catholic Primary School.
Children who have a statement of SEN or an
names St Bede's Catholic Comprehensive
school will be admitted to the school.
included in 5 above), who do not attend a
criteria 5, 6, 8, or 9 above, they will be asked
for a letter of support to confirm their church
membership from their minister or faith
leader.
children who will have older siblings attending
the school in September 2016)
1. Looked after Catholic children in the care
arrangements
order
or
special
guardianship order (see additional note 2).
Additional Notes
37
Section 2
to 3 will be asked to provide evidence that
suffice.
admission.
Act 2002.
Right of appeal
appeal.
Home address
This
address.
Tie-breaker
Waiting lists
school entrance will be the deciding factor.
If your child has been refused admission, you
can request that your child's name be placed
on the schools' waiting list. If places become
available, we will consider all relevant
applications based on the waiting list which
will be maintained for the full academic year
by the school.
In assessing home to school distance the
measure will be by the shortest walking route.
38
Section 2
BYRON SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
____________________________________
Where the College is oversubscribed within
either of the above categories then the
following will be applied, strictly in order of
priority:
Admission policy
This Admissions Policy has been formally
adopted by the Governing body of the above
College in Durham Local Authority.
a) Students Looked After or students that
were Looked After by the Local Authority
and immediately after that became subject
to an adoption, child arrangements order
or special guardianship order, see
additional note 1.
The Governing Body is the Admissions
Authority and is responsible for determining
the College's admissions policy. The College
has a capacity of 230 for Years 12 and 13
collectively. Hypothetically this would give a
PAN of 115 for Year 12. In reality that
number can increase or decrease depending
on the number on roll in Year 13.
b) Students who will have a sibling at any of
the above named schools in point 1,
during the coming academic year.
c) All other students.
The entry requirements for Byron College are
largely dependent on the course of study that
a student wishes to access. This is the same
for students from all partner establishments.
Details of specific entry requirements and
courses available may be obtained from
Denise Ord at the College. The availability of
courses is dependent upon the number of
applicants and the financial sustainability of
the courses and the Governing body of the
College determines this.
Applicants that are refused admission are
entitled to appeal to an independent appeals
panel.
Additional Notes
admission.
on an Equal Preference basis.
The following criteria will be used to allocate
places, strictly in order of priority.
1. Students who have attended St Bede's
Catholic Comprehensive School, Peterlee,
Glendene Arts Academy, Wellfield
Community School, Dene Community
School, Seaham School of Technology,
The Academy at Shotton Hall or
Easington Academy, in the previous
academic year (during Year 11) and who
satisfy the College's entry requirements
for the courses available.
Act 2002.
2. All other students of the relevant age who
satisfy the College's entry requirements
for the courses available.
39
Section 2
Home address
This
College,
you
should
give
the
parental/guardian address at the time of
application.
Tie-breaker
Waiting lists
College entrance will be the deciding factor.
Where a student has been refused
admission, a waiting list is available and
priority will be given according to the above
criteria based on the information provided at
the time of application. The waiting list will be
open until the end of the Autumn Term.
nearest College site entrance. A Geographic
GIS only identifies only routes on the
will not include any other routes or other
ST JOHN’S SCHOOL AND SIXTH
FORM COLLEGE, A CATHOLIC
ACADEMY
____________________________________
Admission policy
This Admissions policy has been formally
The Catholic partner schools are:


Right of appeal

suitable alternative College. Those 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 College address.





40
Blessed John Duckett, Smith Street, Tow
Law, DL13 4AU
Our Lady & St Thomas, Cumberland
Terrace, Willington, DL15 0PB
St Chad’s Primary, Witton Park, DL14
0EP
St Charles’ Primary, Durham Road,
Tudhoe, DL16 6SL
St Cuthbert’s Primary, Church Hill, Crook,
DL15 9DN
St Joseph’s Primary, Victoria Lane,
Coundon, DL14 8NN
St Joseph’s Primary, Garburn Place,
Newton Aycliffe, DL5 7DE
St Mary’s Primary, Birch Road, Barnard
Castle, DL12 8JR
Section 2



St Mary's Primary, Central Avenue,
Newton Aycliffe, DL5 5NP
St Wilfrid’s Primary, Murphy Crescent,
Bishop Auckland, DL14 6QH
St William's Primary, Elwick Road,
Trimdon Station, TS29 6JU
2. Catholic children, who attend a Catholic
3. Catholic children, who attend another
primary school.
5.
Looked after children in the care of a LA
or children that were looked after by the
LA and immediately after that became
subject
to
an
adoption,
child
arrangements
order
or
special
guardianship order (see additional note
2).
Late applications
6.
after those received by 31 October 2015.
Children, who are baptised or dedicated
7.
Children of other faith traditions (not
included in 6 above), who attend a
8.
Other children, who attend a Partner
9.
Other children, who attend
by 31 October 2015.
names St John's Catholic School and Sixth
Form Centre will be admitted to the school.
another
members of other Christian Churches
and do not attend a Catholic Primary
School.
included in 5 above), who do not attend a
siblings (see additional note 3) that is,
children who will have older brothers or
sisters attending the school in September
2016)
criteria 6, 7, 10 or 11 above, they will be
asked for a letter of support to confirm their
church membership from their minister or
faith leader, or suitable equivalent.
1. Looked after Catholic children in the care
arrangements
order
or
special
41
Section 2
Additional Notes
Tie-breaker
suffice.
admission.
Act 2002.
Right of appeal
appeal.
Home address
This
42
Section 2
address.
different
subjects;
including
English
Language or Mathematics. Any student who
does not reach the C grade in these subjects
is required to continue with timetabled
lessons or until the grade C threshold has
been reached. Furthermore it is strongly
recommended that any student taking an A
level subject should have attained a grade B
in that particular subject at GCSE level, with
the exception of Mathematics which requires
an A grade and Further Mathematics
requiring the A* grade.
Waiting lists
waiting list is available where priority will be
given according to the above criteria based
on the information provided at the time of
application.
The waiting list will be
maintained for the whole of the academic
year by the school.
Any student wishing to take BTEC subjects
generally should have attained a Merit grade
at Level 2 to continue with the subject at
Level 3.
ST JOHN'S SCHOOL AND SIXTH
FORM COLLEGE - SIXTH FORM
ADMISSION POLICY
____________________________________
All Sixth Form students are expected to be in
school by 09.00, attend registration and
enrichment sessions during the course of the
day. All sixth form students are expected to
follow a uniform policy of black and white
professional dress code.
Admission policy
St John’s is an inclusive sixth form that is
guided by gospel values. All are welcome in
St John’s Sixth Form providing that they are
prepared to complete the work set for their
appropriate course and adhere to any
behavioural standards of the school. We
offer every individual student the opportunity
to develop the whole person and reach their
full potential. We aim to offer a range of
academic and vocational qualifications to our
sixth form students and many of these require
minimum grades at GCSE. Every student will
be required to attend a guidance meeting with
our staff to discuss the most suitable courses
of study. Our policy is to ensure that the
students accepted into the sixth form can be
placed on the most appropriate courses
where they are likely to succeed. Students
are invited to attend the open evening in
November 2015 and offered the opportunity
to further attend the induction days in July
2016.
The admissions limit for the year
commencing 1st September 2016 for external
applicants who have not previously been
students of St John’s will be 70 students or
until 220 places have been offered in Year
12.
St
John’s
Sixth
Form
follow
the
Oversubscription criteria carried out in the
main school. (See below).
Students who have an Education, Health and
Care (EHC) plan or a statement of Special
Educational Need where the school is named
as the most appropriate educational setting
for the student will be admitted.
A positive attitude throughout key stage 4
reflects positively on any application. Our
general entry requirement for progression to
A Level is that students must have attained a
minimum of 5 A* ‐ C grades at GCSE in 5
43
Section 2
(First priority in each category will be
given to siblings (see note 6) that is,
students who will have older brothers or
2016)
Additional Notes
In assessing home to academy distance the
measure will be by the shortest walking
route. Routes are measured from the centre
point of the pupil’s house, or in the case of a
flat from the centre point* of the building, to
the
nearest
academy
entrance.
A
Geographic Information System (GIS) is used
to identify and measure the shortest walking
route. The GIS only identifies routes on the
will not inlcude any other routes or other
method of measurement. In all cases the
connecting in a straight line the centre point+
of the property to the closest position on the
1. Looked after Catholic students in the care
of a local authority or students that were
adoption, child arrangements or special
guardianship order (see definitions)
2. Catholic students who attend St John’s
3. Other Catholic students
4. Looked after children in the care of a local
authority or students that were looked
after by a local authority and immediately
after that became subject to an adoption,
child
arrangements
or
special
guardianship order (see definitions)
Basic Land and Property Unit on the National
Land and Property Gazeteer.
members of other Christian Churches who
attend St John’s
1.
Definition of Catholic
seeking admission under any of criteria
1 to 3 will be asked to provide evidence
that the child has been baptised as a
Catholic or has been received into the
Catholic Church. A baptismal certificate
or a letter from their priest confirming
their baptism or reception into the
Catholic Church will suffice.
6. Students of other Faith traditions (not
included in 5 above) who attend St John’s
7. Other students who attend St John’s
9. Students of other Faith traditions (not
included in 5 above)
2.
10. Other students.
criteria 5, 6, 8 or 9 above, they may be asked
for a letter of support to confirm their church
membership from their minister or Faith
leader.
Definition of Children in the care of a
Local Authority
A looked after child is a child who is in
the care of a local authority in
accordance with section 22 of the
Children Act 1989 at the time the
made and whom the local authority has
confirmed will still be looked after at the
date of admission.
44
Section 2
3.
Definition of an adoption order
identifies routes on the Ordnance
Survey Integrated Transport Network
(ITN) and Urban Paths Network (UPN),
which are national recognised datasets.
The college will not include any other
routes or other method of measurement.
In all cases the GIS identifies the route
to be measured by connecting in a
straight line the centre point* of the
child’s house to the closest point on the
An adoption order is an order made
under section 46 of the Adoption and
Children Act 2002.
4.
Definition of a child arrangements
order
person with whom the child will live
under section 8 of the Children Act 1989
as amended by s.14 of the Children and
Families Act 2014.
5.
* In accordance with the co-ordinates of
the Basic Land and Property Unit on the
8.
Definition of a special guardianship
order
Where a parent has been notified that a
place is not available for a child, every
effort will be made to help the parent to
find a place in a suitable alternative
school. Parents who are refused a place
have a statutory right of appeal. Further
appointing one or more individuals to be
a child’s special guardian or guardians
(Section 14A Children Act 1989)
6.
Definition of Sibling
brother or sister, adopted brother or
sister, step brother or sister, or the child
of the parent/carer’s partner where the
child for whom the school place is
sought is living in the same family unit at
the same address as that sibling.
7.
Right of Appeal
9.
Home Address
It is the parental address which will be
used in applying the admission criteria.
This means that, when stating your
choice of school, you should give the
parental/guardian address at the time of
application. The address of childminders
or other family members who may share
in the care of your child should not be
quoted as the home address.
Tie-breaker
Where there are places available for
some, but not all applicants within a
particular criterion, distance from home
address to the school entrance will be
the deciding factor. In assessing home
to school distance the LA measures by
the shortest walking route. Routes are
measured from the centre point* of the
child’s house, or in the case of a flat
from the centre point* of the building, to
the nearest school site entrance. A
used to identify and measure the
shortest walking route. The GIS only
10. Waiting Lists
If your child has been refused
admission, a waiting list is available
where priority will be given according to
the above criteria based on the
information provided at the time of
application. The waiting list will be
maintained for the whole of the
Academic Year by the school.
45
Section 2
11. Application Information
Places will 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 on a date to be advised by
Durham LA.

St Michael’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Esh Laude, Esh Village,
Esh, Durham, DH7 9QW

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Langley Moor, Goatbeck
Terrace, Langley Moor, Durham, DH7 8JJ

St Thomas More Roman Catholic
Voluntary Aided Primary, Thorndale Road,
Cheveley Park, Belmont, DH1 2AQ
ST LEONARD’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL, DURHAM
____________________________________
Admission policy
Applications must be made on a Durham LA
application form which must be returned by
31 October 2015.
This Admissions policy has been formally
Late applications
The Catholic partner schools are:

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ Roman
Catholic
Voluntary
Aided
Primary,
Newhouse, Durham Road, Esh Winning,
Durham, DH7 9PA

St Bede’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Sacriston, Front Street,
Sacriston, Durham, DH7 6AB

St Benet’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, St Benet’s Way, Ouston,
Chester-le-Street, DH2 1QX

St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Chester-le-Street, Ropery
Lane, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3PH

St Godric’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Durham, Carrhouse Drive,
Durham, DH1 5LZ

St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Durham, Mill Lane,
Gilesgate, Durham, DH1 2JQ

St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Voluntary
Aided Primary, Ushaw Moor, Durham
Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LF
names St Leonard's Catholic School will be
admitted to the school.
siblings (see additional note 3) that is,
children who will have older brothers or
2016)
1. Looked after children, who are in the care
by a LA and immediately after that
arrangements
order
or
special
46
Section 2
2. Catholic children, who attend a Catholic
admission.
primary school.
attend a Catholic Primary School.
Act 2002.
6. Other children, who attend a Catholic
7. Other children, who attend
person with whom the child will live under
section 8 of the Children Act 1989.
another
do not attend a Catholic Primary School.
criteria 5 or 8 above, they will be asked for a
letter of support to confirm their church
membership from their minister or faith
leader.
Additional notes
Tie-breaker
suffice.
Survey
47
Section 2
Integrated Transport Network and Urban
Paths Network, which are national recognised
datasets. The school will not include any
other routes or use other methods of
straight line the centre point* of the property
to the closest point on the nearest route on
the ITN/UPN.
ST LEONARD'S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL, DURHAM - SIXTH FORM
ADMISSION POLICY
____________________________________
Pupils in Year 11 at St Leonard’s are eligible
for a place in the Sixth Form if they meet
Sixth Form entry requirements. The Sixth
Form welcomes applications from other
students. All applicants must complete the
Sixth Form application form and meet Sixth
Form staff to establish whether St Leonard’s
is able to offer an appropriate course of study
for the individual.
This meeting will be
arranged following receipt of formal
applications and will take place after the
GCSE examinations.
Right of appeal
appeal.
1.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
(i)
Advanced Level Study (Route A)
The entry requirements for Advanced
Level study are:
Home address
(a)
This
address.
(b)
Waiting lists
(c)
waiting list is available where priority will be
given according to the above criteria based
on the information provided at the time of
application. The waiting list will be open for
the full academic year.
48
each applicant must achieve at
least 8 GCSE or equivalent Level 2
Qualification passes at grade A*-G.
least five GCSE passes at grade
A*-C.
(Equivalent Level 2 Qualifications
are not accepted under the terms
of this Admissions Policy. The five
GCSE passes at grade A*-C must
be achieved in full GCSE courses).
least four GCSE B grades
including at least a grade B in
each subject to be taken at AS
Level
(see
course
entry
requirements listed in section 7 of
this admissions policy).
(The required B grade must be in a
full GCSE, equivalent Level 2
Qualifications are not accepted
under the terms of this Admissions
Policy).
Section 2
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(ii)
any applicant wishing to study a
science
subject
(Biology,
Chemistry, Physics) at AS Level
must achieve at least a grade B in
GCSE Additional Science if taking
double
science
rather
than
separate sciences.
If taking
separate
sciences
then
the
applicant must achieve at least a
grade B in the science subject to
be taken at AS Level.
any applicant wishing to study a
subject at AS that they are not
currently studying at GCSE must
consult the list of entry
requirements listed in section 7 of
this admissions policy.
any applicant currently studying a
subject at GCSE that they wish to
continue to study at AS must
achieve at least a grade B in that
subject at GCSE.
each applicant must study a
minimum of four AS Level courses
to completion in Year 12 and a
minimum of three AS Level courses
to completion in Year 13.
each applicant must study the
General
Religious
Education
Course to completion.
(Students who choose to study
AS/A2 Level Religious Studies are
not required to study the NOCN
General
Religious
Education
Course).
(c)
(d)
(e)
(iii) BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Study + ONE A Level Course
(Route B+)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
The entry requirements for Advanced
Level study are:
(b)
least eight GCSE or equivalent
Level 2 Qualification passes at
grade A*-G.
least four GCSE A*-C (please note
that equivalent Level 2 Qualification
passes are not acceptable under
Route B+).
any applicant failing to achieve a
re-sit course in Year 12.
General
Religious
Education
for the AS or A Level course the
applicant MUST meet the individual
course entry requirements as listed
in Section 7 of this Admissions
Policy.
Please note: that no all AS / A
Level Courses may be available
under Route B+.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Study (Route B)
(a)
any applicant failing to achieve at
least a grade C in GCSE English
and/or Mathematics undertake a
re-sit course in Year 12.
General
Religious
Education
each applicant must undertake the
work experience of this course, as
arranged.
(iv) Oversubscribed Courses
If
courses
are
preference will be
following order:
least eight GCSE or equivalent
grade A*-G.
least four GCSDE or equivalent
grade A*-C.
oversubscribed,
given in the
i. students in the care of a Local
Authority ("Looked After Children")
who meet entry requirements or
Looked After Children who were
previously
looked
after
but
49
Section 2
immediately after being looked after
became subject
to an adoption,
child arrangements, or special
guardianship order - see additional
note 1.
ii. students currently at St Leonard's
who meet entry requirements.
iii. baptised Catholic external applicants
who meet entry requirements - see
additional note 2.
iv. students who have a sibling at St
Leonard's
during
the
coming
academic year who meet the entry
requirements - see additional note 3.
v. other external applicants who meet
entry requirements.
We will not offer places to current St
Leonard's
students
or
external
applicants who fail to meet the entry
requirements and for whom no
reasonable programme of study can be
arranged.
Further enquiries should be directed to
the Deputy Head Teacher. A Sixth form
prospectus is available.
Any student failing to achieve at least a
grade C in GCSE English and/or
Mathematics will be required to
undertake a re-sit course in Year 12.
For any student who has been refused
admission due to oversubscription in the
Sixth or on a particular course, a waiting
list is available where priority will be
given according to the above criteria
based on the information provided at the
time of application.
Students who are refused a place have
a statutory right of appeal.
Further
Tie-breaker
school entrance will be the deciding factor. In
assessing home to school distance the LA
measures by the shortest walking route.
of the child's house, or in the case of a flat the
centre point* of the building, to the nearest
school site entrance.
A Geographic
Survey Integrated Transport Network (ITN)
and Urban Paths Network (UPN), which are
will not include any other routes or other
method of measurement. In all cases the
of the child's house to the closest point on the
2.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
1. A looked after child is a child who is
(a) in the care of a local authority, or
(b)
being
provided
with
accommodation by a local authority
in the exercise of their social services
functions (see the definition in
Section 22(1) of the Children Act
1989).An adoption order is an order
made under Section 46 of the
Adoption and Children Act 2002.A
‘child arrangements order’ is an order
settling the arrangements to be made
as to the person with whom the child
is to live under Section 8 of the
Children Act 1989 as amended by
s.14 of the Children and Families Act
2014.A special guardianship order is
an order appointing one or more
individuals to be a child’s special
guardian or guardians (Section 14A
Children Act 1989).
50
Section 2
2. Students who have been baptised as
Catholics or have been formally
received into the Catholic Church. All
applicants seeking admission under
criteria iii. will be asked to provide
evidence that they have been
baptised as a Catholic or have been
received into the Catholic Church. A
baptismal certificate or a letter from
their priest confirming their baptism
or reception into the Catholic Church
will suffice. Catholics include Latin
Rite Catholics (Roman Catholics)
and Oriental Rite Catholics in
communion with the See of Rome:
the Maronite and Italo-Albanian
Catholic Churches; the Chaldean
and
Syro-Malabar
Catholic
Churches; the Armenian, Coptic,
Syrian and Syro-Makankara Catholic
Churches, the Melkite, Ukrainian,
Ruthenian and Romanian Catholic
Churches, the Greek Catholic
Church, the Byzantine Catholics in
former Yugoslavia, the Bulgarian,
Slovak and Hungarian Catholic
Churches and the Eastern Catholic
Communities (Russian, Belarussian,
Georgian and Albanian) without
hierarchies.
and the Head of Year (Sixth Form) as
well as an opportunity to meet
departmental staff.
4.
The formal application process begins
following the Sixth Form Open Evening.
(i)
The Application Form
All applicants are required to
complete the Sixth Form
Application Form and return it to:
Sixth Form Administrator
St Leonard’s Catholic School
North End
Durham
DH1 4NG
(ii)
Academic Information
On receiving the application form,
from an external applicant, St
Leonard’s will seek a reference
from the school currently attended.
The purpose of this reference is to
gain information regarding the
applicant’s attendance, work rate
and capability to cope with the
intended
course
of
study.
Information will also be sought from
Heads of Department and Heads of
Year for internal applicants. Please
note that this is for information only.
3. Definition of Sibling: Sibling refers to
brother or sister, half brother or
sister, adopted brother or sister, step
brother or sister, or the child of the
parent/carer’s partner where the child
for whom the school place is sought
is living in the same family unit at the
same address as that sibling.
3.
APPLICATION PROCESS
(iii) Acknowledging Receipt of
Application
OPEN EVENING
Receipt of applications will only be
acknowledged if accompanied by a
stamped, addressed envelope.
The annual Sixth Form Opening Evening
gives both internal and external students
the opportunity to discover more about
the Sixth Form. The evening for 2016
applications is due to take place on
Wednesday 21st October 2015 from
7.00pm until 9.00pm. This evening is
comprised of a short introductory
presentation from the Head Teacher,
(iv) Important Deadlines
Deadline for receipt of internal
applications: Friday 13th November
2015
51
Section 2
Deadline for receipt of external
applications: Friday 13th November
2015
(v)
disabled or have difficulties of
language or are not familiar with
school admissions.
Late applications
(viii) Information and Advice Meeting
Late applications will be considered
by the Governors and included in
the admissions procedure at the
point when they are received. No
application for admission to the
Sixth Form in September 2016 will
be accepted after Friday 26th August
2016
except
in
exceptional
circumstances.
Each individual
case will be considered by the
Deputy
Head
Teacher
in
consultation with the Head Teacher.
No application submitted after the
submission deadline (Friday 13th
November 2015) can be guaranteed
a place in Year 12 for that year of
application. Course changes are
only permitted at the discretion of
the Head of Year in consultation
with the Deputy Head Teacher and
in consultation with the appropriate
Heads of Department. No course
changes will be permitted after 30th
September in the year of admission.
As part of the application process
all applicants are required to attend
an
‘Information
and
Advice
Meeting’.
The purpose of the
meeting is to discuss with each
applicant academic success to date
and assist in the determination of
future courses. These meetings
will be arranged following receipt of
applications and are scheduled to
take place following the GCSE
results.
(ix) Special Circumstances
Special circumstances include
educational, medical, social and
compassionate reasons as to why
the application of the student
should be considered differently.
Any student who wishes to make
an application under special
circumstances must include at least
one letter from a relevant
professional (such as social
worker, doctor, priest) which sets
out the evidence in support of the
application to be considered.
(vi) The honesty of the application
Any false or deliberately misleading
information given on the application
form or in supporting papers, or any
relevant information withheld, may
lead to the withdrawal of a place,
even after a student has started at
the school.
The application will need to
demonstrate
why
a
place
specifically at St Leonard’s Sixth
Form, or on a specific course, is in
the student’s best interest. The
Governors
will
weigh
each
application on its individual merits,
considering all and only the
evidence submitted to them, also
taking into consideration the ability
of the school to meet the individual’s
needs and the overall balance of the
school population. On the basis of
the case presented to them, the
(vii) Information and Assistance
St Leonard’s is committed to
fairness and transparency in the
way it operates its admissions
procedures. Parents are invited to
contact the school to discuss their
situation and to obtain help in
applying, especially if they are
52
Section 2
Governors will decide whether or
not an application is eligible for
admission
under
special
circumstances.
(a) students must achieve at least a
grade E in each of their AS
subjects.
(b) students must work effectively
towards their target grades as
given at the beginning of each
academic year
(c) students must demonstrate their
commitment to AS study by
maintaining a minimum 90%
attendance
(d) students
must
meet
St
Leonard’s high expectations of
behaviour and commitment in
accordance with the Sixth Form
Learning Agreement and the
policies detailed in the Sixth
Form planner.
In the event of a Special
Circumstances Application being
turned down by the Governors, the
applicant has a right of appeal. Any
appeal must be made in writing.
(x)
Pupil Admission Number
Any student currently on roll at St
Leonard’s (Year 11 in the academic
year 2015-2016) is eligible for a
place in the Sixth Form providing
they meet the entry requirements.
For September 2016 St Leonard’s
Sixth Form has 15 places available
for external candidates who meet
the entry requirements. In the event
of
the
Sixth
Form
being
oversubscribed or meeting capacity,
the oversubscription criteria (see
section 1iv) will be applied.
(ii)
The following criteria must be
met in order to ensure
continuation on route B:
(a) students must meet the pass
criteria for their chosen
course of study in each of
the Year 12 units covered.
(b) students
must
work
effectively towards their
minimum target as given at
the beginning of each
academic year
(c) students must demonstrate
their commitment to study by
attendance
(d) students must meet St
Leonard’s high expectations
of
behaviour
and
commitment in accordance
with the Sixth Form Learning
Agreement and the policies
detailed in the Sixth Form
planner.
(xi) Capacity
The Sixth Form capacity is 340
students. The maximum number of
Year 12 students admitted for any
given year is determined by the
number of Year 13 students in that
academic year.
5.
CONTINUATION REQUIREMENTS
It is envisaged that all students admitted
into Year 12 in September 2016 will
continue at St Leonard’s until the end of
Year 13 in June 2018.
(i)
Year 12 criteria (Routes B and
Route B+)
Year 12 criteria (Route A)
The following criteria must be met
in order to ensure continuation on
route A:
53
Section 2
Any student on Route B+ must
meet the above criteria (a) – (d) for
the BTEC element of their
Programme of Study and students
must achieve at least a grade E in
their chosen A Level course.
(ii)
have respect for themselves, for their
studies and for the school community.
7.
Route A Entry Requirements
Year 13 criteria
The additional requirements referred to
under section 1 (i) (e) of this policy cover
those subjects not available for study at
GCSE at St Leonard’s but offered at
Advanced Level. These subjects are
included
in
this
list
of
entry
requirements. While the graded entry
requirements for each subject are clearly
listed below, all applicants are advised
that a clear grade B is necessary for
confident transition to the demands of
Advanced Level study. Success in the
Higher Tier of entry at GCSE is the best
indicator of likely success at Advanced
Level.
The following criteria must be met
during the Year 13 in order to
ensure continuation:
(a) students must work effectively
towards their target as given at
the beginning of each academic
year
(b) student must demonstrate their
commitment
to
study
by
attendance
(c) students
must
meet
St
Leonard’s high expectations of
behaviour and commitment in
accordance with the Sixth Form
Learning Agreement and the
policies detailed in the Sixth
Form planner.
6.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
AS Subject
Biology
Grade ‘B’ in GCSE
Additional Science or
in GCSE Biology (if
studying
separate
sciences)
Business Studies
Business Studies if
taken or Grade ‘B’ in
GCSE Mathematics
Chemistry
Additional Science or
Chemistry (if studying
separate sciences)
English Literature
English Literature and
English
Fine Art
Grade ‘B’ in GCSE Art,
if taken, or GCSE
Grade
‘B’
in
Technology
EXPECTATIONS
Expectations
of
behaviour
and
commitment are very high. Students are
required to behave well according to a
clear code of expectations and school
rules and to develop self-discipline and
to show commitment to the ethos of the
school community. This includes the
wearing of the uniform, courtesy shown
towards others, attendance, punctuality
and a positive attitude to studies and the
wider life of the school. Students are set
challenging academic targets and
encouraged to stretch their capabilities
and to see what they can achieve.
The school’s disciplinary system is both
clear and demanding. The basis of this
system is that students are expected to
54
Entry Requirements
Section 2
Food Technology
Technology if taken
or GCSE Grade ‘B’
in English or GCSE
Grade ‘B’ in
Mathematics
French
French
Further
Mathematics
Geography
German
Grade ‘A’ in GCSE
Mathematics
Geography, if taken,
or Grade ‘B’ in
GCSE
Additional
Science or Grade ‘B’
in GCSE Biology (if
taking
separate
Sciences).
German
Government &
Politics
English Literature
History
History if taken or
English Literature
ICT
ICT if taken or
English Language
Mathematics
Mathematics
Media Studies
English Language
Music
Music or Grade 4 on
a musical
instrument.
Physical
Education
Physics
Additional Science
or Grade ‘B’ in
GCSE Physics (if
studying
separate
sciences)
Product Design
Technology if taken
in English or GCSE
Grade
‘B’
in
Mathematics
Psychology
Mathematics
Religious Studies
Religious Studies
Sociology
Sociology if taken or
English Language
Textiles
Technology if taken
in English or GCSE
Grade ‘B’ in
Mathematics
Please note that if you have studied a
subject at GCSE and wish to continue
that subject to AS Level study you
MUST have achieved at least a grade
‘B’ at GCSE.
Route B and
Requirements
Route
B+
Entry
Please see Section 1 (ii) and (iii) of this
policy.
Physical Education if
taken or Grade ‘B’ in
GCSE
Additional
Science or Grade ‘B’
in GCSE Biology (if
taking
separate
Sciences).
55
Section 2
APOLLO STUDIO ACADEMY
The Published Admission Number
(PAN)
____________________________________
Apollo Studio Academy will support young
people aged 14-19 to develop the skills they
will need to gain employment or to progress
to further study. The Studio Academy aims to
address a current skills shortage amongst
young people in East Durham and the
surrounding area. Our aim is to support
young people in this area to become workready: confident to succeed in the workplace
or in running their own business in the future.
At full capacity in 2016, the Apollo Studio
Academy has an agreed Published
Admission Number (PAN) of 50 per year for
admission into Year 10 and will admit up to
this number each year. As a transitional
measure, the PAN is 50 in 2016.
The Apollo Studio Academy will offer post-16
provision for a maximum total of 200 young
people. From 2017 onwards, the Year 12
PAN is 50. As the Apollo Studio Academy
builds to full capacity the post-16 Pan is 70
in 2016. If less than all of the school's own
Year 11 young people transfer into Year 12,
additional external young people (meeting the
minimum entry requirements) will be admitted
until Year 12 meets its capacity.
Applying for a place at the Apollo
Studio Academy
For the academic year 2016/17 applications
for Year 10 will be made through the coordinated admissions process managed by
Durham LA.
The table shows the build up of total numbers
of young people and those places that will be
offered on an annual basis to eligible external
applicants, i.e. the published admission
number (PAN), as shown in brackets below,
for example (50).
The deadline for all applications to Year 10
is 31 October 2015. Decisions on places will
be made and notified to parents/carers by 31
March 2016. Applications received after the
closing date will be accepted up to 31 August
2016 but regarded as late applications. (Any
application received after the closing date will
be accepted but considered only after those
received by the closing date).
Post 16 students must apply directly to the
Admissions Officer at Apollo Studio
Academy, Willerby Grove, Peterlee, County
Durham, SR8 2RN. Application forms are
available on the Apollo Studio Academy
website and must be returned by 31 January
2016.
2016
2017
Year 10
50 (50)
50 (50)
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Total
50
100 (70)
50
100 (50)
100
300
100
300
Post 16 Intake - Entry Requirements
All Year 11 students at Apollo Studio
Academy will be entitled to progress to Post
16 if they meet the minimum academic
requirements.
Late applications will be placed on the waiting
list and allocated using the oversubscription
criteria outlined in the section headed
"Oversubscription Criteria" on the next 2
pages of this policy. Please note that an offer
of a place in the Post 16 provision will be
provisional based on predicated grades and
will be confirmed once actual examination
results are known and validated.
Both internal and external students wishing to
enter Post 16 will be expected to have met
the minimum academic entry requirements
for the Post 16 provision stated below:

56
For A Level courses and mixed
programmes (A levels/BTEC) students will
Section 2

require a minimum of 5 x GCSEs at
grades A*-C including English and Maths
(and
Science
where
appropriate).
Applicants will require at least a B grade
in the subject that they wish to study at A
level.

For Level 3 vocational programmes, the
minimum qualifications required are 5 x
GCSEs at grades A*-C including English
and
Maths
(and
Science
where
appropriate).

For Level 2 vocational programmes, the
minimum qualifications required are 4 x
GCSEs at grade D or above in a mix of
different subjects and this would usually
include English and Maths or equivalent
qualifications.
If either internal or external applicants fail to
meet the minimum course requirements
described above, they will be given the option
of pursuing any alternative courses for which
they do meet the minimum academic
requirements.
Where the number of applications for
admission is greater than the published
admission number, the Apollo Academy Trust
will apply the criteria below for the remaining
places for this age group (after the admission
of children with a statement of Special
Educational Needs or an Education Health
and Care Plan which names the Apollo
Studio Academy) in the order in which they
set out:

Looked after children and previously
looked after children1

Young people who live nearest to The
Apollo Studio Academy2
1
Looked-after children and previously
looked-after children: previously looked-after
children are those who immediately after
being looked after have been adopted, or
have become subject to a child arrangements
order or special guardianship order.
A
looked-after child is a child who is a) in the
care of a local authority, or b) being provided
with accommodation by a local authority in
their exercise of their social services functions
(see the definition in Section 22(1) of the
Children Act 1989 and the Adoption Act
1976).
2
Distance from home to school is as defined
and measured by Durham LA. In assessing
home to school distance Durham LA
measures by the shortest walking route.
nearest school site entrance. A geographic
information system (GIS) is used to identify
recognised datasets. The LA will not include
any other routes or use other methods of
straight line the centre point* of the property to
the closest point on the nearest route on the
ITN/UPN.
Waiting List
The Apollo Studio Academy will operate a
waiting list for each year group. Where, in
any year, the Apollo Studio Academy
receives more applications for places than
there are places available, a waiting list will
operate until one term after the start of the
school year. The Apollo Studio Academy
Trust will maintain this and it will be open to
any parent/carer to ask for his or her child's
name to be placed on the waiting list,
following an unsuccessful application.
In the event of two or more applications that
cannot otherwise be separated, random
allocation as a tie-break will be applied. This
will be overseen by someone who is
independent of the school.
57
Section 2
Young people's position on the waiting list will
be determined solely in accordance with the
oversubscription criteria set out earlier in this
section. Where places become vacant, they
will be allocated to students on the waiting
list, in accordance with the oversubscription
criteria and not on a "first-come, first-served
basis".
people. The school is driven and supported
by its founding members – the University of
Sunderland and local employers Gestamp
Tallent and Hitachi Rail Europe.
UTCs are smaller than traditional schools and
students work closely with employers through
visits, projects, placements and challenges
such as F1 in Schools and GreenPower. The
new school will be built on Long Tens Way,
Aycliffe Business Park with a triple-height
specialist engineering block housing state-ofthe-art kit.
The Appeals Process
Any student not offered a place at The Apollo
Studio Academy has the right to appeal. The
Apollo Studio Academy Trust will ensure that
parents and young people have the right of
appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel if
they are dissatisfied with an admission
decision of the Trust.
Students join the UTC either in Year 10 or
Year 12. In Year 10, all students follow a core
curriculum of English, Maths, Science,
Engineering and Physical Education. Option
subjects include humanities and a language,
meeting
the
government’s
EBacc
requirements. The UTC’s focus is delivered
through high quality Engineering courses and
enhanced by other option subjects such as
Computer Science, Design and Technology
and Business.
The Apollo Studio Academy Trust will prepare
guidance for parents and young people about
how the appeal process will work and provide
them with a named contact who can answer
any enquiries they may have about the
process.
The Apollo Studio Academy's
appeals process will be independently
administered and clerked.
Post-16 students follow one of three
pathways, all involving a strong core of
academic and technical subjects, project
work and placements with businesses. These
can lead to university, apprenticeships,
further study or direct employment. Project
work
and
placements
will
develop
employability skills and confidence in realworld work situations.
Appeals should be made in writing to Mrs
Debra Livingston, Clerk of the Independent
Appeals Panel, The Academy at Shotton Hall,
Passfield Way, Peterlee, SR8 1AU within 20
school days from the date of notification that
the application was unsuccessful.
For all year groups, enrichment programmes
support the academic curriculum in order to
develop broader workplace and life skills.
Examples include literacy and numeracy
support, ICT skills, engineering challenge
competitions, coding club, sports, teams and
leadership skills.
UTC SOUTH DURHAM
_______________________________
UTC South Durham opens in September
2016 and will be the first University Technical
College in the North East. UTCs are statefunded, non-selective technical schools for
14-19 year olds that give students the skills
they need to innovate and invent.
The UTC will hold a number of parent and
student events where you can come and find
out more about UTC South Durham. At these
events, the Principal, founding members and
employer partners will be available to answer
The UTC will specialise in advanced
manufacturing and engineering, sectors that
are vital to the future of the region and which
have opportunities for highly-skilled young
58
Section 2
any questions you may have. Please visit our
website to see information
www.utcsouthdurham.org.
offer of a place on the Post-16 pathways will
be provisional based on predicted grades and
will be confirmed once actual examination
results are known.
Applying for a place at UTC South
Durham
The Published Admission Number
(PAN)
For the academic year 2016/17 admissions
for Years 10 and 12 will be made through the
UTC, as it is the first year of operation.
Application for entry for both Year groups
opens on 1 September 2015 with two closing
dates. For applicants who wish to apply early
to secure a place the first closing date is 1
December 2015. There will be a second
closing date of 1 March 2016 for parents and
students who prefer to take longer to consider
their application.
The following maximum numbers of students
for the years 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19
will be admitted:
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Total
Decisions on all applications will be notified to
the applicant within two weeks, ie by
14 December 2015 for the first closing date
and by 14 March 2016 for the second closing
date. There will be no difference in selection
criteria between the two deadlines.
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
120
120
240
150
120
150
120
540
150
150
150
150
600
There will be an automatic right of transfer
into Year 12 from Year 11 for UTC students
who meet the minimum entry requirements.
The number of Year 12 places available for
new entrants will be the number of available
places up to the overall 150-place limit.
We will accept late applications after the first
closing date which will be considered along
with applications received by the second
closing date. Applications received after
1 March 2016 will be accepted up to 31
August 2016 but regarded as late
applications.
Post-16 Intake - Entry Requirements
Year 12 entry will be divided into three
pathways. All Year 11 students at UTC South
Durham will be entitled to progress to Post-16
if they meet the minimum academic
requirements for Pathway 1 or Pathway 2.
All applications can be made via the website
www.utcsouthdurham.org where you can
complete an online form or download as a
Word document and return it by email to
[email protected] or by post to:
Both internal and external students wishing to
enter Post-16 will be expected to have met
the minimum academic entry requirements
for the Post-16 provision stated below:
Tom Dower
UTC South Durham
c/o Xcel Centre
Long Tens Way
Aycliffe Business Park
County Durham
DL5 6AP
For Pathway 1 (Level 3 academic
achievement), students will require a
minimum of five GCSEs at grades A* - C
including English and Maths. Applicants will
normally require at least a B grade in the
subject that they wish to study at A-level, if
they have studied it before.
You will then be asked to confirm your
acceptance of a place. Please note that an
59
Section 2
For Pathway 2 (Level 3 vocational
achievement),
the
normal
minimum
qualifications required are five GCSEs at
grades A* - C including English and Maths
with qualifications in relevant subjects.
living together as part of the same family unit
at the time when the child is due to start in
the college.)
Criterion 3: Remaining places will be
allocated by distance from UTC South
Durham with those living closest being given
priority for admission. Distance will be
measured using electronic measurement, by
a straight line from the front door of the
student’s home address to the front door of
the UTC South Durham using computer
For Pathway 3 (Level 2 pre-apprenticeship
programme), students will normally need to
meet a minimum entry requirement of five
GCSE passes at A* - E, or equivalent,
including English and Maths. We do not
expect students to transfer internally onto
Pathway 3.
software.
In the event of two or more applications that
cannot otherwise be separated, random
allocation will be used as a tie-break. All
processes of random allocation under these
arrangements will be supervised by someone
independent of UTC South Durham.
If either internal or external applicants fail to
meet the minimum course requirements
described above, they will be given the option
of pursuing any alternative courses for which
they do meet the minimum academic
requirements.
Appeals
Any student not offered a place at UTC South
Durham will have a right of appeal to an
Independent Appeals Panel. The appeals
process will conform to the School Admission
Appeals Code and will be binding on all
parties. The appeals panel members will be
independent of UTC South Durham.
All students with an Education Health and
Care Plan or Statement of SEN naming UTC
South Durham will be admitted to Year 10 or
Year 12 if they meet the requirements for
pathways identified above.
Oversubscription Criteria for entry
to both Year groups
Guidance will be prepared for parents and
young people about how the appeal process
will work, to include a named contact who can
answer any enquiries you may have and
ensure that you are invited to attend the
hearing. The appeals process will be
independently administered and clerked.
Where the number of applications for
admission to UTC South Durham is greater
than the published admission number, and
after the admission of students with an
Education Health and Care Plan or Statement
of Special Educational Need that names the
UTC, the following process will apply:
Waiting Lists
Where in any year UTC South Durham
receives more eligible applications than there
are places available, a waiting list will be
maintained by UTC South Durham until the
end of the first term after the start of the
school year.
Criterion 1: Children in Public Care (Looked
After Children) and previously looked after
children.
Criterion 2: Siblings of students enrolled at
UTC South Durham at the time of the
application. (Siblings means children living in
the same household and includes brothers
and sisters, including adopted and fostered
children and the unrelated children of adults
60
Section 2
It will be open to any parent to ask for their
child’s name to be placed on the waiting list.
If and when places become available they will
be allocated to those on the waiting list in line
with the oversubscription criteria.
Late applications
All applications received after the second
deadline will be considered late applications.
Late applicants will be considered after those
received on time. If, following consideration of
all applicants, the UTC is oversubscribed,
parents may request that their child is placed
on the UTC’s waiting list.
61
Section 3
The following map gives an indication of the nearest community secondary school,
foundation school or non-faith academy boundary, measured by the shortest
walking route by Durham LA as described below*. This map is intended to be used
only as a guide.
If you have any queries regarding the nearest school to the home address please
telephone the School Admissions and Transport Team on 03000 265896 for
assistance.
* In assessing home to school distance the LA measures by the shortest walking
route. Routes are measured from the centre point of the child's house, or in the
case of a flat from the centre point** of the building, to the nearest school site
entrance. A Geographic Information system (GIS) is used to identify and
measure the shortest walking route. The GIS only identifies routes on the
Ordnance Survey Integrated Transport Network (ITN) and Urban paths Network
(UPN), which are national recognised datasets. The LA will not include any other
routes or other method of measurement. In all cases the GIS identifies the route
to be measured by connecting in a straight line the centre point** of the child's
house to the closest point on the nearest route on the ITN/UPN.
** In accordance with the co-ordinates of the Basic Land and Property Unit on the
In all instances where the LA's Geographic Information System (GIS) is used for the
2016/17 academic year, which could be in respect of any admission to any
school/academy and for any application for home to school transport, the October
2015 release of the UPN/ITN datasets will be those so used UNTIL the October
2016 datasets are released, whereupon at that point the October 2016 datasets will
be utilised.
62
63
Note: Although the information contained in this Guide was correct as at 11 September 2015 it
should not be assumed that there will be no change affecting the relevant arrangements or
matters detailed in the Guide for admission to secondary schools/academies for 2016/2017,
before the start of, or during, 2016/2017 academic year or in relation to subsequent academic
years. You should visit Durham County Council website:
www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions or contact: School Admissions and Transport Team,
Children and Adults Services, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UJ. Tel: 03000 265896 in order to
access the most up to date admission arrangements.
64

Secondary school admissions brochure 2016/17

Transcription

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