CUMBRIA EDUCATION SERVICE

                          GENERAL ADMISSIONS POLICY 2007/2008

Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools

Where there are more applications than places available at a community or voluntary controlled school, applications will be prioritised using the criteria below.  The criteria will be applied in conjunction with the explanatory notes overleaf which form part of the policy.  In the main intake allocation processes defined in the co-ordinated admissions schemes, they will be applied to first preference applicants first.  Second, and subsequently third, preferences will be considered if places remain after parents who have given a school as a higher preference have been allocated a place.

1.    Children looked after, ie in public care, giving priority, if necessary, to the youngest child(ren) - see note 1 overleaf.

2.    Children living in the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission - see notes 2 and 3 overleaf. 

3.    Children living outside the catchment area who, at the time of their admission, have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) who were directed to that school by the Local Authority either (a) in the absence of a place being available in the catchment area school due to oversubscription and the school was identified by the Local Authority as the next nearest with a place available or (b) in their Statement of Special Educational Need - see notes 2, 3 and 4 overleaf.

4.    In relation to Church of England Voluntary Controlled Schools, children living in the catchment area with a parent on the electoral roll of a C of E church. - see note 5 overleaf.

5.    Other children living in the catchment area giving priority to those living furthest away from an alternative school where the Local Authority is able to determine that a place is available, measured by the shortest walking route by road - see notes 6 and 7 overleaf.

6.    Children living outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission - see notes 2 and 3 overleaf.

7.    In relation to Church of England Voluntary Controlled schools, children living outside the catchment area with a parent on the electoral roll of a C of E church. - see note 5 overleaf.

8.    Children living outside the catchment area, giving priority to those who live closest to the school, measured by the shortest walking route by road - see note 6 overleaf.

Applications will be prioritised on the above basis.  An exception will be made:-

·        under the Authority's policy for the education of children with special needs (i) where a child holds a Statement of Special Educational Needs, or (ii) is currently undergoing a statutory assessment, and in either case it is considered that attendance at a particular school is necessary to meet the identified needs of that child;

·        in considering a parent's second or third preference and in relation to the next nearest school with a place available where admission has been refused to the catchment area school because of oversubscription.  (Such an exception would not be made if this school is also unable to accommodate its catchment area applicants).

Explanatory Notes

 [These notes are part of the policy]

Note 1

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

Note 2

To prioritise in criteria 2, 3 and 6, priority will be given to those children with the youngest siblings.  Brothers and sisters are those living at the same address and includes step and foster children.  Priority will only be given where it is known at the time of allocating places that a sibling will be attending the school (excluding a nursery class) at the time of admission.

Note 3

Where reference is made to associated infant and junior schools this is to describe those situations where infant and junior schools share the same catchment area.

Note 4

If parents believe they qualify for consideration under criterion 3, they should indicate this on their preference form in the place provided for this purpose.  In relation to a child with a Statement of Special Educational Need, the Statement must state that the child is directed by the Local Authority to attend a particular school which is necessary to meet his or her identified needs.  It does not include those situations where the Statement indicates that the Local Authority considers a mainstream school of parental choice to be appropriate.

Note 5

To be considered under criteria 4 or 7 parents must provide proof with the completed form that they are on an electoral roll of a C of E church and have been for two years before the closing date for preference forms.  It may relate to more than one church.  To prioritise in criteria 4 or 7 the measurement criteria in criteria 5 and 8 respectively will be used.

Note 6

Distance measurements will be undertaken using the Local Authority’s computerised Geographical Information System [GIS] and will be to the nearest entrance on the school site which is available to pupils at the time of undertaking the assessment.

Note 7

Under criterion 5, an alternative school will only be regarded as having a place available if it is able to accommodate its catchment area applicants and still has places available.