Admissions Policy 2011/12
Introduction
Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England Secondary School has a distinctive Christian ethos which is at the heart of this school and provides an inclusive, caring and supportive environment where children learn and flourish in a setting shaped by Christian values. We welcome applications from all members of the community and we ask all parents to respect the Christian ethos of our school and its importance to our community.
Pupils are admitted to Year 7 in Blackheath Bluecoat School through the Pan-London arrangement on admissions. Applicants should complete the Common Application Form provided by the Local Authority in the area where the applicant lives, and, in addition, those with a faith commitment should fill in a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available either from the school or the Local Authority. All Year 7 applications will be processed according to the Local Authority’s published timetable. Applications for other year groups may be made at any time by completing a Common Application Form provided by the Local Authority in the area where the applicant lives.
In a Voluntary Aided school the Governors are the admission authority. The Governors of Blackheath Bluecoat School wish to offer a place any pupil whose parents desire a Christian education for their child. Up to 180 pupils are admitted to Year 7 each September.
In order to ensure that the school has, as far as is possible, an even balance of pupils of different abilities and is therefore a truly 'comprehensive' school, the governors will use the Local Authority’s banding system. The number of places available is divided into five ability bands, and pupils are allocated to one of these according to their performance in the QCA (Qualification and Curriculum Authority) tests taken in Year 5 of primary school (if they attend school in Greenwich or Lewisham), or otherwise according to an assessment of their current level of ability (if they attend school elsewhere).
Oversubscription Criteria
If there are more applicants than places available in a particular band, priority will be given in that band according to the criteria listed below, in the following order:
- ‘Looked after’ Children.[1]
- Children with established and documented exceptional medical or social reasons to attend the school. In reaching a decision, advice will be sought from medical and teaching professionals where appropriate.[2]
- Children, or Children of parents, who have a regular active commitment to an Anglican church.[3]
4. Children, or children of parents, who have a regular active commitment to a Christian church, other than Anglican, which is a full member of “Churches Together in Britain and Ireland” or the Evangelical Alliance.
5.Children of parents who have a nominal commitment to a Christian church which is a full member of “Churches Together in Britain and Ireland” or the Evangelical Alliance.[4]
6.Children with a sibling[5] in the school at the time they are due to be admitted.
7. Children who attend a church primary school
8. Children, or children of parents who have a commitment to a faith other than Christian[6].
9.Any other children.
Tie Break
Where the offer of places to all the applicants in any of the categories listed above would still lead to over-subscription, the places up to the admission number will be offered to those living nearest to the school. ‘Walking distance’ will be used as a measure from the front door of the child’s home to the main entrance of the school. If more than one applicant lives in a multi-occupancy building e.g. flats, priority will be given to the applicant whose door number is the lowest numerically and/or alphabetically. In the event of two such applicants living an equal distance from the school, the offer of a place will be decided by drawing lots.
'Home' is where the child lives as their only or principal residence. If a child resides equally between both parents, the principal home address will be considered to be the address of the parent who is in receipt of child benefit for the child. For children who reside with a relative or carer other than a parent, a residence order or other court order will be required.
Waiting list
When oversubscribed, a waiting list will be maintained. Children will be ranked according to the admission criteria. Placing a child on the waiting list does not affect the parent's right of appeal against an unsuccessful application. The waiting list will stay open until the end of the autumn term.
Open days and evenings
These will take place early in the autumn term corresponding to Year 6. Information regarding times and dates of Open Days are available from the school and are also published in Greenwich Council’s “Choosing a Secondary School in Greenwich” admission booklet.
Induction
All successful applicants will go through an induction process to ease primary/secondary transition. This may include an individual meeting and a special induction day in the summer term.
Appeal procedure
Parents who are not offered a place for their child have the right of appeal to an independent appeal committee under the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998. Parents who wish to appeal should obtain an appeal form from the school. This form should be sent to the clerk of the appeal committee care of the school no less than 14 days of the notification of the decision.
Late applications and In-Year admissions
Procedures for late applications and in-year admissions will be in accordance with the LA scheme for the co-ordination of secondary school admissions. The Governors co-operate with the Local Authority’s Fair Access Protocol; this means that children admitted under this protocol will take priority over other applicants.
[1]“Looked after child” is defined in Section 22 of the 1989 Children Act as any child in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them (e.g. children with foster parents).
[2]To demonstrate “established and documented exceptional medical reasons” the governing body would normally require written evidence from an appropriate professional such as a specialist health professional, social worker or other care professional which demonstrates a particular need for Blackheath Bluecoat School and sets out the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
[3] “Regular Active Commitment” is defined as involvement such as church warden, sides-person, server, chorister, steward, youth leader, Sunday school teacher, member of parochial church council, member of Home or Cell Group or similar involvement with weekly attendance at worship during the two years prior to the application.
[4]“Nominal commitment” is defined as occasional attendance during the two years prior to the application.
[5]“Sibling” being defined as a blood-relative, step sibling, foster or adopted child living at the same address.
[6]“Commitment” is defined as regular attendance at worship during the two years prior to the application.