Bolton Metropolitan Borough

BOLTON METROPOLITAN BOROUGH

The attached document sets out the proposed policy as determined by Bolton Council for admission into community and controlled primary and secondary schools in September 2010.

If you have any objections to the proposals which you believe do not comply with the mandatory requirements of the Schools Admission Code www.dcsf.gov.uk/sacode

then you may object to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. All objections must be submitted by 31st July 2009.

If you require any further information regarding this then they can be contacted at

Office of the Schools Adjudicator
Mowden Hall
StaindropRoad
Darlington
DL3 9BG

Tel0870 0012468
Fax01325 391313

BOLTON METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

PROPOSED ADMISSION POLICY FOR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY-CONTROLLED PRIMARY SCHOOLS 2010/2011

The Council will admit all children with a statement of special educational needs, in whose statement the school is named

The policy for admission to community and controlled primary schools for 2010 –2011 is as follows.

All parents will be provided with an application form on which they will be asked to express 3 preferences in order of priority for a primary school. Places will be allocated up to the published admission number for each school.

If the school is over-subscribed the following criteria will be applied to all applications in priority order.

1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children)

2. Other children who are considered as “vulnerable” whose application for the preferred school is supported by the Assistant Director for Social Care. This will include;

a. Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12 month period.

b. Children who have had a period in care within 2 years of the admission application and are still receiving social care services

c. Children who are considered to be at significant risk of becoming looked after

d. Children who are living in temporary accommodation due to fleeing violence and the area for rehousing has been identified

3. Children who will have older siblings in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. Older children from the same family unit, attending a particular school, can be considered to “qualify” a younger child under sibling link criteria, provided proof is available to demonstrate that the children are permanently resident at the same address and part of the same family unit.

4. Children who have strong Church connections where the school is a Church school.

Parents must provide with their application evidence that the family and the child are active worshipping members at the church to which the school is affiliated. Active worshipping members of the church will be those persons who worship at least once a month sustained over a period of a year prior to the closing date for applications.

5. Children who suffer from some medical condition or disability, which makes it, better for them to attend that school rather than another. Places will only be offered under this criteria if the child has a certified medical condition with strong professional supporting evidence confirming that existing exceptional problems with the child’s health would be seriously exacerbated if a place were not made at the preferred school.

6. Proximity (Where you live).

Shortest walking distance to the preferred school minus shortest walking distance to the nearest/next nearest school.

The nearest/next nearest school will include all community, voluntary-controlled, foundation and academy schools whether in the Bolton Borough or not.

· In the event of a tie-break situation priority will be given to the child who has the longer journey to the nearest/next nearest school.

· The shortest walking route will be that determined by the Local Authority using public rights of way recognised within the measuring system only. This will be measured using Routefinder, a computerised mapping system which uses the ordnance survey integrated network which measures from the point on the highway nearest to the centre of the home property and the designated main entrance to the school. In the event of a tie-break within a block of flats those living furthest from the communal entrance will be given priority.

· Where a single place remains at a school and the application being considered is for twins (etc.) the Council will exercise flexibility wherever possible. If places for both (all) siblings can not be offered, for example where the class six limit of 30 has been reached, the family will be advised accordingly. This may apply also to siblings who are in the same year group.

BOLTON METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

PROPOSED ADMISSION POLICY FOR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY-CONTROLLED SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2010/2011

The Council will admit all children with a statement of special educational needs, in whose statement the school is named

The policy for admission to community and controlled secondary schools for 2010 –2011 is as follows.

If the school is over-subscribed the following criteria will be applied to all applications in priority order.

1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children) who are the subject of a full care order.

2. Other children who are considered as “vulnerable” whose application for the preferred school is supported by the Assistant Director for Social Care. This will include;

a. Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12 month period.

b. Children who have had a period in care within 2 years of the admission application and are still receiving social care services

c. Children who are considered to be at significant risk of becoming looked after

d. Children who are living in temporary accommodation due to fleeing violence and the area for rehousing has been identified

3. Children who will have older siblings in years 7 to 11 of the preferred school at the date of admission. Older children from the same family unit, attending a particular school, can be considered to “qualify” a younger child under sibling link criteria, provided proof is available to demonstrate that the children are permanently resident at the same address and part of the same family unit. (The authority accepts that in some family units (1 or 2 adults and children) the children may not be natural brothers and sisters)

4. Children who suffer from some medical condition or disability, which makes it, better for them to attend that school rather than another. Places will only be offered under this criteria if the child has a certified medical condition with strong professional supporting evidence confirming that existing exceptional problems with the child’s health would be seriously exacerbated if a place were not made at the preferred school.

5. Proximity (Where you live).

Shortest walking distance to the preferred school minus shortest walking distance to the nearest/next nearest school.

The nearest/next nearest school will include all community, voluntary-controlled, foundation and academy schools whether in the Bolton Borough or not.

o In the event of a tie-break situation priority will be given to the child who has the longer journey to the nearest/next nearest school.

o The shortest walking route will be that determined by the Local Authority using public rights of way recognised within the measuring system only.. This will be measured using Routefinder, a computerised mapping system which uses the ordnance survey integrated network which measures from the point on the highway nearest to the centre of the home property and the designated main entrance to the school. In the event of a tie-break within a block of flats those living furthest from the communal entrance will be given priority.

o Where a single place remains at a school and the application being considered is for twins (etc.) the Council will exercise flexibility wherever possible. If places for both (all) siblings can not be offered the family will be advised accordingly. This may apply also to siblings who are in the same year group.

PROPOSED ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR RIVINGTON & BLACKROD VC HIGH SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 2010

The Council will admit all children with a statement of special educational needs, in whose statement the school is named

The Council will admit up 318 pupils. If the school is over-subscribed the following criteria will be applied to all applications in priority order.

1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children) who are the subject of a full care order.

2. Other children who are considered as “vulnerable” whose application for the preferred school is supported by the Assistant Director for Social Care. This will include;

· Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12 month period.

· Children who have had a period in care within 2 years of the admission application and are still receiving social care services

· Children who are considered to be at significant risk of becoming looked after

· Children who are living in temporary accommodation due to fleeing violence and the area for rehousing has been identified

4. Pupils who reside at an address which pays a “local parish precept” to Blackrod or Horwich Town Councils unless at any time that number exceeds the published admission number in which case pupils will be offered places on the basis of distance from school as determined in priority 7

6. Any remaining places not distributed under priorities 1 to 5 the school will admit 20% on the basis of commitment to the Christian faith. Parents must provide with their application evidence that the family and the child are active worshipping members at a Christian church. Active worshipping members will be those persons who worship at least once a month sustained over a period of a year prior to the closing date for applications.

Proximity - Shortest walking distance to the preferred school minus shortest walking line distance to the nearest/next nearest school.

The nearest/next nearest school will include all community, voluntary-controlled, foundation and academy schools whether in the Bolton Borough or not.

· In the event of a tie-break situation priority will be given to the child who has the longer journey to the nearest/next nearest school.

· Where a single place remains at a school and the application being considered is for twins (etc.) the Council will exercise flexibility wherever possible. If places for both (all) siblings can not be offered, the family will be advised accordingly. This may apply also to siblings who are in the same year group.

PROPOSED BOLTON LA CO-ORDINATED PRIMARY ADMISSION SCHEME FOR 2010/2011 ACADEMIC YEAR

Normal Year Admissions

(a) All parents/carers of Bolton children must complete the Bolton LA application form for admission to the borough maintained primary schools. This will include children with a statement for special educational needs. Parents will also be given the option of applying on-line via the Council’s website

(b) The LA will provide parents with access details to the online application form which will be distributed together with the LA's Primary Admissions Booklet. The booklet will be posted to all parents resident in the Borough who have registered their child for admission into a Bolton primary school. For parents who are unable to apply online a paper preference form will be available and will be posted in September 2008 to all those who have not submitted an online application.

(c) The LA application form (and online application) will allow parents/carers to express at least 3 preferences in rank order and to state reasons for the preferences.

(d) Parents/carers must return the completed form (or submit their online application) to the LA by 23rd October 2009. The forms should be sent to the LA's Pupil and Student Services (P&SS) in the envelope provided.

(e) The procedures for processing application forms received after the closing date is given in Appendix A.

(f) The LA will provide the admission authorities details of children whose parents have indicated the school as a preference by 20th November 2009.

(g) For admission to the community and controlled schools all applications will be considered without reference to the parents’ preference ranking

(h) Admission authorities must provide P&SS by 13th December 2009 a list of children to be offered and refused places.

(i) Between January and February 2010, admission authorities will need to consider 2nd preferences for those applicants who have not gained a place at the 1st preference school. Similarly, 3rd preferences will be considered for children who have not been offered a place at their 2nd preference school. Consideration will then be given to children who were not successful in gaining admission at the 1st preference school but whose parents either failed to indicate a 2nd or 3rd preference or named the same school thrice. Thereafter, the admission authorities will consider late applicants. This should ensure that parents/carers of all Bolton children who have applied for admission are offered a place.