2016 Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Guru Nanak Sikh Academy
Primary Phase
Reception Year Admission September 2016
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
If you require a translation of this document into Punjabi and other languages, please contact the PrimaryAcademy Office on 0208573 6085, Option 1
A copy of this form is available to download from the School Website:-
gurunanaksikhacademy.co.uk
What are my chances of getting a school place at Guru Nanak Sikh Academy?
We have far more applications than we have school places. The first priority always goes to Children in Public Care (Looked AfterChildren) and if a child has a statement of Special Educational Needsor an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP),naming our school then we will admit them providing we can meet their specific needs. After these children have been admitted, others are considered according to the Admissions Criteria, in priority order. For example, after we have admitted Children in Public Careand Special Needs, places are then allocated to children whose parent(s) demonstrate a commitment to the Sikh faith, up to 50 places. 10 places are then allocated to children whose parent(s) attend worship in the tradition of any other faith. If places are still remaining children living closest to the Academy are admitted. The higher the score on the Religious Questionnaire (RQ), the more likely the chance of a school place.
For September 2015there were 319applications for 60places.
No places were allocated to Looked After Children or children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs that named our school.
50places were allocated to children with parents committed to the Sikh Faith under Criterion 2. This included :-
26 Outstanding Religious Questionnaire with Sibling
24 Outstanding Religious Questionnaire without Sibling
0 Good Religious Questionnaire with sibling
0 Good Religious Questionnaire without sibling
Total 50
10 places were allocated under Criterion 3 to another faith, other than Sikh. This included:-
2 Outstanding Religious Questionnaire with Sibling
8 Outstanding Religious Questionnaire without Sibling
0 Good Religious Questionnaire with sibling
0 Good Religious Questionnaire without sibling.
Total 10
Noplaces were allocated under Criteria 4, ‘Other Faith’ Distance.
How Do I Apply For A School Place?
There are 2 parts to the application process:
1.As a Hillingdon resident, fill inthe Common Application Form from the London Borough of Hillingdon.
If you live outside the London Borough of Hillingdon fill in your own Local Authority
Common Application Form. For example if you live in Ealing fill in the London Borough of Ealing Common Application Form.
2.Fill in the Religious Questionnaire obtainable from Guru Nanak Sikh Academy(Primary Phase) but returnable to the Nanaksar Trust by post.
Do we get a receipt for the Religious Questionnaire Form we have submitted?
No. That is why we are asking that you send your forms by recorded delivery. Your recorded delivery slip will act as your receipt. Use a posting system that records the name and address of the sender, the date of posting and the posting address. It is the parents’ responsibility to check that the Religious Questionnaire has arrived at the posting address. You are advised to keep a copy of your Religious Questionnaire.
What is The Nanaksar Trust ?
It is the Religious Body that evaluates the Religious Questionnaire and responses to the religious Criterion 2 and 3.
Why have a Religious Questionnaire?
We are a Sikh Academy and value our own and other Faiths.
Why assess the Religious Questionnaire?
We have a Religious Questionnaire because if 100 Sikhs applied and there were only 50 places the ranking of the Religious Questionnaire will help us to allocate places fairly.
Who is involved in the assessment of the questionnaire?
A close partner of the Religious Body is the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO). They are an independent organisation and respected for their authority and knowledge of Sikh issues in contemporary times and the challenges of the Sikh faith. The Nanaksar Trust uses the Network of Sikh Organisations in an advisory capacity but they do not make any decisions as to who is selected for anacademy place.
Guru Nanak Sikh Academy will only be involved in the process in an administrative capacity to help distribute information to applicants and supply forms. They will not engage with applicants on queries about what to write and what to include. Please do not approach staff members.
How is the Religious Questionnaire assessed?
Sikh Applicants
We have the majority of applications falling under Criterion 2, ‘children living with parents who demonstrate commitment to the Sikh Faith.’ Marks are awarded for each answer and the final mark sent to The Admissions Panel in the categories “Outstanding”, “Good” and “Insufficient Evidence”. Those that are ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’ would be considered under Criteria 2, and those with ‘Insufficient Evidence’ only considered under Criterion 4, Distance.
If a large number of applicants met the criterion, the Admissions Panel would first consider if any of the applicants had brothers or sisters admitted prior to year 11, in attendance at the Academy at the time of application and may give them a place. (See the definition of brother/sister). The chart below explains the process.
Religious Questionnaire awarded Outstanding (110marks and above) / Academy places are allocated by rank order of the Religious Questionnaire mark with the ‘Outstanding’ group considered first. The sibling ruling would be applied to the top ranked ‘Outstanding’ and all those children may be admitted. The ‘Outstanding’ without siblings are then considered and may be offered places.If there are still places remaining after this then the next batch of Religious Questionnaires ‘Good’ are scrutinised.
Religious Questionnaire awarded Good (109 - 80 marks) / The ‘Good’ questionnaires are put into rank order. The sibling ruling would be applied first and all those children may be admitted, followed by ‘Good’ without siblings. If there is only one place left and a number of ‘Good’ applicants have the same score, then distance, (those living nearest the academy is the deciding factor)
Religious Questionnaire awarded Insufficient Evidence (79 marks and below) / These applications would be put to one side and later considered under criterion 4 (distance) if there were still places remaining.
Please note that even a ‘Good’ questionnaire may not gain an academy place because a score of ‘good’ at 81 may be exceeded by many others scoring above this mark. There are only 60 places to allocate.
Total Marks for the Sikh Faith Religious Questionnaire: 139
Other Faith Applicants
Up to 10 places are allocated to other Faiths under Criterion 3. The applications are placed in rank order. Those scoring ‘Outstanding’, between 110 and 90 will be considered first. The sibling ruling will be applied. If there are still remaining places the ‘Good’ (between 89 and 70) will then be looked at with the ‘Good’ sibling being considered first. If the 10 places are not all filled, then any surplus places will revert back to those of the Sikh faith, under Criteria 2. Those with ‘Insufficient Evidence’ are considered under Criterion 4.
Religious Questionnaire awarded Outstanding (110-90marks) / Academy places are allocated by rank order of the Religious Questionnaire with the ‘Outstanding’ group considered first. The sibling ruling would be applied to the top ranked ‘Outstanding’ and all those children may be admitted. The ‘Outstanding’ without siblings are then considered and may be offered places.If there are still places remaining after this then the next batch of Religious Questionnaires ‘Good’ are scrutinised.
Religious Questionnaire awarded Good (89 - 70 marks) / The ‘Good’ questionnaires are put into rank order. The sibling ruling would be applied first and all those children may be admitted, followed by ‘Good’ without siblings. If there is only one place left and a number of ‘Good’ applicants have the same score, then distance, (those living nearest the academy is the deciding factor)
Religious Questionnaire awarded Insufficient Evidence (69 marks and below) / These applications would be put to one side and later considered under Criterion 4 (distance) if there were still places remaining.
Total Marks For The Other Faith Religious Questionnaire: 110
Do we get to know our score for our Religious Questionnaire?
If you are not allocated a school place because the score is too low you can request that the school obtain a copy of your marked Religious Questionnaire.
What if I forget to complete the Religious Questionnaire?
Applications made by a parent without the Religious Questionnaire will only be considered under Criterion 4, Distance.
What happens if I complete the Religious Questionnaire but forget to name Guru Nanak Sikh Academy as one of my choices of Primary Schools?
Your Local Authority will allocate you with one of your Named preferences.
What happens if the parents are of different faiths?
One parent can fill in either the Sikh Religious Questionnaire or the Other Faith Religious Questionnaire. Where an answer is required by both parents, whatever score is obtained from the one parent completing the form would be doubled.
If the parents cannot determine which Religious Questionnaire to complete, each can complete a Religious Questionnaire for their faith and the Admissions Panel would review each score and apply the most favourable score to the application.
What happens if I am a one parent family and the RQ awards marks to “Mother” and “Father”?
If only one parent supplies information then their score is doubled on the relevant questions so that the applicant is not disadvantagede.g. the Sikh question on eating meat or the Other Faith question on baptism.
Can we appeal?
In the event of an unsuccessful application for anAcademy place parents have a right to appeal. This forms part of the normal appeals process and the academy or Local Authority can advise you on how to do this.
The appeal form will be issued by the Academy and returned to the Academy. The appeal will be heard by an Independent Appeal Panel. You are strongly advised to keep a copy of your Religious Questionnaire in case of the non-offer of a school place and as evidence you may wish to submit to an Appeal Panel.
The Religious Body does not hear appeals andthe Religious Body does not enter into any correspondence with the applicant or their representative.
Some parents who did not get anAcademy place make allegations that they told the truth in their applications but other parents provided false information and got anAcademy place. The admissions panel will reconsider the allocation of the Academy place if evidence is brought to their attention before the start of the academic year. The admissions panel cannot act upon unsubstantiated comment and hearsay.
Is there a waiting list?
The Academy will maintain a list of children who have applied for a school place and have been unsuccessful in their application. The waiting list will reflect the Admissions Criteria. Children are placed on the list at the parent’s request.
Note. Do not withdraw your child from their current school until you have secured a place at another school. Continuity of education is in the best interests of your child.
Where can we get more information?
For more information on Admissions and Appeals go online to and search School Admissions.
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For ‘parent’ read parent, guardian, carer September 2016