BAY EDUCATION TRUST (BET)
CURLEDGE STREET ACADEMY
ADMISSION POLICY
for admission in September 2016
Introduction
1. The admission authority for Curledge Street Academy (the Academy) is Bay Education Trust (BET).
2. Bay Education Trust (BET) is a Multi-Academy Trust. Along with Curledge Street Academy there are two other academies within the Trust in Torbay: Kings Ash Academy and Paignton Community and Sports Academy.
3. The Admission Policies for all three schools is the responsibility of the Board of Directors of Bay Education Trust (BET), though in practice the operation of the policies is delegated to the relevant Local Governing Body of each Academy.
4. The purpose of the policy is to ensure all places at each Academy are allocated and offered in an open and fair way.
Curledge Street Academy
5. The Academy will admit up to 60 pupils in Year R. This is its Published Admission Number (PAN).
6. In line with the Schools Admission Code, the Academy will participate in the coordinated admissions scheme for Torbay LA and provide the LA with the information it needs to co-ordinate admissions by the dates agreed within the scheme. Key dates for admission to the Academy in September 2016 are set out at the end of this policy.
7. If the Academy receives 60 or less applications to join year R in September 2016 it will admit all pupils.
8. In the event that more than 60 students apply it will operate the following Over-subscription Criteria
Over-subscription Criteria
9. Children with a statement of Special Educational Needs which names the Academy on the Statement will have automatic entitlement to a place at the Academy.
I. Looked after children or children who were previously looked as defined in the current School Admissions Code.
II. Children living in the designated area who will have a sibling attending the academy at the time of application.
III. Other children living in the designated area.
IV. Children living outside the designated area who will have a sibling attending the academy at the time of application.
V. Children living outside the designated area.
10. Should it be necessary to further distinguish between applications within any of these categories, priority will be given to those living closest to the school. Measurements are taken by a straight line distance using the Council’s electronic mapping system - the shorter the distance the higher the priority. Measurements will be taken from an internal point of the building concerned (usually the visual centre of the building). In the event that applicants cannot be separated using the distance tie-breaker (i.e. they live identical distances from the school), the allocation of a place will be by lot.
11. Where applications are received from families with multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) every effort will be made to allocate places at the same school, including offering place(s) above the Published Admission Number (PAN) wherever possible. Where applications are made at the same time for two children not falling within multiple birth siblings, (sometimes referred to as contemporaneous admissions) the application will not be considered under the ‘sibling’ criteria
12. The academy will provide all children admitted to the academy a full time place from September 2016. The academy’s preference is for all children admitted to year R to start in September. This provides children with the best start to their learning and ensures they are well prepared for their entry into Year 1. However, if parents believe their child is not ready to start full time education at that point they can:
a. request that the date their child is admitted to the academy is deferred until later in the academic year or until the term in which the child reaches compulsory school age (the table below will help you);
Child Born / Normal Date of Admission / Deferred Admission1st September – 31st December / Autumn Term / Spring
1st January – 31st March / Autumn Term / Spring or Summer Term
1st April – 31st August / Autumn Term / Spring or Summer Term
and
b. request that their child takes up the place part-time until the child reaches compulsory school age.
13. The deferred admission arrangements do not allow summer born children to defer admission to the Autumn Term in Year 1, with the guarantee of the place being available. In addition, pupils born between 1 September and 31 March would be expected to take up their place no later than the term following their fifth birthday i.e. when they are of statutory school age.
Delayed Admission to Primary School
14. This is allowed only in very exceptional circumstances where there is significant evidence from educational professionals that this would be in the best interests of the child. The final decision lies with the admission authority. Once a child has been admitted to a year group outside their chronological year group, they will normally continue with this group throughout their schooling.
Definitions
15. Siblings: children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.
16. Home address: address of the person with parental responsibility for the child and with whom the child lives for the majority of the week, on the closing date for applications. Where a child resides through shared custody, the address will be with the parent who would be eligible for child benefit.
The Academy’s Admissions Panel
17. The Academy’s Admissions Panel will consist of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher [determine which post], the designated Academy’s Admissions Officer, plus 3 members of the Local Governing Body of the Academy. This Panel will be responsible for the allocation of places the Academy and it is not possible for any individual member to allocate a place.
Appeals Process
18. If an applicant is not satisfied with the final outcome of the application process, and there are exceptional circumstances supporting an application for a place, then an appeal may be made. Applicants have the right to appeal, which may be exercised at their discretion, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the TIPS 2 booklet, obtainable from Paignton Community and Sports Academy, Waterleat Road, Paignton TQ3 3WA or the Torbay Independent Appeals Panel, c/o Governance Support Services, Torbay Council, Town Hall, Torquay TQ1 3DR, Tel: 01803 207013. Enquiries can also be made to Children’s Services on 01803 208908.
19. The Appeals Panel, which is independent of the Academy: the LA will convene a meeting to determine the case. Parents are encouraged to attend this meeting. Parents cannot appeal again in the same academic year unless there have been significant and material changes in parents’ circumstances and that if they feel there are such circumstances they need to make a fresh application. The Panel’s decision is legally binding on the parents and the Academy.
In-year applications
20. In year applications will be processed in accordance with Torbay Council’s co-ordinated scheme for in year admissions.
LA’s Policy on School Transport
21. Free transport may be provided in certain circumstances. For details, see Torbay Council’s web site: www.torbay.gov.uk/schooltravelsupport
Admissions to Secondary Schools in September 2016
Timetable
1 September 2015 / Torbay Council website opens for online applications1 September 2015 / Copies of TIPS 1 distributed
8 September 2015 / Closing date for receipt of Registration Forms for grammar schools
19 September 2015 / First date for selective testing
26 September 2015 / Second date for selective testing
16 October 2015 / Parents notified of outcomes of selective testing
31 October 2015 / Closing date for Common Application Forms
20 November 2015 / LA sends pupil information to other LAs
25 November 2015 / LA sends pupil information to other admitting authorities
11 January 2016 / Foundation/VA schools and Academies return ranked lists
5 February 2016 / LA applies agreed scheme for Torbay secondary schools and informs other LAs of offers made to its residents. Address changes accepted until this date.
23 February 2016 / Schools informed of allocation of pupils
1 March 2016 / National Allocation Day. Allocation letters sent to parents by second class post. Online applicants receive email notification of allocation.
1 April 2016 / Decisions on late applications
1 April 2016 / Closing date for receipt of appeals to be included in main body of appeal hearings
May/June 2016 / Appeals
1 September 2016 / Date on which applications become In Year applications