Moving up to Secondary School: FAQ’s and Useful Information
How do I apply for my child’s secondary school place for September 2016?
If you are a Bournemouth resident you apply to Bournemouth Borough Council either online or using a paper form. All applicants will receive a letter posted out on the 1st March 2016 telling them which school their child has been offered.
Online applications may be made at enrol.bournemouth.gov.uk from the 1st September 2015.You will need an email address to create an online account.
Paper applications can be requested from the Children’s Information Service (CIS) or collected from the Customer Service Centre, St Stephen’s Road.
If you are applying to a school with religious criteria, you may need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to prove your religious commitment. These can be found on each individual school’s website and will need to be returned to the school directly.
Are there any benefits to applying online?
If you decide to apply online, youwill be able to log in to your account on the morning of Tuesday 1st March 2016 and see which school your child has been offered. If you apply using a paper form you will need to wait until you receive your offer letter – posted out First Class on the 1st March 2016.
What if I forget my password?
Make sure that your password is memorable as if you forget it the admissions team are unable to reset it. The password must include at least one upper case and one lower case letter, and at least one number. In case you do forget, you will be asked to choose and answer a secret question. The answer to this will also be case sensitive, so it’s important to remember this as well.
How do I decide which school I should apply for?
You should look at Ofsted reports for the schools and attend the open evenings taking place from July to October 2015. A list of open evenings can be found towards the end of this information pack.
You can also look at the allocation tables from last year for historical data, however this should only be used as a guide.
How do I apply for a place at a Grammar School?
If you are applying for a place at one of the grammar schools in Bournemouth, your child will need to sit a test. You will need to register them for testing. The deadline to register for testing is 12 noon on 11th September 2015. Registration forms can be downloaded from the schools’ websites or requested from the schools directly.
The tests will take place on Saturday 26th September 2015, where pupils will be tested in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning. Results will be posted out first class on Friday 16th October 2015 so you will know if your child has passed the test before you need to submit your application.
All applications must be received by Bournemouth Borough Council by 31st October 2015.
Where do I apply if I am not a Bournemouth Resident?
If you are not a Bournemouth resident, you must apply to the Authority where you live (this would be where you pay your council tax). You are able to apply for Bournemouth schools on another authority’s form if you wish.
Where can I get help and advice about the process of applying for a secondary school place?
You are able to speak to member of the Children’s Information Service (CIS) about this process. They can be contacted by phone on 01202 456223, via email at , or you can visit them at the Customer Services Centre (see back page for full address).
You may read our booklet ‘Moving up to Secondary School’, which will be available online at enrol.bournemouth.gov.uk from 1st September 2015. There will also be a copy for reference at the Customer Service Centre via CIS, all Bournemouth Schools and Bournemouth Libraries from September. This booklet contains a lot of information about the process and also includes the admissions policies for each Bournemouth Secondary school.
When do I need to return my application?
All applications from Bournemouth residents (online and paper) must be submitted by 31st October 2015. Paper forms must be received by the Admissions team by this date.
What happens if my application is late?
If your application is not received by the closing date of 31st October 2015it will be classed as late. All applications received before 31st October will be considered before yours and the chance of getting the place you want may be reduced.
How will I know if you have received my application?
Online applicants will receive an automatic email confirming the application has been received. Once the application has been uploaded you will receive another email to confirm this. Please check your spam and junk folders. If you apply using a paper form, we will send you an acknowledgement by post or email if requested on your form.
If you do not receive an email or a paper acknowledgement we have NOT received your application. Please contact us about this with enough time to submit another if necessary.
I’m a Bournemouth resident, am I able to apply for schools outside of Bournemouth?
Yes. You can list any schools on your Bournemouth application, including those outside of Bournemouth as long as they transfer at the same time, ie: from Year 6 to Year 7.
What happens if my child lives part time with each parent?
Only one application and address can be considered for each pupil. If parents are separated, you must come to an agreement about the schools you apply for. If you can’t agree, the Local Authority will only consider the application from the child’s main carer (the parent who receives the Child Benefit payments).
If no Child Benefit is paid to the family, or it has been suspended, Bournemouth Borough Council Legal Department will determine which parent is considered to be the main carer for the child for the purposes of the school admissions process.
When will I hear?
All applicants will receive a letter which will be posted out first class on the evening of the 1st March 2016. Online applicants will be able to log into their accounts mid morning on the 1st March 2016.
What if I forget the password to my online account?
The Children’s Information Service and Admissions team are unable to help with forgotten passwords so it’s important that you remember it.
All passwords contain at least one upper case and at least one lower case letter, and at least one number. You will have to answer a secret question when setting up your account, so please make sure you remember which question you answered, and type in the case sensitive answer correctly.
If you are still unable to log in to your account then you will have to wait for your letter to arrive in the post. We are unable to give results over the telephone under any circumstances.
What if I do not get offered the school I want?
If we are unable to offer you any of the schools you have requested and you are a Bournemouth resident, we will redirect you to the closest school to you which is able to offer a place. This may not be close to your house.
If you are not a Bournemouth resident you will need to speak to your home Authority to find out what action they take in these circumstances.
You are able to appeal the decision that has been made. The letter we send you will explain how to go about this.
You are also able to request to be put on the waiting list for the schools which have refused you a place.
Will a place offered to my child ever be taken away?
An offered place may be withdrawn if you do not respond to the offer within a reasonable timescale.
We may also withdraw a place if it was offered based upon a fraudulent or misleading application, such as under a false address.
You can accept a place online or by returning the paper reply slip.
My child has Special Educational Needs (SEN) – who do I apply to?
If your child has a Statement or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) you should speak to the SEN inclusion team on 01202 456166.
If your child has SEN but no statement then you should talk to the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator or the Headteacher at your child’s current primary school.
You may also contact Bournemouth Parent Partnership on 01202 451970. They are an independent, confidential and guidance on issues relating to SEN, exclusions and school admissions appeals.
How will my child get to school?
All schools can provide information on the buses which serve them. Bus companies such as RATP Group and More provide information on their websites of the buses they run which serve Bournemouth secondary schools.
Can I apply for transport assistance from Bournemouth Borough Council?
Parents can apply for transport from Bournemouth Borough Council. The Home to School transport guidance notes are attached at the end of this document for your information.
What has happened in previous years?
The tables on the following pages provide detailed statistics for the main allocation for children transferring to secondary school in September 2015.
Figures from previous years are available on request, you will need to check the categories against the relevant policies on the Bournemouth website.
Please remember this information should only be used as a guide. The figures do differ from year to year, for example if there are more/fewer children living in a particular area. Changes in the popularity of a school (or a neighbouring school) can also affect the number of applications a school receives.
All the figures relate to the main allocation of places on 2nd March 2015 and do not include any applications received after the initial closing date.
The number of applicants ‘redirected’ to a school - ie: offered a place there having been unsuccessful with all of their preferences – is noted, where applicable, at the bottom of the school’s table. The last distance offered if the cut off is within a category is also provided.
The categories correspond with those in the admissions policy (criteria/category) for 2015/16 which may differ from those in effect in 2016/17. These can be found on the Bournemouth Borough Council website.
TRANSFER TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2015
SUMMARY OF ALLOCATION FOR EACH BOURNEMOUTH SCHOOL
Below, for each school in Bournemouth at the main allocation on 2 March 2015, is a summary of the number of applications received, for each preference rank (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and for each of the admissions categories, along with the number offered, number gaining a higher preference and number refused in each of those categories. The number ‘redirected’ to a school, where they could not be offered any of their preferences, is shown beneath that school’s table, where applicable.
Some figures for 3rd preference may include lower preferences from Authorities which allow more than three preferences to be made.
Avonbourne College (number of places available: 210)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / A. LAC / B. Medical / 001 / 001 / 0v2 / 002
C. Sibling / 029 / 007 / 036 / 032 / 004
D. In-area / 058 / 061 / 050 / 169 / 085 / 084
E. Feeder / 017 / 065 / 057 / 139 / 024 / 115
F. Out-of-area / 002 / 008 / 005 / 015 / 004 / 011
Total / 106 / 142 / 113 / 361 / 145 / 216 / 0
A further 2 children were ‘redirected’; therefore the total number of places offered was 147.
The Bishop of Winchester Academy (number of places available: 210)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / *009* / 002 / 001 / 0*12* / 00*9* / 003
2. Sibling / 041 / 007 / 002 / 050 / 044 / 006
3a. Religious commitment / 037 / 031 / 020 / 088 / 039 / 049
3b. World religions / 003 / 001 / 002 / 006 / 003 / 003
4. Distance / 137 / 180 / 154 / 471 / 115 / 318 / 39
Total / *227* / 221 / 179 / *627* / *210* / 379 / 39
Last distance offered in Category 4: 1.341 miles by straight-line measurement
* Excludes one child with a Statement of SEN, admitted to the Complex Communications Unit who does not count towards the Admissions Number of 210.
The Bourne Academy (number of places available: 180)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / 004 / 002 / 006 / 004 / 002
2. Sibling / 025 / 004 / 029 / 027 / 002
3. Distance / 091 / 129 / 83 / 303 / 101 / 202
Total / 120 / 135 / 83 / 338 / 132 / 206 / 0
A further 2 children were ‘redirected’; therefore the total number of places offered was 134.
Bournemouth School (number of places available: 150)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
Met selection criteria / 146 / 58 / 07 / 211 / 147 / 064
Did not meet criteria / 021 / 10 / 01 / 032 / 010 / 22
Did not sit test / 046 / 30 / 07 / 083 / 030 / 53
Total / 213 / 98 / 15 / 326 / 147 / 104 / 75
Bournemouth School for Girls (number of places available: 166)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
Met selection criteria / 164 / 34 / 07 / 205 / 165 / 40
Did not meet criteria / 042 / 19 / 13 / 074 / 31 / 43
Did not sit test / 07 / 07 / 014 / 14
Total / 206 / 60 / 27 / 293 / 165 / 85 / 43
Glenmoor School (number of places available: 180)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / 03 / 003 / 001 / 002
2. In-area with sibling / 007 / 05 / 012 / 008 / 004
3. In-area / 046 / 36 / 26 / 108 / 053 / 055
4. Out-of-area with sibling / 011 / 03 / 014 / 011 / 003
5. Out-of-area / 046 / 49 / 71 / 166 / 053 / 113
Total / 110 / 96 / 97 / 303 / 126 / 175 / 0
A further 1 child was ‘redirected’; therefore the total number of places offered was 128.
Harewood College (number of places available: 180)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / A. LAC / B. Medical / 01 / 02 / 01 / 004 / 01 / 003
C. Sibling / 15 / 03 / 02 / 020 / 16 / 004
D. In-area / 43 / 28 / 35 / 106 / 56 / 050
E. Attending feeder / 000
F. Out-of-area / 05 / 26 / 24 / 055 / 06 / 049
Total / 64 / 59 / 62 / 185 / 79 / 106 / 0
A further 1 child was ‘redirected’; therefore the total number of places offered was 79.
Oak Academy (number of places available: 240)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / 01 / 001 / 01
2. In-area with sibling / 20 / 02 / 01 / 023 / 21 / 02
3. In-area / 46 / 21 / 10 / 077 / 47 / 30
4. Out-of-area with sibling / 11 / 04 / 015 / 12 / 03
5. Out-of-area / 14 / 33 / 31 / 078 / 15 / 63
Total / 92 / 60 / 42 / 194 / 96 / 98 / 0
Parkfield School (number of places available: 56)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / 01 / 01 / 002 / 01 / 001
2. Sibling / 15 / 01 / 02 / 018 / 15 / 003
3. Distance / 22 / 39 / 67 / 128 / 30 / 098
Total / 38 / 40 / 70 / 148 / 46 / 102 / 0
St Peter’s School (number of places available: 240)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1.(please / 001 / 004 / 001 / 006 / 002 / 004
2.1see the / 112 / 033 / 006 / 151 / 114 / 037
2.2 school’s / 024 / 008 / 004 / 036 / 024 / 012
3.prospectus / 002 / 002 / 004 / 004
4. or our / 002 / 002 / 002
5. information / 004 / 001 / 003 / 008 / 005 / 003
6. booklet / 023 / 019 / 009 / 051 / 026 / 025
7.for a / 009 / 008 / 001 / 018 / 010 / 008
8.1 description / 005 / 001 / 001 / 007 / 006 / 001
8.2 of the / 001 / 001 / 002 / 001 / 001
9. categories / 001 / 001 / 002 / 001 / 001
10. for St Peter’s) / 029 / 110 / 091 / 230 / 045 / 176 / 9
Total / 212 / 187 / 118 / 517 / 240 / 268 / 9
Last distance offered in Category 10: 4.258 miles by straight-line measurement
Winton Arts & Media College (number of places available: 180)
Category / Preference rank / Total applications / Total offers / Gained higher preference / Total refusals1st / 2nd / 3rd
SEN / 1. LAC / 003 / 004 / 03 / 010 / 004 / 006
2. In-area with sibling / 011 / 003 / 01 / 015 / 013 / 002
3. In-area / 049 / 042 / 23 / 114 / 056 / 058
4. Out-of-area with sibling / 010 / 001 / 011 / 010 / 001
5. Out-of-area / 042 / 067 / 72 / 181 / 052 / 129
Total / 115 / 117 / 99 / 331 / 135 / 196 / 0
FOR BOURNEMOUTH RESIDENTS: GENERAL TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL GUIDANCE NOTES
Many parents worry about how they can help their children to get to and from school each day.
Bournemouth Borough Council can help in some cases. This information will give you guidance about who
can claim for assistance with transport to school. Assistance is normally in the form of a bus pass. Transport provision is subject to regular review. If you move home or your child moves school you must inform us immediately and this could mean that entitlement to transport assistance is ceased because your child no longer qualifies. This guidance also provides information on how to appeal the decision to refuse transport.
How far must I live from my catchment school to qualify for free travel?
The distance measurement for children attending their catchment school is a statutory measurement and is
measured by the nearest available safe walking route. The distance is 2 miles and over for children aged
under 8 years old and 3 miles and over for children aged 8 years and over. The route can include footpaths, bridleways, other pathways as well as recognised roads. This is referred to as the distance criteria. Parents should accompany their children if they feel they need to do so.
What if my child is not attending the catchment school?
If you have expressed a parental preference for a school other than the catchment school, you must accept
responsibility for your child’s daily travelling arrangements to and from the school, including any costs
incurred.
Are there any exceptions to this? YES:
•For primary school children (Reception to Year 6) where families are on Free School Meals or the maximum level of Working Tax Credit and the **distance from home to school is at least two miles,and normally not more than five miles transport assistance will be provided to their nearest qualifying school and;
•• *For secondary school children (Year 7 to Year 11) where families are on Free School Meals andthe distance from home to school is at least three miles, and not more than ten miles.
Please note the entitlement for children in Years 7-11 will be also include children attending
secondary school who are on Free School Meals or the maximum level of Working Tax Credit to one of their 3 nearest qualifying schools if it falls between **2 and no more than 6 miles from home or up to a maximum of 15 miles if the nearest faith school.
**Please note distance measurements over 2 miles a road route will be used.
If your child is attending a school for one of the following reasons, assistance may be provided as
follows:
Year group full - when the catchment school is full, then a child may be eligible for assistance with transport to the next nearest school with an available place, provided the distance criteria are met. They do however need to ensure they apply for their catchment school and remain on the waiting list for the school as this transport is reviewed regularly to ensure entitlement is still applicable.
Re-housing - if a family is moved from an area on a short term basis (i.e. re-housed by the council or another housing association) transport to the existing school may be offered for the period of the temporary re-housing, until the family’s return to permanent accommodation. Once again the distance criteria will need to be met. If the transport is agreed during the summer term, it is for one term only.
Medical – assistance may be considered, if a child has a medical condition that would affect their ability to get to school, if the child is attending the catchment/qualifying school. Also where for a route to be considered safe it relies on the parent accompanying the child and because of the parent’s disability they are unable to do so. Proof of the child’s medical condition will need to be provided by a School Medical Officer. Proof of a parent’s disability can be a letter detailing the higher award of disability benefit for mobility or a letter from a hospital consultant indicating that the parent cannot walk.