Guestling-Bradshaw C.E. Primary School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is our policy on

 

 

ADMISSIONS

 

2010/11

 

 

 

Adopted      March 2001

Reviewed     December 2008

Date of next review  Autumn 2009

 

 

ADMISSIONS POLICY

 

Guestling-Bradshaw Church of England Primary is a Voluntary Aided school which gives the governing body the responsibility for admitting pupils and stating its policy on admissions and how it will be applied.  This policy has been drawn up following consultation with the Diocese of Chichester, East Sussex Children’s Services’ Authority, the Admissions’ Forum and local primary schools.  The policy is effective from 1^st September 2009.

 

The Governors have agreed with the Local Children’s Services’ Authority to admit 30 pupils to Key Stage 1 (infant) classes and 30 pupils to Key Stage 2 (junior) classes.  The admission number for the school is 30; this is the maximum number of pupils that the school must admit, subject to demand.  These arrangements and the admissions criteria, below, are reviewed annually by the Admissions panel of the Governing Body, who then report to the whole Governing Body.  When the school receives more applications than there are places available the Governors will admit pupils according to the following criteria, which are listed in order of priority:

 

1.     “Looked after children” – *(children in care)

 

2.     Children whose families live in the parishes of Guestling, Pett and Fairlight, at least one **family member is a regular *** worshipper at one of the Anglican churches.

 

3.     Children whose families live in the parishes of Guestling, Pett and Fairlight, at least one **family member is a regular *** worshipper at another Christian church. (See note below)

 

4.     Children who live in the parishes of Guestling, Pett and Fairlight.

 

5.     Siblings **** of children attending Guestling-Bradshaw CEP School at the time of admission.

 

6.     Children of parents, at least one of whom is a regular *** worshipper at a Christian Church *1.

 

7.     Children with known special educational, medical or social needs where it is felt that Guestling-Bradshaw CEP School is the only appropriate school. Supporting evidence from an educational psychologist, doctor or social worker should be submitted with the common application form.

 

8.     Other children.

 

When applicants have an equal entitlement under the same criterion, priority will be given to those children who live nearest to the school by radial distance measured from the centre of the road outside the front door of the child’s home to the main entrance of the school.

 

*Looked After – Children that are looked after by Children’s Services.

 

** Family member – parent or carer

 

*** ‘Regular’ is defined as those who attend church at least once a month and have done so for the previous six months. Written evidence is required in addition to the application form from the church of regular worship.  If you are applying under this criterion a letter from the minister/leader of the church concerned should accompany the application form.

 

 

**** A sibling is a full, half or step brother or sister living permanently in the same household, including an adoptive or foster brother or sister.

 

Reference to parents includes legal guardians and applies to either or both parents, or a sole parent.

 

A map showing the ecclesiastical and secular boundaries of Guestling, Pett and Fairlight may be inspected at the school.

 

*1 Christian Church is defined as being “Membership of ‘The Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’ and of ‘The Evangelical Alliance’.

 

Admissions at 4+

The school has a one-form entry system.  All parents who have been offered a place for their child in the Reception Class, and where this offer has been accepted by the parent, can be admitted in the September of the school year in which the child reaches five years of age, in accordance with LEA policy.  This means that a child could start school before compulsory school age[1].  Once a place has been offered and accepted, the details for the child to start school can then be agreed by the parents and the Headteacher.  The children will be admitted full time if their birthday is in term 1 or 2.  All other children will be admitted part-time for term 1 and 2 and full time from Term 3. In the case of children born in the spring or summer term, the school will operate a policy that will consider the needs of the individual child, their family and the school.

 

Home visits

The governors have adopted the policy that children who are admitted into the Reception Class at 4+ will receive a Home Visit by the Reception Class Teacher and Learning Support Assistant during the first week of term in September. This visit enables a confidential opportunity for the parent, child, teacher and assistant to meet and ease the induction process.  Due to Home Visits taking place the Reception Class, a staggered start to school is operated.

 

Casual Admissions

The admissions criteria will be applied if casual vacancies arise during the school year and there are more applicants than places.   Class size limits will apply as mentioned in paragraph 2.

 

Where a parent has not been offered a place for their child, common application forms will be retained on record for the remainder of the academic year in which they have been submitted.  After that time the parent will be asked if they wish the application to be kept on record for the next school year. Should a place become available it will be allocated according to the admissions criteria and not length of time on the waiting list.

 

The Admissions committee considers all casual admissions and offers places where appropriate on behalf of the Governors. 

 

Procedure for unsuccessful applicants

Parents who are not offered a place for their child(ren) are entitled to appeal to an independent panel.

 

Parents wishing to appeal should do so in writing to the Chair of Governors within 14 days from the notification of the decision not to admit.

 

 

 

Children with Special Educational Needs

Children are admitted into the school in accordance with the Admissions criteria.  We do not discriminate for or against children with Special Educational Needs, and would expect parents to fully inform the school of the nature of any known educational, physical, medical or social needs when expressing a preference for the child to attend this school.  Should a place be offered, this information will enable the Governors to ensure that the child’s induction into school is made as smooth as possible.  It will also help to inform the Governors about the level of provision the school can make to meet the individual needs of the child.  Where a child has a special need, the Special Educational Needs Policy should be referred to for more detailed guidance.

 

 

Home School Agreements

We believe that to provide the best possible education for each child, a commitment is required by the parent(s) and the school to meet that provision.  The Home School Agreement sets out the areas that each will keep on behalf of the child. We hope that each parent will enter into the partnership by signing the agreement along with the school.  We would want parents to know that the Home School Agreement, a sample of which is attached, is in no way a condition or criterion for admission.#

 

The following information, reflecting the outcome of the admission arrangements at 4+ in September 2008, may give parents some idea of their chances of obtaining a place for their child at this school for 2009.

 

Published Admission limit 2008/09                                                      30

 

Allocation of places  (September 2008)           !st Preference              30*

                                                                        2^nd preference              0

 

*Within the figure, relating to the criteria of 2008/09

One child was admitted under criteria (1) two under (2), four under (3), six under (5), nine under (6) and eight under (8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adopted           March 2001

Reviewed:         October 2008  

This policy is reviewed yearly