Secondary Transfer

Information meeting for Year 5 parents8th May 2013

Agenda

Introductions & objectives of session Our local schools Allocation rules & recent results

Latest & recent changes Specific school information

Historical applications & allocations for MPL

Ranking Timetable of events Continuing Interest Appeals Dos and Don’ts

Introduction & Objectives

Purpose IS To give you the information you need to

help you stand the best chance of getting the school you want for your child

Purpose IS NOT To advise you which schools you should

apply to

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE

Comments about schools (negative)

What you say to your children

What you say to other parents

Schools

Two types of schools :

Community and Voluntary Controlled County make and apply the rules Apply (preferably on-line) via your Secondary

Application Form

Academies These schools define their own rules and apply them

themselves (within guidelines set by County) Apply via your Secondary Application Form AND

direct to school using their SIF (supplementary information form)

Local Schools

Parmiter’s Academy Co-educational Partially selective

St Michael’s Academy Co-educational Catholic

Frances Combe Academy Co-educational

Kings Langley Academy Co-educational

Marlborough Academy Co-educational

St Albans Girls Academy Girls

Townsend Academy Co-educational Church of England

Verulam Academy Boys

Queens Academy Co-educational Partially selective

Rules

All schools local to Bricket Wood are now Academies and have their own rules

Marlborough and Francis Combe have simplified their rules as follows Rule 1 Looked after children Rule 2 Medical reasons (Marlborough

only) Rule 3 Siblings Rule 4 Closest to school (straight line)

Partially selective schools and Faith schools have significantly different rules

Applying to an Academy school

Check the rules

Read the advice on the school website

Complete the secondary application form on-line

Complete the supplementary form if required by the school and send it by email or post to the school

Single Sex schools

Rule 1-3 as for Community schools

Rule 4 Nearest non-faith, non-partially selective school

Rule 5 Any remaining places available to the parish on a random basis

Rule 6 Children who live outside the priority area

Applying to Single Sex schools (cont)

Single sex schools local to MPL school –

In priority area Rules applicable

St Albans Girls

Y Rule 5

Verulam Boys

Y Rule 5

Watford Boys and Watford Girls are heavily oversubscribed and historically have only had places available for pupils living in their priority area which does not include AL2 post codes.

For pupils living in St Stephen parish, places are allocated according to Rule 5 i.e. by ballot.

Applying to a Partially Selective School

SW Herts Consortium includes Parmiter’s, Queens’, Bushey Meads,Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, Watford Boys and Watford Girls

Register for the SW Herts Consortium Music and Aptitude tests, applications open on-line 12:00 13th May and close 28th June

Confirmation by 15th July Music test to be held on 10th September

Aptitude test to be held on 7th September

Results available 14th October

When applying for a place, complete the school’s supplementary form in addition to Herts Secondary Application form

www.swhertsschools.org.uk Registration Closes: Friday 28 June 2013Date of Test Venue Notifications to Parents: Monday 15 July 2013SEN Notification Date: Immediately after registering please send a copy of the test registration confirmation email along with written evidence to Test Co-Ordinator, South West Herts Schools Tests, PO Box 2439, Watford WD18 1UZ.  Information must be received by Friday 5 July.Academic Test: Saturday 7 SeptemberMusic Test: Tuesday 10 SeptemberSports (Queens’ School Only): Friday 20 SeptemberTechnology (Bushey Meads School Only): Saturday 21 SeptemberStart of Second round music tests: Week commencing Monday 23 SeptemberScores Notified to parents: Monday 14 October

Applying to Faith Schools

St Michael’s Catholic school - rules (abbreviated)

Looked after children Siblings Baptised practising Catholics from feeder schools Baptised practising Catholics resident in the

Watford deanery Baptised Catholics from feeder schools

(+ several others rules but the places are usually allocated as above)

Applying to Faith Schools (cont)

Townsend Church of England school

Looked after children Rule 2 medical reasons Siblings Parents or children who regularly worship at a Church

of England church Parents or children who regularly worship at another

Christian Church Parents or children who regularly take part in church-

sponsored activities Children who attend a Church of England primary

schoool

Plus a number of other rules

This school has not been full on allocation day for the last 3 years.

Historical applications

School Intake

Number of applications

2010 20112012

2013

STAGS 196 (178)

668 617 597 748

Verulam 178 439 472 516 659

Marlborough 205 499 409 474 530

Townsend 150 373 323 296 266

Parmiter’s 206(186)

1245 1410 1425 1492

St. Michael’s 180(168)

406 436 446 481

Queens’ 265(262)

1109 1176 1186 1389

Historical allocations for MPL

SchoolIntak

e

Year

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

STAGS 196 7 4 3 6 4

Verulam 178 2 4 4 6 6

Marlborough 205 12 14 17 18 14

Townsend 150 7 9 2 2 1

Parmiter’s 206 8 8 10 13 9

St. Michael’s 180 2 4 2 0 2

Queens 265 3 0 6 1 2

Other - 3 3 1 2 5

Notes :-Figures are initial allocations and do not allow for changes under ‘Continuing Interest’-This year, all MPL children were allocated a place on March 1st 2013 at their preferred school

September 2013 allocations

On allocation day, places were still available at several Hertfordshire schools including Marlborough and Townsend

First preference 90

Second Preference 16

Third preference 2

Fourth preference 1

Non ranked allocations for on-time applications

4

In St Stephen parish, 116 pupils applied for a school place and the places were allocated as follows

(other places allocated to late applications)

Recent changes Several Academies have added ‘children of staff’

to their rules

No significant changes to Hertfordshire admission policies

Those taking the music and aptitude tests will have the results before the application deadline

Parmiters, St Michaels and Loreto are amongst several schools still consulting on their rules for September 2014 intake

How places are allocated

Four factors : The rules Number of children applying, and where

they live Number of siblings Gender split

The first factor we know in advance, the rest we don’t

Parmiters PAN = 206 (from

186)

Rule 2009 2010 2011 2012 Comments

1 Public care 0 1 0 2  

210% distance (21previously 19)

19 19 19 21

3 Siblings at admission 76 77 86 82

4Compelling medical reason

4 3 3 1

525% academic (52 previously 47 places)

47 47 47 52

610% music (21 previously 19 places)

18 19 19 21

7 Distance 17 14 11 25

2013: 1216m 2012 : 1319m 2011 : 1214m 2010 : 1686m

8 SEN 5 6 1 2

Marlborough PAN = 205

Rule 2010 2011 2012 2013 Comments

1Public care / SEN

5 0 1 n/a  

2Medical & social reason

2 0 0 n/a  

3Siblings at admission

77 58 69 n/a  

4 Distance 121 132 131 n/a

2013: n/a2012 : 11,558m2011 : 11,719m2010 : 4,304m

Total allocations 205 190 201 192

Rankings The ranking is important to you, not to

the school If you are ‘successful’ for more than one

school, you will be offered the place in your highest preference school

Each entry on the form is treated as a separate equal application 1st preferences do NOT get priority

Ranking – FAQ #1

Scenario #11. Stags N2. Parmiters Y3. Marlborough Y

Offer - Parmiters

Scenario #21. Marlborough Y2. Stags N3. Parmiters Y

Offer - Marlborough

Q : Do I have to rank Parmiters first?A : No, but if you are ‘successful’ at a school

you have ranked higher, then you will

be offered the place at the other school

Ranking – FAQ #2

Scenario #11. Parmiters N2. Stags Y3. Marlborough Y4. Watford Girls N

Offer - Stags

Scenario #21. Stags N2. Marlborough Y3. Townsend N4. Frances Combe Y

Offer - Marlborough

Q : If I choose Parmiters, will it reduce my chances of getting Stags ?A : No, the ‘rank’ you give a school makes

no difference to the decision process for that school

Dates and Deadlines13th May- 28th June

2013Apply to SW Consortium for Aptitude and Music test

7th Sept 2013 Academic tests (Parmiter’s, Queens’ etc)

10th September 2013 Parmiter’s music test

14th October 2013 Academic tests results announced

31 Oct 2013‘Closing date’ for applications to HCC admissionsClosing date for SIFs for Community and Academy schools

3 March 2014 Allocation Day – emails sent if you applied on-line.

16 March 2014Deadline for accepting offer and opting out of the Continuing Interest process

September 2014 Your Child starts their new school

Continuing Interest

This is the process by which, post the initial allocation, some changes will take place.

If an offered place is not accepted, that place is made available to another child, in priority order, according to the original rules.

That child’s place, in turn, is made available to someone else.

The first ‘Continuing Interest run’ takes place just after the deadline for acceptance of the initial offer

Continuing Interest RECENT CHANGE

You will now be automatically placed on the CI list for all schools you originally ranked higher than the school you were actually offered.

You may remove your child from the CI list if you wish – do so before Monday 16th March

New preferences (for schools you did not originally ‘rank’, or ranked lower than your initial offer) may only be added after the first CI run

IMPORTANT All places offered under CI are assumed to be

wanted, and you will automatically lose your original place, if a place is given under CI.

Continuing Interest

THINK CAREFULLY

When making your initial choices

About staying on CI

Affects on your child (and you)

Appeals Appeal panels in Hertfordshire are made up of three

independent members who are voluntary and have no connection with the school or the Authority

The decision of the appeal panel is binding on the school and the authority

Your appeal case must be strong and specific to the school for which you are appealing.

A very limited number of appeals are upheld each year

Dos and Don’ts !

DO Attend the Open Evenings with your child Observe deadlines Be realistic Rank 4 different schools Complete the secondary application form

preferably on Hertfordshire CC website Keep the email confirming your

application Attach evidence (for rule 2)

Dos and Don’ts (cont)

DO Complete the school’s own form Ask if you have any questions, either at the Open Evenings or call Admissions at Hertfordshire County Council

If you are moving house, discuss with Admissions team at HCC

Dos and Don’ts !

DO NOT Make a decision based on other

peoples’ opinions or experiences

Give a false address –checks are made and any place offered will be withdrawn

Any further questions?

More information on-line at : www.hertsdirect.org/admissions

Thank you for your time, any questions?