Transfer from Transfer from primary to primary to

secondary schoolsecondary schoolSeptember 2014September 2014

Secondary School AdmissionsSecondary School Admissions20142014

Basics of the procedureBasics of the procedure

The aim is that every child The aim is that every child will receive the single will receive the single highest preference offer highest preference offer possible.possible.

To make it easy to apply To make it easy to apply and fair for parents/carers. and fair for parents/carers.

Well organised with good Well organised with good communication between communication between schools and boroughs.schools and boroughs.

So what’s this procedure all about?So what’s this procedure all about?

Parents only need to complete Parents only need to complete oneone common application form common application form (CAF) to apply for up to six schools (CAF) to apply for up to six schools anywhereanywhere in London that is in London that is not fee-paying.not fee-paying.

All parents/carers who apply on time should be clear whether All parents/carers who apply on time should be clear whether their child has a school place, or not, on the 3 March 2014. This their child has a school place, or not, on the 3 March 2014. This offer will be the highest preference offer that can be made.offer will be the highest preference offer that can be made.

The procedure provides an easier to understand and fairer The procedure provides an easier to understand and fairer admissions process for both parents/carers and schools.admissions process for both parents/carers and schools.

What the procedure cannot doWhat the procedure cannot do

It cannot guarantee every It cannot guarantee every child a school place. child a school place.

It cannot guarantee your It cannot guarantee your child will get a place at your child will get a place at your first preference school.first preference school.

It cannot limit some multiple It cannot limit some multiple offers being made after 3 offers being made after 3 March 2014, (but Lambeth March 2014, (but Lambeth School Admissions Team School Admissions Team will be aware of them and will be aware of them and able to ensure that parents able to ensure that parents reject one of these offers reject one of these offers quickly).quickly).

What is an admissions authority?What is an admissions authority?A schools admissions authority - the body of people who make A schools admissions authority - the body of people who make decisions about admissions - will still determine which children can be decisions about admissions - will still determine which children can be offered a place at a school. For Community schools the admissions offered a place at a school. For Community schools the admissions authority is the LA itself and for an Academy, Voluntary-Aided authority is the LA itself and for an Academy, Voluntary-Aided (religious), Foundation or Free school it is the governing body of that (religious), Foundation or Free school it is the governing body of that school.school.

Where the school is over-subscribed, the school’s admissions authority Where the school is over-subscribed, the school’s admissions authority will use their admission criteria to determine the order (rank) in which will use their admission criteria to determine the order (rank) in which applicants will be offered places.applicants will be offered places.

An admissions authority may require parents to complete a An admissions authority may require parents to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) requesting information which is Supplementary Information Form (SIF) requesting information which is not contained on the CAF, e.g. church attendance. This form is not contained on the CAF, e.g. church attendance. This form is obtained from the school or www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions and obtained from the school or www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions and needs to be sent back to the school needs to be sent back to the school and not the boroughand not the borough by the by the schools deadline. schools deadline.

School staff will not know what number preference their school has School staff will not know what number preference their school has been listed on the CAF, all are considered the same at the same time.been listed on the CAF, all are considered the same at the same time.

Step by step parent/carer tips!Step by step parent/carer tips!You Should:You Should:1.1. Find out as much as they can about the schools they are considering – get Find out as much as they can about the schools they are considering – get

the prospectus’, go to open days, refer to the ‘Secondary Schools in Lambeth the prospectus’, go to open days, refer to the ‘Secondary Schools in Lambeth 2014/15’ booklet, use the internet etc.2014/15’ booklet, use the internet etc.

2.2. Look closely at the admissions criteria for the schools and consider “does my Look closely at the admissions criteria for the schools and consider “does my child meet these criteria”. If they do it will increase your child’s chances of child meet these criteria”. If they do it will increase your child’s chances of gaining a place at the school.gaining a place at the school.

3.3. List the schools you want to apply for in the order that you prefer them (1 to List the schools you want to apply for in the order that you prefer them (1 to 6) on the CAF.6) on the CAF.

4.4. Return Return Supplementary Information FormsSupplementary Information Forms to any school that requires one to any school that requires one by their deadline.by their deadline.

5.5. Apply on line viaApply on line via www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions from 1 September 2013. from 1 September 2013.

6.6. Or return a completed paper CAF by Or return a completed paper CAF by Thursday 31 October 2013. Thursday 31 October 2013. (However, (However, if you are handing in the form, this must be before Friday 25 October 2013 to if you are handing in the form, this must be before Friday 25 October 2013 to get a receipt). Enclose SAE if posting, or use recorded delivery.get a receipt). Enclose SAE if posting, or use recorded delivery.

7.7. Ensure your child sits the admissions test where required.Ensure your child sits the admissions test where required.

THE BENEFITS OF APPLYING ONLINE FOR YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL PLACE

It is free, simple safe, It is free, simple safe, quick and easy to use.quick and easy to use.

Your application won’t Your application won’t get lost in the post.get lost in the post.

You can change the You can change the information online rather information online rather than completing a new than completing a new form.form.

Information can be Information can be checked and changed at checked and changed at any point. any point.

Drop down school Drop down school lists help reduce errors lists help reduce errors and save you time.and save you time.

You get the outcome of your child’s application on 3 March 2014 pm, before you will receive your letter.

www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive a reference similar to:208-2014-09-E-001234 your form has NOT been submitted!

Child’s detailsRegistration

Add school preferences Check schools listed

Declaration and submit Confirmation of submission

A frequently asked question…A frequently asked question…

Do I use a Lambeth CAF for Lambeth schools and

a Southwark CAF for Southwark schools and a

Wandsworth CAF for Wandsworth schools

then?

Do I use a Lambeth CAF for Lambeth schools and

a Southwark CAF for Southwark schools and a

Wandsworth CAF for Wandsworth schools

then?

No. Under the current procedure, as you live in

Lambeth you only use the Lambeth CAF for any school anywhere in London that is in

the procedure!

No. Under the current procedure, as you live in

Lambeth you only use the Lambeth CAF for any school anywhere in London that is in

the procedure!

What happens after the CAF is received?What happens after the CAF is received?

Once the CAF is received Lambeth council will log the form and Once the CAF is received Lambeth council will log the form and enter the details on to a specialist computer programme. enter the details on to a specialist computer programme.

IInformation from the CAF will be sent by secure computer link to nformation from the CAF will be sent by secure computer link to the borough maintaining the school (where there are schools the borough maintaining the school (where there are schools from other boroughs listed). from other boroughs listed).

Potential offers are then exchanged between boroughs – again Potential offers are then exchanged between boroughs – again using the Pan-London Register – until boroughs are in a position using the Pan-London Register – until boroughs are in a position to make the single best offer to parents using all available places. to make the single best offer to parents using all available places.

Lambeth School Admissions Team will write to all Lambeth Lambeth School Admissions Team will write to all Lambeth parents/carers by first class post about any offer that can be parents/carers by first class post about any offer that can be made on made on 3 March 20143 March 2014. This is the same date for every borough . This is the same date for every borough in England.in England.

Offer procedureOffer procedureOn 3 March 2014 the highest possible offer that can be On 3 March 2014 the highest possible offer that can be made will be made. In this case, Saint Gabriel’s College:made will be made. In this case, Saint Gabriel’s College:

preferencepreference criteriacriteria rankrank schoolschool statusstatus

11stst distancedistance 300300 City Height’s E-ACT City Height’s E-ACT AcademyAcademy

pendingpending

(not offered, on (not offered, on waiting list)waiting list)

22ndnd distancedistance 240240 The Elmgreen The Elmgreen SchoolSchool

pendingpending

33rdrd religiousreligious 2525 Saint Gabriel’s Saint Gabriel’s CollegeCollege

offeredoffered

44thth siblingsibling 4040 Walworth AcademyWalworth Academy declined declined

55thth medical/medical/socialsocial

5050 Chestnut Grove Chestnut Grove SchoolSchool

declineddeclined

What happens after 3 March?What happens after 3 March?

If your child has been offered a place it is advisable that you If your child has been offered a place it is advisable that you accept it within two weeks, even if its not your first preference, or accept it within two weeks, even if its not your first preference, or is an allocated offer. This will is an allocated offer. This will notnot affect your application to affect your application to schools that are placed higher on your application. schools that are placed higher on your application.

Ensure your child’s name is on the waiting list for the schools you Ensure your child’s name is on the waiting list for the schools you prefer. Once an offer is made your child’s name will be prefer. Once an offer is made your child’s name will be automatically removed from schools placed lower than the automatically removed from schools placed lower than the offered school on your applicationoffered school on your application

You have the right of appeal where you can demonstrate that the You have the right of appeal where you can demonstrate that the admissions criteria has not been implemented correctly.admissions criteria has not been implemented correctly.

You can consider applying for other schools where there are You can consider applying for other schools where there are vacancies if your child has not been offered a place, or has an vacancies if your child has not been offered a place, or has an allocated offer you do not like.allocated offer you do not like.

Points to rememberPoints to remember Apply before the deadline of 31 October 2013 and send any

Supplementary Information Forms directly to the schools by their deadlines (18 or 25 October 2013).

Admissions authorities will apply their own admissions criteria to all applicants.

Where a school has more applicants than places its published admissions criteria will be used to decide the order in which children are to be admitted.

Parents of children who cannot be offered a place on 3 March 2014 can choose to remain on waiting lists at any of their preferred schools.

Lambeth School Admissions Team will assist parents/carers in securing a school place for their child later in the year if one is not offered on 3 March 2014.

Suggested sources of further Suggested sources of further informationinformation

www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissionswww.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions

www.ofsted.gov.ukwww.ofsted.gov.uk

Lambeth School Admissions TeamLambeth School Admissions Team020 7926 9503020 7926 9503

Apply on lineApply on line

and and

apply on time!apply on time!

Deadline: 31 October 2013Deadline: 31 October 2013