Admission to secondary school booklet 2014-15 - South ...

Where a child spends time with each parent/carerat two different addresses, South GloucestershireCouncil will ask for proof of the arrangementsand will determine the appropriate address to beused in allocating a school place. In reachingthis decision, evidence may be requested toshow the address to which any Child Benefit ispaid and from which the child is registered witha medical GP. Any other evidence provided byparents/carers will also be considered in reachinga decision on the home address for admissionspurposes.Consider how you will get yourchild to schoolIt is your responsibility as a parent/carer to getyour child to school. You must think very carefullyabout the distance from home to school andabout how your child will travel to school.The majority of children are not eligible for freetransport to school. You may wish to contact yourlocal school and ask for details of their SchoolTravel Plan. The Plan identifies various measuresthe school has put into place to help reduce thenumber of car journeys made to and from school.Alternative travel options and schemes include;walking buses; road safety workshops; and, cycletraining. An audit of the range of transport optionsavailable in South Gloucestershire can be foundon the council’s website at www.southglos.gov.uk - search for the Sustainable School Travel andTransport Strategy.Tell us if your circumstanceschangeIf your circumstances change during theapplication process or if you know in advancethat your circumstances are going to change, forexample you are planning to move house beforeyour child starts school, it is important that you tellus.Be honest – we may ask fordocumentary evidenceEnsure the information you give us is accurate.In fairness to all parents/carers, SouthGloucestershire Council reserves the right torequire documentary evidence in support ofthe application and to make its own enquiries.Examples of evidence which may be requestedinclude a birth certificate, a copy of a courtorder, a solicitor’s letter confirming exchangeof contracts (and completion date on a newproperty), a rental agreement, a letter from anemployer, a letter from a bank or building society,a utility bill or evidence of child’s residency.Please be aware that South GloucestershireCouncil may withdraw an offer of a place wherean application is fraudulent or intentionallymisleading.What if I change my mind beforethe closing date?Any change in preference received beforethe closing date will supersede all previousapplications. Previous applications will bewithdrawn.!Please remember if you submityour application on-line and makechanges to or view your application youwill need to ensure you re-submit yourapplication.Applications or changes of preference receivedafter the closing date are ‘late applications’ andwill not normally be considered for the initialallocation of places.What happens if my application islate?If your application is late it will affect your chanceof getting a place at one of the schools youhave stated as a preference for your child. Ontime applicants will be allocated a school placebefore late applicants. Only in exceptionalcircumstances will South Gloucestershire Councilconsider the reasons why the application is latebefore deciding whether or not to consider italong with the on time applications. The sameover-subscription criteria are applied to lateapplications but will be considered after the initialallocation of places.What else do I need to consider in completing my application?✆ 01454 868008 cis@southglos.gov.uk13