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

Admission to The Castle School – The Castle School Education TrustChildren with statements of specialeducational needs (SEN) or aneducation, health and care plan(EHC Plan)Children with Statements of SEN or an EHC Planare placed in schools through the arrangementsset out in the SEN Code of Practice and notthrough these admission criteria. All governingbodies are required by Section 324 of theEducation Act 1996 to admit to the school a childwith a Statement of SEN that names the school oran EHC Plan. Schools must admit such childrenwhether they have places or not. Any appealconcerning the statement of the admission isto the independent First-tier Tribunal (Health,Education and Social Care Chamber). Parents/carers of children with Statements of SEN oran EHC Plan should contact their child’s leadprofessional for any further information.Home addressThe child’s home address is considered to bewhere the child lives most of the time with his orher parent(s) or carer(s). South GloucestershireCouncil cannot accept an address of a business,relative, friend, childminder, a temporary addressor an address of a house it is intended to move to.The only exceptions are for children of UK servicepersonnel for whom special arrangements mayapply. South Gloucestershire Council reservesthe right to seek documentary evidence tosupport a claim of residence.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.Appeals – year 7 September intakeappealsAfter the end of October (closing date forapplications), South Gloucestershire Council willsend Castle School Education Trust a list of alltheir applicants. This will include first, secondand third preferences, but will not state thepreferences. The council will rank the list for TheCastle School and allocate 270 students.Parents/carers will be informed of the allocationof places. Included in this information will be anappeal form and an explanatory statement fromCastle School Education Trust. If parents/carerswish to appeal they need to complete and returnthe appeals form to Castle School EducationTrust.An independent appeal panel will be convenedby South Gloucestershire Council at which bothparents/carers and Castle School Education Trustwill represent their case. Decisions made by thepanel are legally binding.In-year transfer year 7 – 11Parents/carers should apply to Castle SchoolEducation Trust for a place at The Castle School.If the year group is full or over-subscribed thenCastle School Education Trust will refuse the placeand the applicant will be placed on a waiting listand given the opportunity to appeal. If parents/carers wish to appeal they need to completeand return the appeals form to Castle SchoolEducation Trust. An independent appeal panelwill be convened at which both parents/carersand Castle School Education Trust will representtheir case. Decisions made by the panel arelegally binding.If a place becomes available and there areapplicants on the waiting list, the place will beoffered according to the criteria set out for Year7 September intake, and not by reference to thedate of joining the waiting list.56Apply on-line at: www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions