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

Children 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 Councilwill send Downend School a list of all theirapplicants. This will include first, second and thirdpreferences, but will not state the preferences.The council will rank the list for Downend Schooland allocate 210 students.Parents/carers will be informed of the allocationof places. Included in this information will bean appeal form and an explanatory statementfrom Downend School. If parents/carers wishto appeal they need to complete and return theappeals form to Downend School.An independent appeal panel will be convenedby South Gloucestershire Council at whichboth parents/carers and Downend School willrepresent their case. Decisions made by thepanel are legally binding.In-year transfer years 7 – 11Parents/carers should apply directly to the schoolfor a place at Downend School. The school willmake a decision about allocating a place withintwo weeks, and will inform South GloucestershireCouncil of the outcome of the application. Ifthe year group is full or over-subscribed thenDownend School will refuse the place and theapplicant will be placed on a waiting list and giventhe opportunity to appeal. If parents/carers wishto appeal they need to complete and return theappeals form to Downend School.An independent appeal panel will be convenedby the school through the services of SouthGloucestershire Council at which both parents/carers and Downend School will represent theircase. Decisions made by the panel are legallybinding.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.and Castle School Education Trust63Admission to Downend School – Downend Education Trust✆ 01454 868008 cis@southglos.gov.uk