Admissions Policy
RADNAGE C of E INFANT SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2010– AUGUST 2011
The Governing Body of the school, not Buckinghamshire Local Authority (the LA), is responsible for deciding on admissions to the school, but works closely with the LEA to co-ordinate admissions to all maintained schools in Buckinghamshire. Details of the LA arrangements are in the Buckinghamshire booklet, available from the school. This also explains how parents can express a preference for a school and give reasons for that preference. Applications for entry to Radnage C of E Infant School in September 2010 must be received in line with the LA’s deadline for applications. Late applications (irrespective of admission criteria) are considered after applications submitted by the County deadlines. Decisions on which children are to be offered a place will be made by the Admissions Committee of the school during December 2009. Offers of a place will be made in line with the LA’s Admission Policy. Parents (see Note 1) will be given 14 days in which to accept an offer. This policy is in accordance with the co-ordinated admission scheme - the details of which will be published in the LA’s composite booklet on admissions. Applications received after the deadline for receipt will only be considered after all those received by the deadline. This means that, if no places are left after considering all the applications received by the deadline, even if you fulfil a higher criterion than that under which places have been offered to other applications, you will be unsuccessful.
At Radnage C of E Infant School, children are normally admitted at the beginning of the academic year (1st September) in which they reach their fifth birthday, without reference to ability or aptitude. Entry in September 2010 is therefore open to all children born between 1st September 2005 and 31st August 2006 full time or part time, dependent on birth date. Part-time children attend between 9 and 12 noon 5 days a week.
Autumn Term: Children born between 1st September and 31st December start school (full time) at the beginning of the Autumn Term preceding their fifth birthday. Children born between 1st January and 31st August start school (part time) at the beginning of the Autumn Term.
Spring Term: Children born between 1st January and 31st August now attend full time.
The number of intended admissions for the year commencing 1st September 2010 is 22. Parents may request that a child whose fifth birthday falls between 1st September 2010 and 31st March 2011 does not start at school until later in the school year 2010-11 when the child reaches compulsory school age (the term after the child’s fifth birthday). Under such circumstances, the school will hold the place for that child, although, in the majority of cases, the school finds that children benefit from starting at the beginning of the school year, rather than starting part way through it. Parents cannot defer entry until September 2011 for a child whose fifth birthday falls between 1st April 2011 and 31st August 2011. If the child has not been admitted to the Reception year in the school year 2010-11, a separate application should be made in the Summer Term 2011 for a Year 1 place in September 2011. There is no guarantee that a place will be available.
Children will not be admitted earlier than the dates given above based on their birthday.
In all other cases, children will be admitted provided there are places available in the relevant year group. Each year group has 22 places.
All children with Statements of Education Needs who name the school will always be admitted. Once these children have been admitted to the school then places are allocated in accordance with the following over-subscription criteria:
1. Children in care.
2. Children who have a normal home address (see note 2) in the school’s catchment area, ie Spriggs Holly Lane, Radnage and Town End, Bennett End, The City, Water End, Radnage Common, Bottom Road and Green End Road to just West of Chorley Green Farm. (A map is available from the school office).
3. Applicant child has a brother/sister who will still be attending the school at the time of admission. (See note 3).
4. Children whose parents wish them to attend a Church of England school. (Parents should indicate their wish to be considered under this rule by submitting the supplementary form. This form may be obtained from the school and is essential for this criterion to be considered). Children whose parents have had the form completed by their priest or minister and who have attended their church at least once a month over the past year will be accorded higher priority. (It is sufficient for just one parent to attend church). It is not necessary to complete this form if the child fulfils the requirement of any of the criteria 1 to 3 in the over-subscription criteria, as these take priority over the church affiliation criteria.
5. Once the above criteria have been applied, then further places will be allocated according to the proximity of the child’s home to the school, as measured by the shortest walking route in line with the LA scheme, with those living nearer being accorded the higher priority.
6. Radnage C of E Infant School observes and operates the Fair Access Protocol in consultation with the County Council and the Local Authority. Any children in this category will be offered a place as soon as possible, even if the school is full, and that they will be given top priority on the waiting list. Further details are available from: www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/documents/admissions/app_1_vulnerable_children.pdf
Proximity of the child’s home, as measured by the shortest walking route, with those living nearer being accorded the higher priority, will also serve to differentiate between children in criteria 1 to 3 should the need arise.
For entry to the Reception Year 2008/2009, the school received 19 applications. 19 offers were made. The criteria applicable to the applications were as follows:-
Rule 2. Nine places offered; Rule 3. One place offered; Rule 4. Nine places offered.
As all children were offered places under the above criteria, there were no appeals against non-admission.
Note 1: By parent, we mean a person who has parental responsibility for, or is the legal guardian of the child. If you are in any doubt, please contact the school for advice.
Note 2: By normal home address, we mean your child’s home address. This is your child’s address at the time you make your application for a place. It is where you and your child live. We regard a child’s home address to be where he or she spends the majority of the school week (Monday to Friday, including nights). We may ask to see official documentation, such as a child benefit book or medical card if there are reasons why a child does not live at his or her parent’s address. For example, if he or she is resident with a grandparent, you need to tell us this on the application form. If you do not declare any arrangements like this or use a relative’s address for your application, we may consider that you have made a false declaration and withdraw the offer of a place. Childcare arrangements are not sufficient reason for listing another address. The school reserves the right to check the validity of any address given, by asking for evidence such as inclusion on the Electoral Roll, or a recent utilities bill confirming your name and address. If you are moving into the catchment area, we may ask for evidence of your move, before considering any application for a place. We will need to know that you will be resident in the catchment area on 1st September 2009. If you move after this date, we may still need evidence before considering an application.
Note 3: This means a brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner where the child for whom the school place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling. In cases where there is one remaining place and the next child on the waiting list is of a twin, triplet or other multiple birth group, the following will apply:
Only one child may be admitted. A process of random allocation will be undertaken on our behalf by the Local Authority. Parents have the option of seeking an alternative school able to admit both (or all) of the children.
There are established arrangements for appeals against non-admission. Details are available from the school. It should be noted that, in the event of an unsuccessful appeal against non-admission, parents are entitled to a second application within the same academic year if there is a major change of circumstances, eg change of address. The school maintains a waiting list for those children who are not offered a place; the order of priority on the waiting list is the same as the list of criteria for over-subscription. No account is taken of the length of time on a waiting list. The school periodically seeks confirmation that parents wish a child to be kept on the waiting list.
This policy complies with all relevant legislation including infant class sizes and equal opportunities.
For further information or any feedback, in the first instance, please contact the Headteacher at the school. Contact details are as follows :-
Address The Headteacher
Radnage C of E Infant School
City Road
Radnage
Bucks
HP14 4DW
Telephone 01494 482167
E-mail office@radnage.bucks.sch.uk