Secondary Transfer and Admissions 2008

1. Secondary Transfer and Admissions 2008 12 September2007

2. Key Dates for Parents:

3. Common Application Forms • Parents are invited to express three preferences in priority order. Putting down one school only will not improve the chance of getting a place. • CAFs can be submitted online. If this is the case, parents must not submit a paper copy. (However, please print a copy of online form and give it to us in school). • CAFs must be completed and returned to us at school by the morning of 19 October 2007. (The forms are being collected at lunchtime). If the deadline is missed, your CAF will not be considered until after 3 March 2008. • Choice Advisors will be available to help any parent who is unsure about the transfer process. • We are here to help! If you have any difficulties in completing the CAF, please come and ask.

4. Place Allocation • The Local Authority operates an ‘Equal Preference’ scheme. This basically means that secondary school do not know if they are your first, second or third choice. (This gives all of our children from Woodlands Junior School the same opportunities and chances as all children in Tonbridge). • The order in which you place schools only matters if you are given more than one offer – if this is the case, priority will be given according to your CAF priority choice. • It is important you are aware of the ‘over-subscription criteria’ that schools use when allocating places. Please refer to your Secondary Admissions booklets for guidance. • For some schools, places are allocated after the 11+ has been taken.

5. You could apply to… You could also apply to… Tonbridge School (boys) – Foundation Award (not Year 7 though: sent to prep) Sevenoaks School (mixed)- bursaries Walthamstow Hall (girls)- Scholarships and bursaries Rochester College (mixed)- Scholarships Worth (boys)- Scholarships These five schools are ALL fee paying schools.

6. 11+ ‘County Guidance’ The guidance from KCC on preparing pupils for testing is clear as far as it goes: …Some pupils will certainly find them difficult. Coaching is not required or permitted…The Authority supplies one set of ‘practice tests’ shortly before the main tests to try to ensure that all children have similar exposure to the test format and time constraints. • How can you help? • Revision guides are available • Revision timetable – an organised approach to help independence and time management • Outside help if required

7. Things to consider • You know your child – although we are here to offer advice and support, the best way of deciding which secondary school is right for your child is to go and visit them. Try and go when the school is functioning on a ‘normal’ day – the best way to see a school for real is to see it with pupils in it! Which school will meet the need of your child best? • For those considering a grammar school, it is worth considering putting a non-selective school for a third option. If the 11+ doesn’t go as well as planned (we can all have a bad day!) and your CAF shows three grammar school choices, the Local Authority will be responsible for finding an alternative. • The new equal preference system does allow you take a risk. • Be aware of the pressure before and after the event. • Be ‘aspirational’ – think big, but also be realistic!

8. Distance counts! • The distance from home to school is a deciding factor when determining an offer. It is a consideration used generally with all children other than siblings or special categories. • The Local Authority measure distance in a straight line using OS address point data. • During your visit to the secondary school ask about ‘catchment areas’ – refer to your booklet for more details. • Are you going to be able to get your child to the school of your choice? Consider travel arrangements and transport.

9. Transport • The admissions and transport policies are completely separate – the most appropriate school for admissions may not be the nearest appropriate school for transport purposes. • The criteria to receive home to school transport are that the child must be attending the nearest appropriate school for transport purposes and the distance between home and school must be more than 3 miles via the shortest available walking route. • However, families entitled to Free School Meals or working tax credit may receive transport assistance. If this applicable to any of you, please come and see me for further details. The Local Authority will require proof of receipt. • The Transport Department have offered support for further guidance surrounding transport issues.

10. Offers • On 3 March 2008, the Local Authority will be sending all parents offers. Parents will receive postal offers on 4 March 2008. • Online applications will receive their offer via email after 4:00pm on 3 March 2008. • If you are happy with the offer – great! Make sure you accept the offer before 25 March 2008 (the place could be lost if you fail to accept on time). If you are not happy with the offer, please come and see me as soon as possible. An appeal must be put in before 25 March 2008. • After 27 March 2008, schools will open ‘waiting lists’ and fill places according to their ‘over-subscription criteria’.

11. Appeals • Any parent has the right to appeal to any school named on their CAF which refuses them a place. • There will be further information about appeals in the letter or email received on 3 or 4 March 2008. • If you are going to appeal a decision, please come and see me. Evidence may needed to support the appeal. Appeals happen quickly – we need to be up to speed!

12. Online Applications • After the problems with the online system last year, there have been many system developments! • Parents can use their log on details to edit their application, view their online application at any time and view their offer details after the allocation date. • CAFs can be submitted online: before the deadline (19 October 2007). • Online applications must not send in a paper copy (although I ask you return a printed form to us at school). • Online offers will be sent via email (although if you do not have an email address offers will be posted). The email offer will not be sent until after 4:00pm on 3 March 2008.

13. Judd, Skinners’ & Tonbridge Grammar School • The New School Admissions Code require grammar schools which rank all pupils according to aggregated test scores not to give special priority to siblings. • This means that the ‘over-subscription criteria’ for the three schools named above have changed slightly. Read guidance notes in Admissions Handbook. • Siblings may, of course, still be offered a place at these schools, but only if they qualify through their ranked score.

14. Summary • Your completed CAF must be returned to us by 19 October 2007. • If you are completing the CAF online, please print a summary copy and hand in to school before 19 October. It will help us to support and track your application. • Visit all schools of interest to see which school would suit your child best. You know your child – talk to them, be realistic and continue to encourage and support them in all they do. • When your offer arrives in March, ensure you respond – accept the offer or appeal. Please see me if appealing. • You are not on your own! We are here to help and support you – to make the transfer process as stress free as possible. • Support your child throughout the whole year – their SATs in May are also important to them, and us!