ADMISSIONS POLICY

1. Introduction

1. We are an inclusive school that welcomes children from all backgrounds and abilities. The governing body of St. Peter’s Church of England (Aided) Junior School applies the regulations on admissions fairly and equally to all those who wish to attend this school.

2. St Peter’s Church of England (Aided) Junior School serves the area of Wisbech enclosed by but not including Clarkson Avenue in the south; Lynn Road even numbers 100 and above to the Norfolk border in the west and north; and by the Norfolk border to and including Chapnall Road and roads leading off; Stow Road numbers 1 – 80; and the roads north of Staithe Road but not including Staithe Road. By agreement the school also serves the north side of East Walsoken. Priority will be given to children who live in the designated catchment area. The Governors will therefore consider applications for any remaining places from parents who live outside the catchment area but who wish their children to be educated in a Church of England School.

2. Admission Criteria

1. For admission into Year 3 in September the Governing Body will offer places to 70 children. This is the Published Admission Number (PAN for that year group). In the event that more than 70 applications are received, the over subscription criteria will be applied to determine priority for places. Both preferences are treated equally, regardless of whether they are first or second preferences.

3. Older Pupils

3.1 Pupils may be admitted to St. Peter’s at any time during the year provided there are appropriate places available.

4. Over subscription Criteria

Where applications exceed the PAN

4.1. Children who are Looked After or who have a statement of special educational need which names the school or for whom this is the only school that can meet their long-term medical needs.

(Confirmation of such needs will be sought from the LA’s Student Assessment Service or the Consultant Community Paediatrician.)

4.2. Children of regular worshippers of the Church of England who live in the catchment area.

3. Children living in the catchment area with a sibling at the school or a partner junior school) at the time of admission;

• The home address is defined as the address of the adult with parental responsibility with whom the child normally lives and which applies at the time of application. Future addresses will be accepted only if the move is intended to take place within 6 teaching weeks of the application and upon confirmation of tenancy or exchange of contracts. For further details, please see the full definition in the LA admissions booklet for parents.

• A sibling is defined as another child of compulsory school age living in the same family home.

3. Children living in the catchment area;

4.5 Children living outside the catchment area who have a sibling at the school (or a partner junior school) at the time of admission;

6. Children living outside the catchment area who have been unable to gain a place at their catchment area school because of over subscription;

4.7Children living outside the catchment area, but nearest the school according to the shortest straight line distance.

8. In cases of equal merit, priority will go to children living nearest the school according to the shortest straight line distance.

8. For Years 3 to 6, the PAN is 70. If a place becomes available it will be offered to the child at the top of the reserve list for the year group or, if no reserve list exists, the place will be offered to the first child for whom an application is received.

How to Apply

The application process for admissions into Year 3 is coordinated by Cambridgeshire Local Authority (LA) which acts on behalf of the governing body to offer places at the School. Parents complete only one form – a Common Application Form – available from their child’s school or from the LA Admissions Team, no later than 8^th December 2006. Offer letters will be issued by the LA on 23^rd April 2007. Late applications (those submitted between 9^th December 2006 and the end of the first week of the autumn term) will be handled by the Admissions Team.

To apply for a place after the start of term or in any other year group, please contact the School for an application form. The Governing Body aims to respond in writing to all applications within 10 school days.

School Office Contact No: 01945 583570

LA Admissions Team Contact: North Team 01223 717985/718472/ or admissions@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Parents wishing to visit the school prior to submitting an application are welcome to do so, though it may not always sbe possible to organise this at short notice. Visits are not interviews and do not affect any decision regarding the availability of a place. Please contact the school to make arrangements.

All parents are advised to read the LA booklet for parents on primary admissions.

Reserve Lists

When an application is refused, the child’s details are automatically placed on a reserve list for the year group, ranked according to the oversubscription criteria. As part of the co-ordinated scheme for primary admissions, the LA Admissions Team holds the initial reserve list on behalf of the governing body until theend of the first week of the autumn term in the initial year of intake. The Governing Body then holds this list until the end of the autumn term. Where mid-[phase applications are received, children’s details will be held on the reserve list for a period of one term following the term for which the place was refused.

Parents will be contacted immediately if a place becomes available for their child, but should be aware that their child’s place on a reserve list may change if an application is subsequently received that meets a higher criterion than their own.

Appeals

The parents of any child who is refused a place at VA Primary School has the right of appeal to an independent Appeals Panel. The panel consists of three people who are independent of the school’s Governing Body and the Local Education Authority. The panel will consider the circumstances of the case put before them and the and the Governing Body and parents must abide bythe decision it makes.

Appeals for VA Primary School are currently arranged by the LA Admissions Team on behalf of the Governing Body or the Chair of Governors. Further information and appeal forms are available from the Admissions Team or school contact.

4. Informing parents of the decision

As soon as final decisions have been made the Headteacher will write to the parents of all the children who have applied for admission to St. Peter’s to tell them whether it has been possible to allocate a place for their child. Parents will be required to reply to this letter by a specific date to signify their acceptance of their offer. Any places not accepted by this date will be offered to the next applicant in the order of priority given in Section 4.

If it is not possible to accept a child the letter should also inform parents of their right to appeal against the decision.

Once an offer of a place has been made and accepted, it may only be withdrawn in very limited circumstances. This may include the offer being made on the basis of fraudulent information being supplied by the parent, such as a false claim to one of the specified criteria.

4. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Governing Body in consultation with the Local Education Authority in the light of any changed circumstances in our school or the local area.

We currently run a number of out of school clubs. These include: Pottery, CC4G (computer club), Cookery, Italian, chess and football.

Some of the things made by the Pottery Club.