1. Applying for a Secondary School
Jim Britton
Chester Park Junior School
17th May 2016

2. What we will cover today
When to Apply
What to do before applying
Useful Tools and Information
Admissions Criteria
How to Apply
How schools decide who gets places
Secondary Admissions Timetable - TBC

3. Key Points You Can’t Apply Yet! Read the Admissions Booklet
Visit the Schools
Read their Admissions Criteria
Apply on Time through your Home Authority
Put 3 preferences if you can

4. When to Apply You Can’t Apply Yet!
Between 2nd week Sept 2016 and 31st Oct 2016
Anything after 31st October 2016 is Late
Some schools have SIF deadlines
CGS 25th Sept 2016 for SIF
Your child may need to attend a test
CGS 8th October 2016
Read the Admissions Criteria

5. What to do before applying
Open evenings – Check Admission Booklet for dates. Usually mid-late September.
Do your research.
If you have concerns about a school, ask them about it.
Look at the criteria, previous years and assess your chances.
Find out your Area School and home to school distance.

6. Useful Tools & Information
The My Neighbourhoods Tool
What happened last year?
The 2017/8 Booklet (available Sept 2016)
Ofsted Reports. But think about the future. What is the school doing to improve? What will the school be like in 3-5 years.
Don’t rely on hearsay.

7. Admissions Criteria
Each School must have a published admissions criteria which sets out how they decide who gets the spaces if oversubscribed.
Different Schools – Different Criteria
Check the Booklet
SIFs, Tests, APAs?

8. How to Apply On line between early Sept 2016 and 31st October 2016
Best as you get a receipt
Find out before others
Can accept online
Paper form will be available between early Sept and 31st October 2016.
Apply via your home Local Authority even if the school is in a different area.

9. Rough Timetable – Previous Years dates Exact Dates TBC
Early Sept 2016 – Can Start applying
Oct 31st Closing Date
1st March 2017 – Results are sent out
15th March 2017 –Parents let us know what they want to do, accept places, appeal, waiting list.
6th May 2017 – Top up offers made
June/July Appeals

10. The Admissions Process
Parents
SGlos Schools
Maintained Schools
Local Authority
Free Schools
Faith Schools
Steiner School
Academies

11. Admission Process Equal Preference System Read the Criteria
Put your favourite 1st and 2nd favourite 2nd etc.
Read the Criteria
You must apply, even if you have an older sibling already there.
Apply on time and be patient

12. Any questions?
Contacts
JIM

14. Your Area School
Google ‘My Neighbourhoods Bristol’