1. Secondary Transfer for September 2016 For Year 6 Parents (and visiting Year 5 parents) Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School Monday 14 th September 2015 1

2. Pan-London co-ordinated admissions system (PLCAS) How the system works: See page 5 of the booklet The application is made ‘online’ at www.westminster.gov.uk/admissions www.westminster.gov.uk/admissions Paper applications will be available from the admissions team upon request only – if you apply by paper you will have to ensure your application is received by the admissions team by 5pm on the 31 st October 2015 – you will also receive your notification later than parents who apply online! Contacting the School Admissions team see page 7 of guidance booklet or email: schooladmissions@westminster.gov.uk schooladmissions@westminster.gov.uk National Offer Day 1 st March 2016 2

3. Pan London Co-ordinated Admissions System – (PLCAS) Common Application Form All applications are made to the local authority (LA) in which you live. The Applications can be made online from 1 st September 2015. If you live in Westminster you make all your choices on the Online application form If you live in Brent/K&C etc you should receive information from your home borough Admissions team Some schools require you to complete a supplementary information form which you will receive when you visit the school. 3

4. Why choose a Catholic Secondary School? ‘The distinctive ethos of the Catholic school is rooted in the Word of God who is Jesus Christ. The commitment of the Catholic school to the vision of every human person as a child of God and brother or sister of Jesus is central to the achievement of excellence and success. I wish you every blessing in your vocation as “the first and best teachers of your children in the ways of faith”. Be assured of the support of the Catholic school in fulfilling your responsibilities.’ The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster ‘Choosing a Catholic Secondary School’ 4

5. Making your choice Consider Your child’s needs Admission criteria of each school What the school offers Distance and travelling options What pupils and parents think of the school Results Latest Ofsted and Diocesan inspection reports Tip: Visit as many schools as you can 5

6. Your preferences All parents must list the schools that they want to apply for in order of genuine preference (up to six – no less than three!) Details of where a school was ranked will not be released to schools and no school will be told about other schools a parent has applied for The admission authority for each school decides on whether a place can be offered The PLCAS will co-ordinate the offer of places to ensure nobody is offered more than one school place If your application to two or more schools is successful you will only receive one offer (highest ranked preference) 6

7. Parent X applies for a place for her son in the schools below which she has listed in order of preference 1.St. Thomas More 2.Cardinal Vaughan 3.St. George’s 4.Newman College (formerly Cardinal Hinsley) 5.Westminster City 6.Quintin Kynaston Scenario A Parent X’s application to each school is successful and a place is offered at St. Thomas More as it is the highest ranked school on her list. Scenario B Parent X’s application to St. George’s, Newman College and Westminster City is successful and her son is offered a place at St. George’s as it is the highest ranking school making an offer is offered a place at St. George’s as it is the highest ranking school making an offer 7

8.  Be realistic in your choices and make sure you check the admissions criteria for each school to see if your child is eligible for a place  Church schools will take into account church attendance and you will be required to provide proof of your religious denomination and Church attendance by way of the Certificate of Practice and the school’s supplementary information form (SIF)  Attendance at a Catholic primary school does not guarantee a place at a Catholic Secondary School of the same denomination Admissions Criteria 8

9.  The Local Authority recommend you include your nearest community/foundation school and/or academy as one of your choices e.g. Quintin Kynaston, Paddington Academy or Westminster Academy  You must complete and return the supplementary information forms required by each school, and the Certificate of Practice form if required, by the time indicated by the school otherwise the school may not be able to consider your application fully 9

10. Key Dates: Please see page 6 in booklet Applications can be made online from 1 st September Saturday 31 st October: 5pm Final closing date and time for paper applications Saturday 31st October: 11.59pm Final closing date and time for online applications Strongly recommend that you make an appointment with Mrs. Alley or Nella Cunha to discuss your preferences 1 st March 2016 - National Offer Day 10

11. Support in making your choice Advice can be sought from Headteacher and School Business Manager on all matters of Secondary transfer – don’t hesitate to speak to us! Advice can be sought from Headteacher and School Business Manager on all matters of Secondary transfer – don’t hesitate to speak to us! Please see the dates/venues for Admission team meetings if you wish to attend (available as a handout) Please see the dates/venues for Admission team meetings if you wish to attend (available as a handout) Parent Workshops will be held to support parents with their online application on the following dates: Parent Workshops will be held to support parents with their online application on the following dates: Monday 12 th October 2015 at 9.30amMonday 12 th October 2015 at 9.30am Monday 19 th October 2015 at 2pmMonday 19 th October 2015 at 2pm Information (including this presentation) will be available on our school website in the Parents section www.ourladydolours.co.uk Information (including this presentation) will be available on our school website in the Parents section www.ourladydolours.co.uk www.ourladydolours.co.uk 11

12. National Offer Day 1 st March 2016: All applicants will be sent an outcome notification letter by first-class mail Online applicants can view their application outcome online from 5pm 1 st March 2016 – online applicants will be sent a notification email at 5pm from Westminster LA 15 th March 2015: deadline for successful applicants to accept or decline their school offer April – July: Independent appeals panels will hear appeals to each school. Your child will be placed on the waiting list of all the schools you chose as a higher preference – but be advised to check! 12

13. Cautionary Note We will do everything we can to support and guide you through the process. However, your choices have to be realistic. You do not want to find yourself in a position where your child is allocated a school by the LA that you have not even included on your list. 13

14. What does last years admissions information tell us? St. George’s 2015 (p.39 of Westminster booklet) Number of applications received: 572 Number of places available 150 Places offered Practising baptised Catholics 113 Baptised Catholic siblings 27 Other Baptised Catholics 4 SEN (children to Statements) 6 14

15. St. Georges (RC Mixed) 15 Convent of Jesus & Mary (RC Girls) 5 Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (RC Boys) 1 St Augustine 2 Maria Fidelis 4 Paddington Academy 1 Marylebone Boys School 2 Burlington Danes Academy 2 Independent Schools 4 60% of 2015 cohort transitioned to Catholic Secondary Schools Our Lady of Dolours RC Primary School Secondary School Destinations September 2015 15

16. May God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hands Our Lady of Dolours RC Primary School Year 6 2015 - 2016 16