A Simple Guide to Admissions Procedures

The following notes will help you to complete your Year 7 preference form.
If you would like further help and advice please contact the Preference Adviser - telephone 01952 385083.

Please show, in order, your preferences for up to 4 schools. Telford & Wrekin schools are listed below. If you wish to apply for any schools in either Shropshire, Staffordshire or further afield, these should be included on your Telford form in ranked order. Details of your application will then be forwarded to the appropriate Local Authority.

Please note that applications to Thomas Telford School should not be included in your preferences. To apply for a place at this school you will need to complete a separate application form obtained direct from the school.

The following schools are in the Telford & Wrekin area:

All applicants for Adams' Grammar and Blessed Robert Johnson are also required to complete a supplementary form which is available directly from the school.

Allocations to schools in Shropshire and Staffordshire will be subject to the admission policies applying in those authorities. Details and information for parents booklets are available from Shropshire LA on 01743 254364 or Staffordshire LA on 01785 278593.

Please refer to the booklet "Secondary School Information Booklet", for information about assistance with transport to school. The designated area school will normally be regarded as the appropriate school for determining eligibility for assistance with transport. Transport may also be provided to Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College on denominational grounds. Families who are eligible for free school meals or who are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit may also be eligible for transport assistance to one of their 3 nearest schools where they meet the distance criterion. For more information see page 25 of the Secondary School Information Booklet.

The borough of Telford & Wrekin is divided into admissions (or catchment ) areas for the purposes of secondary admissions.

Each of the schools, with the exception of Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College, has a designated admissions area. All the areas are shown in detail in the 'Information for Parents' booklet between pages18 - 23.

Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College takes pupils from throughout the borough of Telford & Wrekin. It does not have a designated admission area but will allocate places according to the criteria listed on pages 9 and 10 of the information booklet.

You should also have received a letter telling you which school's admissions area your address is within. Telford has been divided into admission areas for each school to try and ensure that every family can be given a school place close to their home address. You are entitled to indicate up to four preferences on the enclosed preference form. The system is designed so that if you put your designated area school as your first preference, you should be given a place for your child there - the exact criteria are described on pages 8 - 12 of the information booklet.

You do not have to put your designated area school as your first preference if you do not wish to. However, if you do not include your designated area school among your preferences we will not be able to consider your child for a place there.

Open Evenings

Each school within Telford & Wrekin will have an open evening which parents and prospective pupils may attend. The dates are as follows:

Abraham Darby Thursday 4 October 6.00 - 8.00 pm

Blessed Robert Johnson Wednesday 10 October 6.30 - 9.00 pm

Burton Borough Tuesday 16 October 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Charlton Wednesday 17 October 6.00 - 9.00 pm

Ercall Wood Thursday 27 September 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Hadley Learning Community Thursday 11 October 6.00 - 8.30 pm

Lord Silkin Wednesday 10 October 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Madeley Academy Wednesday 17 October 6.30 - 8.45 pm

Newport High Thursday 11 October 4.00 - 7.00 pm

Phoenix Thursday 18 October 6.30 - 8.30 pm

Sutherland Tuesday 2 October 7.00 - 9.00 pm

Wrockwardine Wood Tuesday 9 October 6.00 - 8.30 pm

Adams' Grammar will have an Open Week from 1 - 5 October

The application form

You will need to complete your coloured application form and return it to you child's primary school before the closing date of Friday 2^nd November 2007.

Do not return your form until you are sure of your preferences. You will not be able to change your preferences at a later date unless you have a substantial change of circumstances such as a house move.

Online applications - you can apply online instead - further information is available in the information booklet. Please click on the following link if you wish to complete an online application form: online application form.
Online applications also need to be completed and submitted by 2^nd November 2007. Up to that date you will be able to go back to your online form and alter if you wish to.

The information that you put on the application form is very important. It is what will be used during the admissions process, and it is essential that it is accurate. The home address given should be the address where your child spends most of their time. Definitions of home address, looked after and sibling are included on page 8 of the booklet.

The information that you put on the form will be checked by the Local Authority ( L A ). Any place offered may be withdrawn by the LA if you application is found to be fraudulent or intentionally misleading. We may ask you to provide proof of your address.

If two parents cannot agree on which school(s) to put on the application form they should seek legal advice and if necessary, an appropriate court order before submitting one form.

The order of the preferences that you put for schools on your application form is very important. The LA will always offer you the highest possible preference so you should put your true preferences first. Telford & Wrekin will be opening an equal or blind preference system for the first time for entry to secondary school in September 2008. This means that we will consider your preferences along with all the others for each particular school and then offer a place at the highest possible one. You may want to refer to the information booklet (pages 13 and 18 - 23) for more details on which school had more applicants than places last year.

Please note:

· All parents should express a preference(s).

· If you do not state a second, third or fourth preference school it will not help you to gain a place for your child at your first preference school.

· If you do not express a preference you will be offered a place at the nearest school which still has places

NOTIFICATION

A letter will be posted to you on 3rd March 2008 by first class post informing you of the outcome of your application. This should arrive on 4^th March.

ADMISSIONS TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS OUTSIDE TELFORD

If you wish your child to attend a school in another Local Authority's area such as Shropshire, Staffordshire or further afield, you should include such preferences on the enclosed preference form. You do not need to complete any other Local Authority's form.

If you wish to apply for a place at Adams' Grammar School, Newport High School or Burton Borough School you should include such preferences on the preference form. Applicants to Adams' Grammar School will also need to complete a supplementary form, obtained from the school.

Please note: If you express a first preference for a school outside Telford, this will be regarded as your first preference overall unless otherwise indicated. This could affect your chances of gaining a place at one of your preferred Telford schools.

If you put a selective grammar school as a second, third or fourth preference and a place can be offered at a higher preference school, we will not offer a place at the grammar school even if your child obtained qualifying test marks.

TRANSPORT

Information on help available for transport to schools appears on page 25 of the Secondary Education booklet. Parents should note that Telford & Wrekin Council provides support for eligible pupils to travel to the designated area school only except in particular circumstances eg when a preference has been made to Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College on denominational grounds or where the family are eligible for free school meals or are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.

APPEALS

Parents who are refused a place at their preferred school or schools have the right of appeal. Please refer to page 7 of the Secondary Education booklet for details.