St Peter’s RC High School and Sixth Form Centre

ADMISSIONS POLICY

(Sep 2012 to Jul 2013)

Final (Determined) Version

Date: Nov 2010

Policy Review due: Nov 2011

Owner: Staffing and Admissions Committee

BACKGROUND

·      The ethos of St Peter’s is: to provide a high quality education within the context of a Christian environment.  An understanding of the Roman Catholic faith, in line with the Gospel message, underpins the whole work of the school.   The main aim is to develop the self esteem, dignity and respect of all members of the community by concentrating on each person's infinite worth in the eyes of God.  We ask all parents applying for a place at St Peter’s to respect this ethos and its importance to the school community. This does not affect the right of parents who are not of the faith of this school to apply for and be considered for a place.

·      St. Peter’s Roman Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre is an 11-18 Voluntary Academy.  The Governing Body, acting in accordance with arrangements agreed with the Diocese of Clifton Department for Schools and Colleges and Gloucestershire Local Authority (LA), is the admission authority and is responsible for the admission of all pupils and for ensuring the efficient provision of education and use of resources. 

·      Parents/guardians are welcome to visit St. Peter’s High School, by arrangement, and encouraged to telephone the School with any questions or concerns.

CAPACITY

·      The Planned Admission Number for Years 7 to 11 is 227 and the Governing Body intends to admit 227 pupils in September 2011.  Pupils are normally admitted to Year 7 in the September following their eleventh birthday.

·      The maximum capacity of Y12 is 400 students; if the number of applicants exceeds 400, a minimum of 60 external students will be admitted.  Students will undertake one or two year programmes of study.

PROCEDURAL INFORMATION

·      All admissions are coordinated through the LA and applications for admission at any time in years 7 to 11 must be made to the LA in the first instance.  Also, all applicants should submit a Supplementary Information Form (attached as an annex to this policy) to the Governing Body at St. Peter’s High School. Completion of this form is not mandatory but without the information contained within it the school will have to rank the applicant in the lowest category of the oversubscription criteria (see below).

·      Separate admission procedures are applied to Years 7 to 11 and the Sixth Form (Year 12 onwards). 

·      In the context of this policy, ‘Roman Catholic’ refers to any pupil who has been baptised, or received, into the Roman Catholic faith or into a faith in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church (a list of these faiths, as supplied by the Catholic Education Service, is available from School Reception). 

·       The school has signed up to the In-Year Fair Access Protocols held by the Local Authority. Should a vulnerable child within these Protocols require a place at the school, they will take precedent over any child on the waiting list.

·       The admittance of children who have statements of Special Educational Need (SEN) is administered by the LA.  The LA is responsible for issuing the Statement and for consulting with parents/guardians and the Governing Body of St Peter’s if a preference has been made for the School, before the School is named in the Statement.  St Peter’s is required to admit a child when it is named on an SEN statement even if the School is full.

·      Parents/guardians (and students above compulsory school age) have a right to appeal against refusal by the Governing Body to admit their child to either the Main School or the Sixth Form.  Any parents/guardians (or students above compulsory school age) wishing to exercise this right should put their appeal, in writing, to the Clerk to the Governors at St. Peter’s High School within 15 school days of being notified that their application has been rejected (or by 16 April 2012 for applications to enter Year 7 in September 2012). Independent Appeals will then be arranged by the Diocese of Clifton Department for Schools and Colleges and conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice on Admission Appeals.

·      Unsuccessful applicants may request to be placed upon an admissions waiting list which is maintained throughout the calendar year for each year group.  Any places which become available subsequently will be offered to applicants on the admissions waiting list according to the oversubscription criteria listed below.  Admissions waiting lists are closed at the end of the calendar year; any applicant wishing to be placed on the new list for the next calendar year may do so but they must specifically ask the Clerk to the Governors to arrange for this to be done.

ADMISSIONS INTO YEAR 7 IN SEPTEMBER 2012

·      Applications must be made to the LA by 31 October 2011 using the common application form.  In addition all applicants should submit a Supplementary Information Form (copy attached to this policy) to the Governing Body at St. Peter’s High School, together with the required supporting documents also by 31 October 2011.  Completion of this form is not mandatory but without the information contained within it the school will have to rank the applicant in the lowest category of the oversubscription criteria (sees below).

·      In considering applications for admissions, the Governing Body is required to place all applicants in the appropriate category of priority with reference to the oversubscription criteria  listed below.  Applicants having an otherwise identical priority within any of the oversubscription categories will be prioritised through a process of random selection.  LA officials will be invited to scrutinise such selection.  Where children of multiple births (eg twins) would otherwise have been split by this process, the intake will be extended beyond the Planned Admissions Number. 

·      Offers of places at St Peter’s will be made by the LA (on behalf of the Governing Body of St Peter’s) on 1 March 2012.

·      If, for any reason, places that were offered on 1 March are rejected, the Admissions Committee of the Governing Body (acting in conjunction with the LA) will offer them to other applicants (including late applicants) in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 4.

·      Any parents/guardians wishing to exercise their right to appeal must lodge the appeal with the Clerk to the Governors at St. Peter’s High School by 16 April 2012.

OVERSUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA

·      In the event of over-subscription, all applications will be considered and priority will be afforded in strict accordance with the orders of priority indicated below:

·      Years 7 to 11

1. Children in Care^[1] who are Roman Catholic^[2].
2. Children who are Roman Catholic² and will have siblings continuing their education at St. Peter’s High School and Sixth Form Centre at the time they join the School.
3. Children who are Roman Catholic²
4. Children in Care who are not Roman Catholic.
5. Children who are not Roman Catholic but have attended Roman Catholic primary schools since they commenced primary education and who will have siblings^[3] continuing their education at St. Peter’s High School and Sixth Form Centre at the time they join the School.
6. Children who are not Roman Catholic but will have siblings continuing their education at St. Peter’s High School and Sixth Form Centre at the time they join the School.
7. Children who are not Roman Catholic but have attended Roman Catholic primary schools for at least four years. 
8. Children who are not Roman Catholic but have attended Roman Catholic primary schools for less than four years. 
9. Children who are not Roman Catholic but are practising members of other Christian denominations, whose parents/guardians are seeking a Christian education.  In this context, ‘practising’ is taken to mean that the child worships in a named place of worship/parish and is known to the relevant minister of religion.  Written confirmation from the minister of religion to this effect should accompany the Supplementary Information Form when it is sent to St Peter’s.
10. Children who are not Roman Catholic but are seeking a Christian education. 
11. Other children.

·      Sixth Form

1. Children in Public Care.
2. Students on roll at St Peter’s High School at the end of Year 11 at the School and for whom an appropriate course is available.
3. Roman Catholic students attending other Roman Catholic schools.
4. Roman Catholic students attending non-Roman Catholic schools.
5. Students from other 11-16 faith schools.
6. Students from other 11-16 schools.
7. Other Students.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SIXTH FORM ONLY

·      Students will be admitted to St Peter’s Sixth Form subject to the general admissions criteria for the main School with the following additions/amendments.  Information about, and application forms for, the Sixth Form can be obtained from the postal address above or from 6thform@st-petershigh.gloucs.sch.uk.  Dates of open days and closing dates for applications will be published on the School website (www.st-petershigh.gloucs.sch.uk).  External students may apply to join the Sixth Form but places will be offered in strict accordance with the oversubscription criteria.

·      Offers of a place by the Governing Body to students wishing to join the Sixth Form from other schools will be conditional upon:

o   Generally, students meeting the entry requirements for the agreed programmes of study (a list of detailed requirements is available from the Sixth Form Office).

o   A consultation taking place with the Director of Sixth Form or a member of the Leadership Team of the Sixth Form or the School to agree an appropriate course. 

o   An indication by the student of acceptance of the standards and expectations of the Sixth Form, the ethos and character of the School and the educational offer being made (through completion, signature and compliance with the letter of acceptance of an offer of a place). 

St. Peter’s High School & Sixth Form Centre  

Stroud Road, Gloucester. GL4 0DD  Tel: 01452-520594  Fax: 01452-509209

 

INFORMATION FORM

 

Child’s Full Name

 

Date of Birth                                                    Current School Year Group

	Post Code

 

Address

 

Telephone No.                                        Fax No.                           E-mail

Parent/Guardian

Names

	Name of School	From	To
Current Primary School
Previous School(s)

Procedure:

(1)        Please refer to the Admissions Policy for the Order of Priority and other vital information.

(2)       Indicate your highest place in the Order of Priority by placing a tick in ONE BOX below.

(3)       Submit the necessary supporting documents/information (see below) with this form, by 31^st October.

(4)       Remember to register your preference with the Local Authority and undertake any necessary consultation (see below).

Order of Priority	Tick one box	Supporting Documents/Information
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHILDREN:
1		Please submit a non-returnable photocopy of the Baptismal or First Holy Communion Cert. Consultation required with the LA and the Governing Body
2		Please submit a non-returnable photocopy of the Baptismal or First Holy Communion Cert.
3		Please submit a non-returnable photocopy of the Baptismal or First Holy Communion Cert.
CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT BAPTISED ROMAN CATHOLIC:
4		Consultation required with the LA and the Governing Body
5		Please submit date of joining RC Primary School (in box above) and name(s) of sibling(s) & current school year group(s) at the High School
6		Please submit name(s) of sibling(s) & current school year group(s) at the High School
7		Please submit date of joining RC Primary School (in box above)
8		Please submit date of joining RC Primary School (in box above)
9		Please submit a letter of application and a verification letter from a Minister of Religion.
10
11