Agenda
Introductions & objectives of session Our local schools Allocation rules & recent results
Latest & recent changes Specific school information
Historical applications & allocations for MPL
Ranking Timetable of events Continuing Interest Appeals Dos and Don’ts
Introduction & Objectives
Purpose IS To give you the information you need to
help you stand the best chance of getting the school you want for your child
Purpose IS NOT To advise you which schools you should
apply to
PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE
Comments about schools (negative)
What you say to your children
What you say to other parents
Schools
Two types of schools :
Community and Voluntary Controlled County make and apply the rules Apply (preferably on-line) via your Secondary
Application Form
Academies These schools define their own rules and apply them
themselves (within guidelines set by County) Apply via your Secondary Application Form AND
direct to school using their SIF (supplementary information form)
Local Schools
Parmiter’s Academy Co-educational Partially selective
St Michael’s Academy Co-educational Catholic
Frances Combe Academy Co-educational
Kings Langley Academy Co-educational
Marlborough Academy Co-educational
St Albans Girls Academy Girls
Townsend Academy Co-educational Church of England
Verulam Academy Boys
Queens Academy Co-educational Partially selective
Rules
All schools local to Bricket Wood are now Academies and have their own rules
Marlborough and Francis Combe have simplified their rules as follows Rule 1 Looked after children Rule 2 Medical reasons (Marlborough
only) Rule 3 Siblings Rule 4 Closest to school (straight line)
Partially selective schools and Faith schools have significantly different rules
Applying to an Academy school
Check the rules
Read the advice on the school website
Complete the secondary application form on-line
Complete the supplementary form if required by the school and send it by email or post to the school
Single Sex schools
Rule 1-3 as for Community schools
Rule 4 Nearest non-faith, non-partially selective school
Rule 5 Any remaining places available to the parish on a random basis
Rule 6 Children who live outside the priority area
Applying to Single Sex schools (cont)
Single sex schools local to MPL school –
In priority area Rules applicable
St Albans Girls
Y Rule 5
Verulam Boys
Y Rule 5
Watford Boys and Watford Girls are heavily oversubscribed and historically have only had places available for pupils living in their priority area which does not include AL2 post codes.
For pupils living in St Stephen parish, places are allocated according to Rule 5 i.e. by ballot.
Applying to a Partially Selective School
SW Herts Consortium includes Parmiter’s, Queens’, Bushey Meads,Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, Watford Boys and Watford Girls
Register for the SW Herts Consortium Music and Aptitude tests, applications open on-line 12:00 13th May and close 28th June
Confirmation by 15th July Music test to be held on 10th September
Aptitude test to be held on 7th September
Results available 14th October
When applying for a place, complete the school’s supplementary form in addition to Herts Secondary Application form
www.swhertsschools.org.uk Registration Closes: Friday 28 June 2013Date of Test Venue Notifications to Parents: Monday 15 July 2013SEN Notification Date: Immediately after registering please send a copy of the test registration confirmation email along with written evidence to Test Co-Ordinator, South West Herts Schools Tests, PO Box 2439, Watford WD18 1UZ. Information must be received by Friday 5 July.Academic Test: Saturday 7 SeptemberMusic Test: Tuesday 10 SeptemberSports (Queens’ School Only): Friday 20 SeptemberTechnology (Bushey Meads School Only): Saturday 21 SeptemberStart of Second round music tests: Week commencing Monday 23 SeptemberScores Notified to parents: Monday 14 October
Applying to Faith Schools
St Michael’s Catholic school - rules (abbreviated)
Looked after children Siblings Baptised practising Catholics from feeder schools Baptised practising Catholics resident in the
Watford deanery Baptised Catholics from feeder schools
(+ several others rules but the places are usually allocated as above)
Applying to Faith Schools (cont)
Townsend Church of England school
Looked after children Rule 2 medical reasons Siblings Parents or children who regularly worship at a Church
of England church Parents or children who regularly worship at another
Christian Church Parents or children who regularly take part in church-
sponsored activities Children who attend a Church of England primary
schoool
Plus a number of other rules
This school has not been full on allocation day for the last 3 years.
Historical applications
School Intake
Number of applications
2010 20112012
2013
STAGS 196 (178)
668 617 597 748
Verulam 178 439 472 516 659
Marlborough 205 499 409 474 530
Townsend 150 373 323 296 266
Parmiter’s 206(186)
1245 1410 1425 1492
St. Michael’s 180(168)
406 436 446 481
Queens’ 265(262)
1109 1176 1186 1389
Historical allocations for MPL
SchoolIntak
e
Year
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
STAGS 196 7 4 3 6 4
Verulam 178 2 4 4 6 6
Marlborough 205 12 14 17 18 14
Townsend 150 7 9 2 2 1
Parmiter’s 206 8 8 10 13 9
St. Michael’s 180 2 4 2 0 2
Queens 265 3 0 6 1 2
Other - 3 3 1 2 5
Notes :-Figures are initial allocations and do not allow for changes under ‘Continuing Interest’-This year, all MPL children were allocated a place on March 1st 2013 at their preferred school
September 2013 allocations
On allocation day, places were still available at several Hertfordshire schools including Marlborough and Townsend
First preference 90
Second Preference 16
Third preference 2
Fourth preference 1
Non ranked allocations for on-time applications
4
In St Stephen parish, 116 pupils applied for a school place and the places were allocated as follows
(other places allocated to late applications)
Recent changes Several Academies have added ‘children of staff’
to their rules
No significant changes to Hertfordshire admission policies
Those taking the music and aptitude tests will have the results before the application deadline
Parmiters, St Michaels and Loreto are amongst several schools still consulting on their rules for September 2014 intake
How places are allocated
Four factors : The rules Number of children applying, and where
they live Number of siblings Gender split
The first factor we know in advance, the rest we don’t
Parmiters PAN = 206 (from
186)
Rule 2009 2010 2011 2012 Comments
1 Public care 0 1 0 2
210% distance (21previously 19)
19 19 19 21
3 Siblings at admission 76 77 86 82
4Compelling medical reason
4 3 3 1
525% academic (52 previously 47 places)
47 47 47 52
610% music (21 previously 19 places)
18 19 19 21
7 Distance 17 14 11 25
2013: 1216m 2012 : 1319m 2011 : 1214m 2010 : 1686m
8 SEN 5 6 1 2
Marlborough PAN = 205
Rule 2010 2011 2012 2013 Comments
1Public care / SEN
5 0 1 n/a
2Medical & social reason
2 0 0 n/a
3Siblings at admission
77 58 69 n/a
4 Distance 121 132 131 n/a
2013: n/a2012 : 11,558m2011 : 11,719m2010 : 4,304m
Total allocations 205 190 201 192
Rankings The ranking is important to you, not to
the school If you are ‘successful’ for more than one
school, you will be offered the place in your highest preference school
Each entry on the form is treated as a separate equal application 1st preferences do NOT get priority
Ranking – FAQ #1
Scenario #11. Stags N2. Parmiters Y3. Marlborough Y
Offer - Parmiters
Scenario #21. Marlborough Y2. Stags N3. Parmiters Y
Offer - Marlborough
Q : Do I have to rank Parmiters first?A : No, but if you are ‘successful’ at a school
you have ranked higher, then you will
be offered the place at the other school
Ranking – FAQ #2
Scenario #11. Parmiters N2. Stags Y3. Marlborough Y4. Watford Girls N
Offer - Stags
Scenario #21. Stags N2. Marlborough Y3. Townsend N4. Frances Combe Y
Offer - Marlborough
Q : If I choose Parmiters, will it reduce my chances of getting Stags ?A : No, the ‘rank’ you give a school makes
no difference to the decision process for that school
Dates and Deadlines13th May- 28th June
2013Apply to SW Consortium for Aptitude and Music test
7th Sept 2013 Academic tests (Parmiter’s, Queens’ etc)
10th September 2013 Parmiter’s music test
14th October 2013 Academic tests results announced
31 Oct 2013‘Closing date’ for applications to HCC admissionsClosing date for SIFs for Community and Academy schools
3 March 2014 Allocation Day – emails sent if you applied on-line.
16 March 2014Deadline for accepting offer and opting out of the Continuing Interest process
September 2014 Your Child starts their new school
Continuing Interest
This is the process by which, post the initial allocation, some changes will take place.
If an offered place is not accepted, that place is made available to another child, in priority order, according to the original rules.
That child’s place, in turn, is made available to someone else.
The first ‘Continuing Interest run’ takes place just after the deadline for acceptance of the initial offer
Continuing Interest RECENT CHANGE
You will now be automatically placed on the CI list for all schools you originally ranked higher than the school you were actually offered.
You may remove your child from the CI list if you wish – do so before Monday 16th March
New preferences (for schools you did not originally ‘rank’, or ranked lower than your initial offer) may only be added after the first CI run
IMPORTANT All places offered under CI are assumed to be
wanted, and you will automatically lose your original place, if a place is given under CI.
Continuing Interest
THINK CAREFULLY
When making your initial choices
About staying on CI
Affects on your child (and you)
Appeals Appeal panels in Hertfordshire are made up of three
independent members who are voluntary and have no connection with the school or the Authority
The decision of the appeal panel is binding on the school and the authority
Your appeal case must be strong and specific to the school for which you are appealing.
A very limited number of appeals are upheld each year
Dos and Don’ts !
DO Attend the Open Evenings with your child Observe deadlines Be realistic Rank 4 different schools Complete the secondary application form
preferably on Hertfordshire CC website Keep the email confirming your
application Attach evidence (for rule 2)
Dos and Don’ts (cont)
DO Complete the school’s own form Ask if you have any questions, either at the Open Evenings or call Admissions at Hertfordshire County Council
If you are moving house, discuss with Admissions team at HCC
Dos and Don’ts !
DO NOT Make a decision based on other
peoples’ opinions or experiences
Give a false address –checks are made and any place offered will be withdrawn