Appendix 1 - Important information for Parents who wish to apply for a Year 7 place for their child from September 2013

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In the academic year 2010/2011 and following the outcome of grammar school tests 632 equal preference applications were received.The planned admission number for each Year Group was 180 and the Admissions Authority applied the over-subscription criteria approved by the Secretary of State. 180 places were duly allocated - 3 to students in public care, one to students with statements of special educational needs, 49 to children whose siblings were already attending the school and 127 allocated using the distances criteria which pertained at that time. 452 equal first preference applications were either unsuccessful or had been offered places by the Local Authority at other schools placed higher on their preference list.

Applications for entry to the School in September 2013 should be made using the Medway Council Common Application Form, which will be provided by the Local Authority (LA). Clear guidance will be given to parents by the Local Authority (LA) in their Booklet entitled "Admission to Secondary School September 2012: A Guide for Parents" which will be distributed by your child's primary school.

The Admissions Authority of The Thomas Aveling School wish to provide parents with the following important information and guidance at the earliest opportunity to assist them with their application.

The Application Process

• Parents should refer to The Thomas Aveling School Policy for Admission of Pupils. A copy of this will be made available with each prospectus and with these guidance notes
• The Thomas Aveling School is a Foundation school and as such, the Governing Body is the Admissions Authority, hereafter known as the Governing Body Admissions Authority (GBAA)
• The Planned Admission Number for Year 7 from September 2013 is 190.
• Should the number of applications exceed the Planned Admission Number of 190, the GBAA will apply the school's over-subscription criteria, which has been approved by The Secretary of State, in the following order:
  
  Over-subscription criteria
• 1. Children in public care
  2. Current Family Association, ie. an older sibling who is on the roll of the school when the application is made, living in the same household, who must still be attending at the point of entry in September 2013.  In this context, sibling means:
     
     
  3. • an older brother or sister
     • Step brother or sister
     • Foster brother or sister, or
     • those who live as brother or sister in the same house.  
       
       In all cases, children must reside in the same household
       
       
  4. Residence within an access area*

  * as defined in Medway Local Authority 'Admission to Secondary School - Seprember 2013 entry' booklet and as published on the school website.

  5. Nearness of children's homes*

  * The Governors of The Thomas Aveling School have adopted Medway Council’s criteria for measuring the nearness of children’s homes to The Thomas Aveling School. Distance will be measured by the shortest available safe walking route between home and school. This will include footpaths where applicable, as measured by Medway Council’s Geographical Information System.

  It should also be noted that the GBAA are required under the Special Needs Code of Practice to first offer a place to children with a statement of special educational needs where, following consultation with the Local Authority that the child's individual needs can be met, the school is named.

  Fraudulent Applications/Withdrawal of offer

  In fairness to all applicants, the GBAA will ensure that reasonable checks are made to ensure the accuracy of details as stated on application formsand proof of address will be required when formally accepting an offer of a place *. Any intentionally misleading applications or false claims to residence may lead to the withdrawal of any offer which may have been made and could affect further children's applications for a place. Failure to respond to an offer of a place within a reasonable time may also result in withdrawal of the offer.

  * Changes of Address: On your secondary transfer form, the address you give must be the one where your child lives either completely or spends most nights. If custody is shared between parents and a child lives equally at both addresses, only one can be used on the form. IF YOU MOVE ADDRESS after the closing date of 31st October, the Local Authority will change details up until 25th November 2012 accompanied by sufficient evidence.Parents should contact the Local Authority direct to advise of any change of address.Parents moving to Medway after the closing date of 31st October and by 25th November 2012 will be included in the normal allocation of places on 1st March 2013. Applications received after 25th November 2012 but before 1 March 2013 will not be considered for places on 1st March 2013 but will be included in the re-allocation of places on 2nd April 2013 and after consultation with the admission authority. The child’s name will automatically be placed on the waiting list for any schools named that are unable to offer a place.

  Refusal of a place/right of appeal

  If, having applied the over-subscription criteria, the school is unable to offer a place, parents will be contacted in writing and advised of the reason why a place could not be offered. They will, at that time, be given information about their right of Independent Appeal and details of how to make their appeal.