Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education 2015

1. (PESE) Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education 2015

2. 2014Year 6 placements • Mascalls 6 • Invicta 0 • Maidstone Boys 0 • Maidstone Girls 2 • Bennett Memorial 1 • Hugh Christie 0 • Malling 0 • Oakwood 0 • Weald 4 • Hillview 1 • Judd 2 • Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls 4 • Skinners 0 • St Simon Stock 0 • Wrotham 2 • Hadlow Free School 4 • Hayesbrook 1 • Other (private / moved) 2 .

3. Key Dates • 1st July Closing date for Kent Test Registration • September PESE Information booklet available. • 10thSept Kent Test takes place • 15th Oct Kent Test Assessment decisions sent to parents (email / post) • September / October Attend open evenings and sessions at secondary schools • 31st October National closing date for applications (KCC allowing until 5/11) • 2nd March 2015 Offer of one school place sent to parents by home LA. (after 4pm for email confirmations) • 18th March 2015 Parents confirm to LA if they wish to join school waiting list. • 20th March 2015 Last date to confirm acceptance to LA. • 31st March2015 Date by which you can lodge an appeal • April to June Admission Appeals heard. • 22nd April 2015 Vacant places reallocated by KCC • 24th April 2015 Parents can apply to individual schools.

4. Finding out... http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/secondary-school-places

5. KCC Transferring to secondary School http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education/applying_for_a_school_place/transfer_to_secondary_school.aspx http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education/applying_for_a_school_place/transfer_to_secondary_school.aspx

6. Individual School Information • Information about; • Application process • Transport • Individual Schools

7. Online application form

8. On-line Applications SCAF • You are encouraged to apply on-line. • School IT facilities and support will be made available. See office staff to book a slot. • Parents are invited to select 4 choices in PRIORITY ORDER. Selecting only one does NOT improve your chances. • Take care to choose the correct school in the drop down boxes • Print off two copies, retain one and bring the other to school.

9. https://ola.kent.gov.uk/kccadmissions/prefs.phpOn-line Applications You will need to register on line before submitting your application. Parents who have previously submitted a Kent Test application will be able to pick that up and add details of preferences and resubmit. You do NOT need an email address to apply on line, although the provision of one will allow you to receive confirmation of your application. (check Spam filter is off) Once registered you can edit your application up until close date and view details at any time. If you have submitted an On-line application, do NOT submit a paper one too.

10. Closing Date • Applications MUST be received by KCC (post or email) by 5th NOVEMBER 2014

11. Kent Test • LA will write to parents advising them of the assessment decisions on 15th October. • Parents who registered on line and provided an email address will receive the assessment by email after 4pm on 15th October. • There is no parental right of appeal against the outcome to a child’s assessment, but parents may make an admission appeal after 31st March to the independent appeal panel if the child is refused admission to any school they applied for. • A Grammar school assessment does not guarantee a grammar school place. Allocation rests on each schools published oversubscription criteria for admission.

12. Other Local Authority Schools All will have their own deadlines. If you are seeking a school in a different Local Authority, check their own web site.

13. School Choices • Invited to make 4 choices in rank of preference. • Schools are informed of people who have applied for places, but are not told of order. • Schools rank depending on published criteria. (distance, siblings, pass Kent Test etc) • If more than one school offers, the LA will send parents the offer of the highest placed on the form. • If no schools offer, the LA will offer a suitable alternative.

14. Distances Non negotiable! Measured in a straight line using Ordnance Survey software. Taken from a fixed point in the home to a defined point at the school.

15. Offer of School Place • 2nd March 2015 Offer of one school place sent to parents by home LA. (after 4pm for email confirmations) • 18th March 2015 Parents confirm to LA if they wish to join school waiting list. • 20th March 2015 Last date to confirm acceptance to LA. • 31st March 2015 Date by which you can lodge an appeal • April to June Admission Appeals heard. • 22nd April 2014 Vacant places reallocated by KCC • 24th April 2014 Parents can apply to individual schools

16. Transport To be eligible, the child must; • Attend the nearest appropriate (age /Special) school • The distance between school and home must be more than 3 miles via the shortest walking route. • Free transport may be available for parents in receipt of benefit or for religious schools. • You must apply for transport on line.

17. Further Information http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/school-transport/free-school-transport

18. What next? Look on the website, research the most appropriate schools. Visit schools to get a feel for them. Don’t dismiss anything yet. (not too many!) Make sure you keep to the deadlines. Keep Mereworth School informed of your decisions. This presentation will be put on the website. Consult it if you need re-assuring. Don’t panic! This is a challenging time for your child. You need to provide stability and re-assurance. They still have a year at Mereworth and need to be able to enjoy the experience and make progress with their learning.