Moving on to Secondary School Kingsway Junior School June 2012

1. Moving on to Secondary School Kingsway Junior School June 2012 Information Evening for Parents of Year 4 and 5

2. Types of Secondary School Maintained schools are funded by the government through the local authority and do not charge fees Community and voluntary controlled – admission rules set by HCC Voluntary aided and foundation schools – the governing body is the admission authority for these schools and set the admissions rules

3. Academies are funded directly by government. Their governors set the admission rules. Private schools – these are not funded by the government and charge a fee

4. Timing for 2012 September: Online system opens September/October: schools hold their open events – important to visit as many as possible Mid Oct and by 31st October: submit application December: last date for late applications March 2012: Allocation day – online applications will receive an email, posted applications will receive a letter.

5. March: continuing interest lists created Mid March: last date for accepting the place or for registering an appeal Mid March: first continuing interest run will take place Mid April: second (and final) continuing interest run Late April: notification of results April – June: Appeals to be heard May to August: places will be filled from continuing interest lists as and when vacancies occur.

6. Criteria for offering places These change from school to school depending on their admissions rules. Every school will publish their criteria so check their website. HCC will probably provide on-line information in September

7. SEN and CLA Children with statements of special educational needs and Children Looked After (those in Care or with Foster parents) are allocated secondary school places through a separate process.

8. Distance from Kingsway www.schoolguruhertfordshire.co.uk Francis Combe - 2684m Parmiters – 2898m Kings Langley- 2975m St Michaels – 3079m Watford Boys GS - 4889m Watford Girls GS - 5533m Queens – 6089m Westfield – 5717m Rickmansworth – 6109m Bushey Academy – 7088m Bushey Meads – 7088m

9. Entrance Test Have been brought forward for September 2013 Transfer Registration for tests – Online via Consortium Schools Website address is: www.swhertsschools.org.uk Registration from 14th May to 15th June 2012

10. South West Herts Schools Consortium Rickmansworth St Clement Danes Watford Boys Watford Girls • Bushey Meads • Parmiters • Queens

11. Ability Tests Academic -Saturday 15th September 2012 (Verbal Reasoning & Maths (not multiple choice) Music - Tuesday 11th September 2012 2nd Round from Monday 24th September 2012 Sport – Friday 21st September 2012 (Queens) Technology – Saturday 22nd September 2012 (Bushey Meads)

12. Consortium Schools • make sure that your child is eligible for a place at a preferred school under that school’s admission criteria. • Parents will be allocated a test centre, based on postcode, by 6th July. This has absolutely no bearing on their eventual secondary school preference.

13. Entrance Test • Scores will be notified to parents on Tuesday 9th October 2012 • You will have scores before you make applications

14. Application Use all three preferences Think realistically about how likely you are to be offered a place at a particular school before you apply for it. Read the admission criteria Consider how your child will get to school Consider your child’s opinion

15. DO Make time to visit the school with your child. Ask question about anything that worries you. Talk to the Headteacher of the school about your child.

16. DO NOT Think that good exam results are the only important things. Judge a school just by what others say – go and see for yourself.

17. GOOD LUCK!