Secondary school admissions

Admission to Secondary School 2013

Sefton has prepared this booklet to provide information to Sefton residents who have a child that is due to transfer to a Sefton secondary school in September 2013. We hope you will find it helpful in your child’s move from primary to secondary education. You will have received a letter containing a unique reference number to use for child on their application.

If you live in Sefton and want to apply for a place at a school in another Authority you must apply to Sefton for that place. If you live outside Sefton and want to apply for a Sefton School you must apply to your own Authority for that place.

Main facts about the Secondary Application Process

1. Apply for up to three secondary schools that you want in order of preference. (We recommend that you apply for three schools).

To help make this decision you should:

Read the information and application process in Section A of the Admissions Guide for Parents Booklet.
Find the schools in your area by looking through Section B of the Admissions Guide for Parents Booklet.
Read the admission criteria for the different types of schools in Sefton, also contained in Section B.
If you are considering applying for a Voluntary Aided school please refer to the admissions arrangements for each individual school.
Arrange to visit schools.
Look at other sources of information.
Consider the Home to School Transport Policy – Section D of the Admissions Guide for Parents Booklet.

2. Make your application by 31^st October 2012.

We recommend you apply online.

3. Which school will be offered and when?

If your child can be offered a place at more than one school we will offer you the highest preferred school listed on your application form.
If your child cannot be offered a place at any of the schools listed as preferences on your application form we will offer you the nearest appropriate community or voluntary aided school to your home address with an available place.
If you have applied online, we will send you an email on 1^st March 2013 informing you which school we have offered your child a place. You will also be able to access the offer information online if you applied online.
If you applied via a paper application form you will receive a letter, posted on 1^st March informing you which school we have offered your child a place.

4. What can you do if you are not happy with the school we have offered you?

You can:

Request information relating to schools with available places.
You will be initially put on the waiting list for your preferred school but you will only remain on the list after allocation date in March if you submit a formal appeal for that school.
Submit an appeal for a place at the school by completing an appeal form.