Key Information for Applying to Secondary Schools in Southwark

APPLYING FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR This is for all secondary schools, regardless of the area/borough where the school is and includes all schools, colleges, academies, free schools The only exception is INDEPENDENT schools (generally fee-paying schools) All applications MUST be completed online MONDAY 31 OCTOBER is the VERY LAST DAY that your application can be submitted. Your child will be at a serious disadvantage if the application is not received by 23.59 on that day. Up until that date you are able to change your mind and alter the application swap schools around, delete or add in other schools. After 31 October your application is frozen and no more changes can be made. At Riverside we will have meetings on 11th and 12th OCTOBER for anyone who would like Jose to assist them in completing the form online, for whatever reason. Please email Jose to book an appointment. You may attach additional information if you have a medical, social or special educational needs reason you are requesting to be considered alongside your application this does not mean it will automatically give you the school you want. Bring this with you if you need it scanned.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A SCHOOL BROCHURE FROM: www.southwark.gov.uk You will need to check each school s website for details of visits as they are all different some are virtual tours and some you can attend.

There are often SUPPLEMENTARY FORMS that some schools require. They are usually faith schools, such as St. Michael s and St Saviours but you need to check which schools do have this. You need to collect them but I will help you fill them in if you ask! Bacon s College and Compass do NOT have supplementary forms for places CoLA, Harris Academies do not have supplementary forms UNLESS you are applying for their specialism places (e.g. CoLA is Business and Enterprise). If you apply for a specialist place this does not affect your other application but be sure your child will not get stressed about this and they have an aptitude for what the place is offered for.

BEFORE YOU DECIDE WHICH SCHOOLS TO APPLY FOR: DON T LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE! THINK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL YOUR CHILD WILL BE HAPPY AT THINK ABOUT WHERE IT IS AND HOW THEY WILL GET THERE GO AND VISIT IF YOU CAN AND ASK QUESTIONS CHECK THEY HAVE THE FACILITIES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR CHILD HAPPY SPORTS? SPECIAL NEEDS? AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS? MAKE SURE IT IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL THAT YOU WILL TRUST CHECK YOU FIT INTO THE SELECTION CRITERIA LOOK AT OFSTED REPORTS (www.ofsted.gov.uk) DO THEY HAVE A SIBLING RULE?

THEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SCHOOLS THINK VERY CAREFULLY IN WHICH ORDER YOU PUT THEM YOU MAY CHOOSE UP TO SIX SCHOOLS (USUALLY THE AVERAGE IS 3/4 SCHOOLS) THE RULES SAY that secondary schools will not know which order you have put the schools. YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO A SCHOOL IF: YOU HAVEN T PUT THEM ON YOUR FORM YOU HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED A SCHOOL THAT IS A HIGHER PREFERENCE Which is why all those questions are so important. SO REMEMBER TO CHOOSE WISELY

YOU COULD BE WITHOUT A SCHOOL IF: YOU SELECT SCHOOLS THAT YOU DON T MATCH THE CRITERIA ESPECIALLY OF THEY ARE HEAVILY OVER- SUBSCRIBED YOU ONLY PUT DOWN ONE SCHOOL YOU HAVE A LATE APPLICATION DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!

APPLYING ONLINE You must apply online at eadmissions.org.uk You will receive a user name and password. If you have already made ANY application for any child before you need to use the same one. Keep this safe do not give to your child! Bring it with you if you are meeting me to do your application. If you do not have an account you need to have a working email with you. You will get an instant receipt and email saying your application has been received. You will receive a reference number if you haven t got one, the application has not been submitted.

During November/December your child will be asked to sit entrance tests for most schools. The tests are NON-VERBAL REASONING TESTS some also have English and Maths sections. All tests are to band pupils into groups for admissions purposes so that each school takes a mixed ability intake it is not a pass/fail test. The only pass/fail tests that your child will sit are for independent schools or specialist places. We will do all we can to prepare your child by practising for the tests we know about. But we don t always have the information and we do not know the pass/fail marks or how the banding works. We have not received any information as to whether or not the system for testing has changed this year.

WEDNESDAY 1st MARCH is when you receive an email telling you the school you have been allocated usually around 5.00pm. A letter is also sent on this day which you will receive a few days later. You may accept your school place online or by returning the slip on the letter by March 15th. But this is automatic so you don t need to. If you do not wish to take the place please remember you will not be taken off that school s list UNTIL you give Southwark the name of the school your child has been accepted by. There will be further places made available throughout April July so this is not the end of the road if you do not get the school you want. You have the right to appeal and the details will be sent by each school you are eligible to appeal to and need to be returned to that school.

WHERE CAN YOU GET ADVICE? Southwark Email schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk Phone 020 7525 5337 School Preference Adviser Email schoolpref@southwark.gov.uk Phone 020 7525 5211