Admissions Policy 2006/7

Introduction

The school is a voluntary aided Church of England School in which education is offered based on Christian principles. Parents applying do so knowing that the school expects pupils to take part in the Christian worship of the school, and to attend religious education classes, assemblies and church services.

Entry into Reception

There are two categories of entry into the reception class at All Saints Church of England School; Foundation Places and Open Places. Unsuccessful applicants for a Foundation Place will automatically be then considered for Open Place . Any unfilled Foundation Places will become additional Open Places.

If it is necessary to choose between otherwise equal applicants, a straight line measurement from the child’s home to the school's main entrance will be used and applicants ranked in distance order.

Proof of an address will be required, for example, recent utilities bill, council tax, telephone bill.

This policy has been agreed by the full Governing Body of the School and is reviewed annually.

Foundation Places

The Governors have designated 19 places each year as Foundation Places.

Applications will be considered under the following categories in order of priority:

1. Children whose families are regular worshippers at All Saints Church, Blackheath with a sibling at the school who were admitted as a Foundation Place and will be on the school roll at the proposed date of entry.
2. The presence of a brother or sister in the school who was admitted on a Foundation place and who will be on the school roll at the proposed date of entry of the younger sibling and whose parents have maintained their pattern of regular worship at neighbouring parish churches or of churches that are members of Churches Together in Blackheath.
3. Children whose families are regular worshippers in the neighbouring parish churches or of churches that are members of Churches Together in Blackheath.
4. Children whose families are regular worshippers at other Christian churches.

Definition of Regular Worshipper

Regular attendance at the worship of the Parish for at least one-year before the closing date for application: this is understood to mean at least fortnightly and that there is active involvement of the family in the Church community life. (Where a family has recently moved or has changed church within the previous year, full supporting evidence will be required from the previous church in which the family has worshipped as well as from the local church)

Open Places

The Governors have designated 6 places each year as Open Places for all other applicants. If there are more than 6 qualified applicants, consideration will be given to the following criteria, which are expressed in order of priority:

1. children who are looked after as defined by Section 22 of the Children’s Act 1989, ie any child in the care of the local authority or provided with accommodation by them (eg children with foster parents).
2. the presence of a brother or sister in the school who was admitted on an Open place and who will be on the school roll at the proposed date of entry of the younger sibling.
3. children of a member of staff of the school at the time of application who will still be on the school payroll at the entry of the child.
4. children with known special educational, medical or social needs whom the Governors believe would benefit from a place in the school; written proof from a professional body at the time of application is needed to support the candidate at the time of application and the School will ask for a recent certified update at the time of considering applications.
5. Brothers and sisters of children present at the school because they live within the parish of All Saints’ Blackheath and who will be on the school roll at the proposed date of entry of the younger sibling
6. Children who live within the parish of All Saints’ Blackheath.

Definition of Sibling

A sibling is defined as a blood or adoptive sibling, or half-sibling, plus foster or step-siblings living at the same address as the child.

Churches Together Blackheath	Neighbouring Parish Churches
St Margaret Lee	St Margaret Lee
The Church of the Ascension	The Church of the Ascension
The Society of Friends, Blackheath	St John, Blackheath
St Mary Cresswell Park	St Alfege Greenwich
All Saints’Blackheath	St James, Kidbrooke
St Michael, Blackheath Park	St Michael, Blackheath Park
	Holy Spirit Church

Application Timetable

Applications for the academic year 22006/7 must be made on Lewisham's Common Application form (CAF) which is available from the school or the LEA between 1st November 2005 and 1st February 2006. Parents may list up to four schools and rank them in preference order. It must be returned in a sealed envelope before the 1st February and a copy retained by the parent.

A supplementary form must be completed and signed by the minister and returned to the school during the same period if a place is sought based on Church attendance. Parents will be advised of the outcome of their applications early in May 2006. Unsuccessful applicants will be given reasons related to the oversubscription criteria listed above and advised of their right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.

Unsuccessful Candidates

A register of interest will be kept of unsuccessful candidates for one year from the date of non acceptance. If you wish your child’s name to be kept on this list, please advise the school within 21 days of receiving notice of the admissions decision. Please advise the School as soon as you wish to have child’s name removed from the register.

Late Applications

Applications, which are received late for good reason, for example, when a single parent has been ill for some time or a family has just moved into the area will be considered if they are received before the 28th February. Requests for a place after this date must be referred to the LEA. Applications received after offers of places have been made will be added to the waiting list.

Admissions to Casual Vacancies

These will be made by the Head teacher in consultation with the Admissions Committee in accordance with the criteria indicated for places (see above). Brothers and sisters of pupils who fill incidental vacancies will be considered according to the criteria and will not gain a place automatically because of their sibling being in school. If an applicant cannot be offered a place then a form must be completed and forwarded to the LEA.

Right of Appeal

It has to be emphasised that the School is invariably over subscribed and that entry rarely can be offered to all candidates. Where parents wish to contest the Governors’ decision on grounds of partiality, negligence or failure to follow agreed procedures, an appeal can be made via the School to an independent body. Appropriate forms are obtainable from the Head teacher and completed forms must be returned to the School within 28 days of the date of the letter giving notification of the Admission decision for forwarding to the Clerk of the Appeal Committee.