Middle School Information for Parents booklet 2024
Please note: the closing date to make an application is 15 January 2024.
Choosing a school is a big decision because a good education is one of the best investments we can ever make in life. It lays the foundations for a happy, healthy and prosperous future.
A good education is about much more than exam results, it’s about having the right skills for work and for life.
As a parent, you are your child’s biggest champion. You know them best, so to help you choose their school we’ve produced this booklet of important information and an explanation of the admissions process.
To support you to make an informed preference please use the search and compare schools facility available online.
All you need to do is type your town, postcode or the school you’re interested in and, at a glance, you can compare the schools in your area.
Staffordshire's website contains information on:
- school performance results
- the views of other parents on your local schools
- where the jobs will be in future
- the different learning routes
- what to look for when you visit a school
We work hard to ensure that as many of you as possible get the school of your preference, and the great majority do. For families who applied to start middle school in September 2023, 100% got their first preference school.
This is the start of a very exciting journey and you have a vital role to play in getting the very best education for your child by supporting and challenging their school with the opportunities they offer. Think big. They’ve got a bright future ahead of them.
If you need further advice or support with any of the information shared in this booklet, please contact the School Admissions and Transport Service.
Best wishes
Neelam Bhardwaja
Director for Children and Families
Autumn Term 2023
Information is sent out via your child’s current school or in some cases posted direct to your home address.
During September and October, open evenings are held at middle schools in Staffordshire. Dates and times will be available on the Staffordshire website.
1 November 2023
Online application service will open.
15 January 2024
Closing date for receipt of completed applications. Applications received after this date will be considered in line with the 'late applications' process.
Spring Term 2024
Applications are processed and information is shared between neighbouring local authorities.
16 April 2024
Offer of a school place. Online applicants will receive an email. Others will receive the offer in writing, posted 2nd class on this date.
Summer Term 2024
Admission appeals heard by Independent Appeal Panel.
- You must apply by 15 January 2024.
- You must make an application, even if you have an elder child attending your preferred school.
- You are strongly advised to make more than one preference. Failure to do so could have repercussions in terms of the distance your child is required to travel to school.
- You will not gain an advantage by only listing one preference and this could affect your chances of being allocated a place at a local school within a reasonable distance from your home address.
- All applications are considered at the same time. Priority is not given to those who put the school first, or on a ‘first come first served’ basis.
- List the schools in the order that you would most prefer them, and not the order you think you might get them.
- The order in which you list the schools is only used if you can be offered more than one school. In this case, you will be offered whichever of those schools is ranked highest on your application.
- Be realistic about the schools you apply for. It is recommended that you include your catchment school as one of your preferences, as otherwise you will not be considered for a place.
- Understand the admission arrangements for each of your preferences. This will enable you to assess what order of priority will be given for each preference.
- Consider how your child will get to school. You can checked if your child is entitled to funded travel online.
- You may be required to provide additional information or submit a supplementary form, if you are applying for a foundation, voluntary aided school, or Academy.
- It is your responsibility to provide any supportive information with your application e.g baptismal certificate or medical evidence. The Local Authority will not seek to obtain this information on your behalf even if you refer to it within your application.
It's quick, easy and safe.
As a Staffordshire resident you can make your application online between 1 November 2023 and 15 January 2024 using Staffordshire’s online application service.
The benefits of applying online are:
- We email your offer on the 16 April 2024 - so there's no need to wait for a letter in the post.
- The service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week up to the closing date of 15 January 2024
- It is quick and easy to do
- The system is secure so that your information is protected
- You will get email confirmation that your application has been submitted.
If you are not a resident of Staffordshire, use the online service for the local authority where you live.
"It's easier doing it online than it ever is filling out a form by hand"
If you have any queries about the online school application process or any other aspect of the admissions process please contact the team.
Over 95% of applications for 2023 admissions were made online.
How do I apply?
- Online - Applicants who apply this way will receive their decision on 16 April 2024 by email.
- or by post: complete the paper application form. Applicants who apply this way will receive their decision after the offer date by 2nd class post.
If you wish to make more than 3 preferences please email the information to admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk with details.
When making your application, you must name all of the schools where you wish your child to be considered for a place in order of preference. This includes any school in one of Staffordshire’s neighbouring local authorities.
Who can apply?
Anyone with parental responsibility. We expect separated parents to agree on school places before an application is made. The local authority is not in a position to intervene in disputes between parents over school applications and will request that these are resolved privately.
When is the closing date?
The closing date for all applications is 15 January 2024.
Why do I have to make an application?
Children are not automatically transferred from first to middle school. Every parent must make an application to ensure that their child is considered for a place at their preferred school.
I already have an elder child attending my preferred school, do I still have to apply?
You must still make an application for your preferred school regardless of whether or not you have an elder child at the school. Available places are then allocated using the relevant admission arrangements.
What happens if I don't make an application?
Where a parent does not make an application for any school, a place will be allocated at a school with spaces available on 16 April 2024.
This may not be your local school and travel assistance will not necessarily be provided.
If I name the same school three times will this give me a better chance of being allocated a place?
No. Extra weighting is not given for the number of times you include a preferred school. Each school is only considered once as part of your application.
Places will be allocated in strict accordance with the relevant admission arrangements.
Will I need to provide any additional information?
Some schools may ask you to provide additional information or submit a supplementary form.
For schools outside Staffordshire, this information can be obtained from the relevant admission authority and you must complete any additional or supplementary information in line with any deadlines that they specify.
Please note: If you wish to provide evidence to support an application on medical grounds or other exceptional circumstances you must obtain the necessary evidence as specified within the school admission arrangements. We will not seek to obtain this information on your behalf, even if you refer to it in your application. Please email or post any additional information directly to the admissions team marked clearly with:
- the name of the child
- the school requiring the information
- whether the application was made online or by other means
If you have been asked for a baptismal certificate, please send a copy to the school admissions team.
Do I have to name my catchment school?
Your child will not be considered for a place at your catchment area school unless it is named in your application.
This may cause problems if we are unable to allocate your child a place at your preferred noncatchment school.
You can check the catchment school for your home address online.
How are places allocated?
Staffordshire County Council does not operate a “first preference first” or “first come first served” policy.
This means that every school listed in your application will be considered individually and only against the individual school’s admission arrangements.
If you can be offered a place at more than one preferred school against the admission arrangements, a place will be allocated at the school ranked highest. If a place cannot be offered at any of your preferred schools, a place will be allocated at the nearest school with a place available.
It is strongly recommended that you name three different schools to increase your chances of securing a school that is acceptable to you.
If you wish to make more than 3 preferences please email admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk with the details.
Is priority for admission given to children who attend a particular first school?
Some middle schools who are their own admission authority give priority to pupils attending certain first schools. Please refer to the relevant admission arrangements. This is because the majority of pupils leaving the first school attend the middle school. Pupils attending the listed first school are not guaranteed admission to their preferred school. They simply have a higher priority for admission than other children.
Where can I find details of how places will be allocated?
Information is available in the 'summary of admission to oversubscribed middle schools under useful links.
How can I find out the catchment school for a certain address?
You can check the catchment school for an address online, but remember, not all schools operate a catchment area in their admission arrangements.
Please note there is no guaranteed admission to your catchment area school, allocations will be dependent on the availability of spaces in the relevant year group. Catchment areas are also subject to review and may alter from year to year.
How many places area available at each school?
Each school has a published admission number (PAN), which is the maximum number of pupils that the school can admit taking into account the accommodation and resources available. Each school’s PAN can be found in the information on the school search facility.
What happens if I do not return my application by the closing date?
Late applications for schools for which Staffordshire is the admission authority, i.e. community and voluntary controlled schools, will be considered alongside those applicants who applied on time wherever possible. Where it is not possible, because places have already been allocated, then late applications will be considered only after those applicants who applied by the published closing date.
It is important to note that if one of your preferred schools is not a Staffordshire community or voluntary controlled school then the relevant admission authority may decide not to accept your application if it is made after 15 January 2024 and your application may not be considered alongside those who applied on time.
A late application does not affect the right of appeal or the right to be placed on a school’s waiting list.
What happens if I want to change my preferences after I have submitted my application?
If you apply online you will be able to change your preference up to the closing date. If you do, please remember to resubmit your application, otherwise the changes you make will not be registered.
Alternatively, you can change your school preferences by writing or emailing the School Admissions Team up to 15 January 2024.
Parents wishing to change their preferences to include schools not previously named or wishing to change their preferences after the notification date (16 April 2024) will need to email admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk to make a late application, which will be administered in line with the late applications process.
I know which school I want my child to go to, why should I have to list other preferences?
If you live in Staffordshire and you only list one school, if your child cannot be offered a place at that school, a place will be offered at the nearest school with a space available. There may well have been other schools that you would have preferred your child to go to.
What do I need to do if I want my child to go to a school outside Staffordshire?
If you are a Staffordshire resident you will still need to make an application via Staffordshire County Council even if you want to apply to a school outside of the county. We exchange details of pupils applying for schools outside Staffordshire with all of our neighbouring authorities as part of the coordinated admission scheme. You will be able to find relevant details of the admission arrangements for other authorities in their own version of this information booklet. We would encourage you to view this information in order that you are aware of the likelihood of your preferences being met.
What is the ‘Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme’?
The scheme sets out the way in which the authority co-ordinates its admission arrangements with other neighbouring authorities and schools that are their own admissions authority. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that each pupil living within Staffordshire receives only one offer of a school place, whether that be at a school within the county or one maintained by a neighbouring authority.
The full scheme can be found under useful links.
Will I need to provide proof of my home address?
The local authority may undertake checks or home visits without prior notice to verify a child’s home address. If a school is offered on the basis of an address that is subsequently found to be different from a child’s normal and permanent home address, then that place is likely to be withdrawn.
What if I am moving home?
If you are applying for a community or voluntary controlled school and a child's home address changes during the admissions process it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to inform the School Admissions Team immediately.
If you are applying for a community or voluntary controlled school and can provide satisfactory evidence of a new home address (e.g. a solicitor’s letter confirming a completion date) by 08 March 2024, we will take that information into consideration when deciding on the offer of a school place. Otherwise we make decisions based on the address supplied by your child’s first school. Please note that an ‘intention to move’ will not be used when allocating places at oversubscribed schools.
For all other schools (academies, foundation, voluntary aided) it will be for the governing body/ trust to decide if the evidence provided will be accepted.
Section 4 - additional information - including waiting lists, appeals process and admissions out of year
I have not been offered a place at my preferred school. Will my child be placed on a waiting list?
All children who have been refused a place at a Staffordshire school will be automatically added to the waiting list. The waiting lists will be maintained until the end of the Autumn Term (31 December).
Waiting lists for all Staffordshire schools are ranked using the admissions arrangements for the school. Your child's position on a waiting list at a Staffordshire school can be obtained by emailing admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk or telephoning 0300 111 8007.
It is important to note that a child's position on any waiting list is not fixed and is subject to change.
Guidance on waiting lists for schools that are not located within Staffordshire should be sought by contacting the relevant local authority.
Can I appeal?
If you have not been offered a place at one or more of your preferred schools then you have a statutory right of appeal to an independent panel.
If you have not been successful in obtaining a place at a school that is located outside of Staffordshire and would like to appeal then please contact or visit the website for the relevant local authority.
Can I apply again for the same school if my appeal is unsuccessful?
It is not the council’s policy to consider repeat applications in the same academic year unless there have been significant and material changes in the circumstances of the applicant or the school. If you have evidence that this is the case you need to provide the details to the School Admissions Team outlining the significant material changes and providing evidence for consideration.
Can my child stay at their first school for an additional year?
Your child’s current headteacher will need to confirm that it is in your child’s best interests and that there are exceptional reasons for this to occur. You should be aware that any such arrangements are subject to review and your child may need to rejoin their chronological year group during their time at middle school.
Can my child transfer middle school early?
Only in very exceptional circumstances will it be greed that a child should transfer to middle school ahead of their normal age of transfer.
Where early transfer is requested, the application should be submitted by the 15 January 2024 along with supportive information which demonstrates why the child should be treated as an exception and not be placed in the correct cohort for their age.
For foundation, voluntary aided schools and academies, the decision will be made by the governing body. Applicants will be given a right of appeal to an independent panel should their request be refused.
Will my appeal be successful?
The decision of an independent appeal panel is final and binding on all parties.
In the event of your appeal being unsuccessful you may wish to contact the School Admissions Team who will be able to advise you on which schools have places available, in addition to the school place that you have already been offered.
Admissions During the School Year i.e. in Year Admissions
Staffordshire local authority does not co-ordinate in-year admission applications. Parents and carers can apply for a place for their child at any time to any school. The local authority collates information of where places may be available but applications should be made directly to the school or by using an in year application form which is available from the website. Schools must inform the local authority of all applications received and the outcome to allow the local authority to keep up to date figures of availability of places. If refusing an application, an admission authority (such as academies and aided schools, or the local authority for community and controlled schools) must inform the local authority and advise parents of their right to appeal against the refusal.
You may also wish to view the in year fair access protocol.
SENDIASS Staffordshire Family Partnership
Information, advice and support about education, health and social care issues for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
Special Educational Needs - Education Health and Care Plans (EHC)
Education, Health and Care plans have replaced the old ‘statement of special educational need’. Education, health and social care professionals work together with parents. You can address all your children’s needs in one process. The system is much easier and quicker. You now have the power to control personal budgets for your children with profound health and learning needs.
Contracted School Transport
View information about school transport in your area.
Public Transport
View information relating to public transport.
Ofsted School Inspection Reports
Ofsted is the inspectorate for children and learners in England.
School meals
Staffordshire Catering Service is the school meal provider for Staffordshire schools. You can find menus and see how we are promoting a healthy lifestyle to our young customers.
Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education
For information and advice about admissions to Church of England Voluntary Aided Catholic Primary Schools.
Archdiocese of Birmingham Diocesan Education Service
For information and advice about admissions to Voluntary Aided Catholic Primary Schools.
Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service
For information and advice about admissions to Voluntary Aided Catholic Primary Schools.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
For information on starting or joining a PTA.
Parental Responsibility
For admissions purposes, an individual can only apply for a school place if they have parental responsibility for the child named on the application form.
The Schools Guide
The Schools Guide gives you lots of information to help you choose a school.
Department for Education
The Department for Education is the government site for education. The site also provides parents with the facility to search schools in England and view school performance, characteristics and spend per pupil data. The Independent Schools Council exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, the development of talent at all levels of ability and the widening of opportunity for children from all backgrounds to achieve their potential. The Advisory Centre for Education is an independent charity which has been helping parents for over 40 years when problems arise with their children's education during compulsory school years.
Office of the Schools Adjudicator - The main functions of the office of the school adjudicator are as follows:
- to determine objections to admission arrangements
- to resolve disputes where there is local disagreement on statutory proposals for school reorganisation or on the transfer and disposal of non playing field land and assets.
- to decide on competitions for new schools where the local authority has entered the competition with its own proposals.
- to decide on requests to vary determined admission arrangements.
- to determine appeals from schools against a direction from the local authority to admit a particular pupil.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman looks at complaints about councils and some other authorities, including education admissions appeal panels.
Get the right school
Get the Right School is a public interest site focused on getting your child into the school of your choice.
Please note: Staffordshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external web sites.
Address for correspondence
Staffordshire County Council
School Admissions and Transport Service
2, Staffordshire Place
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
View our website
School admissions - admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk
School transport - transport.entitlement@staffordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 111 8007 Customer Contact Centre (select option for 'School Admissions and Transport')
A downloadable version of the information is available below.
Middle Schools - Information for parents booklet (1.1 MB)