Biddulph High School

2024/2025

2022/2023 & 2023/2024

Admission arrangements 2024/2025

Admissions Authority 

1. This document sets out the admission arrangements for Biddulph High School. 
2. Biddulph High School is part of the Potteries Educational Trust and converted to an academy on 1 September 2011. 
3. The Local Governing Body are the Admissions Authority for Biddulph High School.

Aims 

4. This policy is designed to ensure there is an open and fair admissions procedure for all applicants and to help guide parents and their children through the application process. The school’s admissions arrangements will not disadvantage unfairly, either directly or indirectly, any child from a particular social or racial group, or any child with a disability or special educational needs, and other school policies do not discourage parents from applying for a place for their child. 
5. This policy details the school’s arrangements for admissions and will apply to all admissions from September 2024 to July 2025. This includes in-year admissions within this period. 
6. The Local Governing Body will consult on the admissions arrangements at least once every seven years or earlier, if there are proposed changes to the admission arrangements which require consultation. 
7. This policy will be reviewed annually or updated in the following circumstances:
   • Changes in legislation and / or government guidance
   • As a result of any other significant change or event
   • As the result of a decision of the office of the Schools’ Adjudicator
   • Admissions arrangements will be set annually. This will happen even if there are no changes from previous years and a consultation is not required. 

Published Admissions Number 

8. Biddulph High School has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 211 for entry into Year 9 in September 2024. 
9. This number may be exceeded at the discretion of the Local Governing Body, but they are not obliged to accept pupils in excess of this number unless parents have won their case at an Independent Appeal Panel. 
10. Biddulph High School may accept pupils above their published admission number for any specific year without consultation, after notifying the Local Authority. 

How to apply for Year 9 place for September 2024 

11. The allocation of places at Biddulph High School will be co-ordinated by Staffordshire County Council. To apply you need to complete Staffordshire County Council’s admissions application process and all submissions must be sent directly to them by formal deadline of 31 October 2023. 

Co-ordinated scheme 2024-25 

12. Please refer to the Staffordshire Local Authority website for information regarding co-ordinated admissions to secondary schools 2024-25. 
13. Advice on the procedures including appeals should be taken from the Staffordshire Local Authority website. The Local Authority website states that parents have the right to express a preference for the school that they wish their child to attend however there is no guarantee of a place being offered at their preferred school. 

Oversubscription Criteria 

14. It is Biddulph High School’s policy to try and meet parents’ wishes where possible, however in some cases there may be more applications for Biddulph High School than there are places available 
15. In accordance with legislation, after applicants with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan* which names the school have been admitted, priority for any remaining places will be given to those children who meet the oversubscription criteria set out in the priority order below. If there is oversubscription within a criterion and all children within that criterion cannot be admitted within the PAN of 211, places will be allocated in accordance with the remaining criteria. For example, if all children within criterion 4 cannot be accommodated, children within this criterion will be prioritised in accordance with criterion 5 () and 6 (). 
16. Criteria are: 
    1. Children in care or children who ceased to be in care because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangement order or special guardianship order), including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted
    2. Children living within Biddulph High School’s catchment area**. 
    3. Children who have an elder sibling in attendance at Biddulph High School and who will still be attending the school at the proposed admission date*** 
    4. Children who attend James Bateman Middle School or Woodhouse Academy - defined as major contributory middle schools 
    5. Children of staff at Biddulph High School where the member of staff has been:
       • employed for two or more years at the time of application or
       • recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage 
    6. Children with exceptional medical or social needs who satisfy both of the following tests:

• Test 1: the child is distinguished from the great majority of applicants either on their own medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances. Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application). This report must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child’s health to attend Biddulph High School rather than any other school.

Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school and the individual child, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent/carer. It should be supported by a professional report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application), e.g. social worker. This report must clearly justify why it is better for the child to attend Biddulph High School rather than any other school.

and

• Test 2: the child would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend Biddulph High School. Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Applicants must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship at the time of application

7. Children arranged in order of priority according to how near their home addresses is to the main gate of the school on Conway Road, determined by a straight-line measurement as calculated by the local authority’s geographical information system. **** 

If we cannot distinguish between applicants using the criteria listed, such as in the case of children who live in the same block of flats, then the child or children who will be offered the available spaces will be randomly selected. This process will be independently verified. 

General Notes 

17. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide any supportive information required for the application to be assessed against the published admissions criteria, the Local Governing Body will not seek to obtain this information on behalf of the applicant. 
18. The home address is usually considered to be the child’s, along with their parent’s main and genuine principal place of residence at the time of the allocation of places, i.e. where they are normally and regularly living. If a child is resident with friends or relatives (for reasons other than legal guardianship), the friends or relatives’ address will not be considered for allocation. 
19. Where a child lives at two different addresses, the ‘home’ address will be determined as the address at which the child resides for the majority of school nights e.g. 3 out of 5 nights. School nights are Sunday night to Thursday night inclusive. In a case where the child spends an equal number of school nights at each address, then the address where the child benefit is paid will be used. Where no child benefit is claimed the address used to register the child with a doctor will be used. 
20. If a place 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. 
21. It is expected that parents will agree on school places before an application is made, and it may be necessary to request evidence from you to confirm that this is the case. The Local Governing Body is not in a position to intervene in disputes between parents over school applications and will request that these are resolved privately. 

Waiting lists for Normal Point of Entry 

22. If your child has not been offered a place, your child’s name will be automatically kept on the waiting list of Biddulph High School by the Local Authority and then transferred to Biddulph High School by 31 December of the year of admission. 
23. Waiting lists will be kept for the duration of the time at Biddulph High School for each cohort. If places become available after this date they will be offered according to the child at the top of the waiting list. 
24. The waiting list is held in accordance with the published admissions criteria and that a child’s position on a waiting list is not fixed and is subject to change during the year i.e. they can go up or down the list since each added child will require the list to ranked again in line with the oversubscription criteria. 
25. Inclusion on a school’s waiting list does not mean that a place will eventually become available at the preferred school. 
26. Children who are subject of a direction by a local authority to admit or who are allocated to a school in accordance with the fair access protocol will take precedence over those on the waiting list. 

Late applications 

27. Preferences received after the closing date will be considered alongside those applicants who applied on time wherever possible. Where it is not practical because places have already been allocated, or are shortly to be allocated, then late preferences will be considered only after those that were made before this point. 
28. A late application does not affect the right of appeal or the right to be placed on a school’s waiting list. 

Appeal Process 

29. You have the right of appeal under the School Standards & Framework Act 1998 and in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021, against the refusal of a place at any of the schools for which you have applied. If you wish to appeal, you must contact the school, within a few days of receiving the refusal, to obtain the procedure and the date by which an appeal must be received by them. The appeal will be conducted by an independent appeal panel. 

Fair Access Protocol 

30. The school complies with Staffordshire County Council’s Fair Access Protocol to allocate places to vulnerable and other children in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021. Admitting pupils under the protocol may require the school to admit above the planned admission number for the relevant year group. Students included in the Fair Access Protocol will take precedence over those held on the waiting list. 

Repeat applications 

31. Parents do not have the right to a second appeal in respect of the same school for the same academic year unless, in exceptional circumstances, the local authority has accepted a second application from the appellant because of a significant and material change in the circumstances of the parent, child or school but still refused admission. 

Admission Outside of the Normal Age Group

32. Parents may seek to apply for their child’s admission to school outside of their normal age group, for example if the child is exceptionally gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health. These parents will need to make an application alongside children applying at the normal age which should explain why it is in the child’s best interest to be admitted outside of their normal age which may include information such as professional evidence as to why this is the case and why an exception should be made in the case of the child. 
33. A decision as to whether this is an appropriate course of action will be made by the Local Governing Body who will take into account the circumstances of the case and views of the Headteacher. Parents do not have the right to insist that their child is admitted to a particular year group. 

In-Year Admissions Arrangements 

34. Parents or carers who are seeking their child to be admitted to Biddulph High School ‘in year’, may make an application directly to Biddulph High School using the appropriate application form. This application will be processed in line with the procedure outlined in the determined admission arrangements. 
35. Where a year group in the school is at the level of the published admission number (PAN) applicable to the age group, the child will be added to the waiting list (see paragraphs 22-26) in line with the oversubscription criteria (see paragraphs 14-16). 
36. Parents and carers need to be aware that in the case of transfers between local schools, any date set for joining the new school may be after the next term or half term holiday and those parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their child continues to receive appropriate education in the interim. 
37. Parents and carers moving to the area, or those who wish to move their child to the school, should contact the school directly and email us your proof of address:
    • We need 2 documents showing your current address. At least one of them needs to be a council tax bill, utility bill, solicitor’s letter upon completion (exchange of contracts not accepted) or a signed tenancy agreement.
    • If you're moving, we also need proof of your new address. This should be either a tenancy agreement showing the start date of the tenancy or a solicitor’s letter confirming the completion date.
    • We won't use the new address until we have proof that the child is living there permanently. If you're moving to a rented property, send us evidence that you've sold or are in the process of selling your current property, or that your current lease agreement has ended. 
38. Within exceptional circumstances the Local Governing Body may refuse to admit a child where there are places available, on the grounds that admission would cause prejudice to the provision of efficient education or efficient use of resources. 
39. Parents and carers whose application is turned down shall be advised that they are entitled to appeal. 

Withdrawing an offer or a place 

40. The offer of a place will not be withdrawn unless it has been offered in error, a parent has not responded within a reasonable period of time, or it is established that the offer was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application. Where the parent has not responded to the offer, the school will give the parent a further opportunity to respond and explain that the offer may be withdrawn if they do not. Where an offer is withdrawn on the basis of misleading information, the application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if an offer is refused. 

Post-16 admission criteria 

41. Biddulph High School sixth form has an agreed admission number of 120 students and will accordingly admit at least 120 students in the relevant age group each year if sufficient applications are received. Where the number of applications exceeds 120, applications will be considered in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 47. The Local Governing Body can agree to take above this number in exceptional circumstances. 
42. The school will provide for the admission or progression of students through internal admissions and for students from external admissions. 
43. Normally, both internal and external students wishing to enter the sixth form will be expected to have met the minimum academic entry requirements for their preferred options in the sixth form. 
44. In addition to the sixth form’s minimum academic entry requirements students will need to satisfy minimum entrance requirements to the courses for which they are applying. Students should refer to the course information booklet for the minimum grades for each subject. If either internal or external applicants fail to meet the minimum course requirements, they may be given the option of pursuing any alternative courses for which they do meet the minimum academic requirements. 
45. Biddulph High School sixth form has high expectations of behaviour, attendance and work ethic from all of its students. Failure to meet these expectations will be addressed thorough the sixth form’s behaviour policy. 

Procedures where the school is oversubscribed in admissions to Year 12 

46. When the Sixth Form is undersubscribed, all internal applicants meeting entry requirements specified in paragraphs 43 and 44 will be admitted. 
47. For external applicants, where the sixth form has applications in excess of the agreed admission number, places will be given to students that meet the oversubscription criteria set out in the priority order below. If there is oversubscription within a criterion and all children within that criterion cannot be admitted within the PAN of 120, places will be allocated in accordance with the remaining criteria. For example, if all children within criterion 3 cannot be accommodated, children within this criterion will be prioritised in accordance with criterion 4 () and 5 (). 
48. In accordance with legislation, after applicants with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan* which names the school have been admitted, priority for any remaining places will be given to those children who meet the oversubscription criteria set out in the priority order below. 
49. Criteria are: 
    1. Children in care or children who ceased to be in care because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangement order or special guardianship order). 
    2. Children living within Biddulph High School’s catchment area**. 
    3. Children who have an elder sibling in attendance at Biddulph High School and who will still be attending the school at the proposed admission date*** 
    4. Children of staff at Biddulph High School where the member of staff has been:
       • employed for two or more years at the time of application or
       • recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage 
    5. Children arranged in order of priority according to how near their home addresses is to the main gate of the school on Conway Road, determined by a straight-line measurement as calculated by the local authority’s geographical information system. **** 
    6. Children with exceptional medical or social needs. 

If we cannot distinguish between applicants using the criteria listed, such as in the case of children who live in the same block of flats, then the child or children who will be offered the available spaces will be randomly selected. This process will be independently verified. 

50. There will be a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for students refused admission.

Notes 

*An Education, Health and Care Plan is a plan made by the local authority under Section 37 of the Children and Families Act 2014 specifying the special education, health and social care provision required for that child. In accordance with legislation, children who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names Biddulph High School as being the most appropriate to meet the child’s needs must be admitted to that school. This will reduce the number of places available to other applicants. 

** Copies of the school catchment area are available to download from the from the Local Authority. 

*** (For admission purposes, a sibling is a child who lives at the same address and either: have one or both natural parents in common; are related by a parent’s marriage; are adopted or fostered by a common parent or are unrelated children who live at the same address, whose parents live as partners.) 

**** School uses a geographical information system (GIS) to calculate home to school distances in miles. The measurement is calculated using Ordnance Survey (OS) data from an applicant's home address to the main front gate of the school. The coordinates of an applicant's home address are determined and provided by the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and OS address point data.

Admission arrangement 2023/2024 & 2022/2023

General principles

1. This document sets out the admission arrangements for Biddulph High School.
2. For the purposes of this document, references to "the LA" shall be deemed references to Staffordshire Local Authority and references to "the Admissions Forum" to be to the Staffordshire LA Admissions Forum.
3. This policy may be amended in writing at any time by agreement between the Secretary of State and Biddulph High School.
4. The Academy will act in accordance with, and will ensure that the Independent Appeal Panel is trained to act in accordance with, all relevant provisions of the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department Education ("the Codes") as they apply at any given time to maintained schools and with equalities law and the law on admissions as they apply to maintained schools.
5. The Academy will take part in the Admissions Forum set up by the LA and have regard to its advice; and will participate in the co-ordinated admission arrangements operated by the LA and the local in-year fair access protocol.
6. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Secretary of State may direct the Academy to admit a named student to the Academy on application from a local authority. Before doing so the Secretary of State can seek advice from the Academy Adjudicator in reaching a decision.
7. The Academy shall ensure that parents/carers will have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel if they are dissatisfied with an admission decision of the Academy. The Independent Appeal Panel will be independent of the Academy.
8. The arrangements for appeals will comply with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department of Education as it applies to Academy schools. The determination of the appeal panel is binding on all parties.

Annual procedures for determing admission arrangements

Consultation

9. The Academy shall consult the following parties on the Academy’s proposed admission arrangements by 1 March in the determination year, i.e. the academic year which begins one year before the date of entry under consideration:

• The LA

• The admission forum for the LA

• Any other admission authorities for primary and secondary schools located within the relevant area for consultation set by the LA

• Any other Local Academy Governing Board for primary and secondary schools located within the relevant area for consultation

• Other admission authorities within an 8 kilometer (5 mile) radius of the Academy

• Community groups which the Academy considers relevant.

If any changes to the admission arrangements are proposed except for an increase in the admission number, the Academy will perform a public consultation. The consultation will be for a minimum of 8 weeks and will take place between 1 November and 1 March with a completion deadline date of 1 March.

Academy determination of admission arrangements

10. The Academy’s Local Academy Governing Board will determine the Academy’s admission arrangements by 15 April of the Determination Year and notify those consulted in accordance with paragraph 9 what has been determined within 14 days of that decision being made.

Representations about admission arrangements

11. Where the Local Academy Governing Board has determined the Academy’s admission arrangements and notified all those bodies that it has consulted in accordance with paragraph 9, if any of those bodies object to the Academy’s admission arrangements, including the proposed admissions number, they can make representations to the Secretary of State. Any representations must be made by 30 June in the Determination Year.

Secretary of State’s consent for changes to admissions arrangements

12. Where the admissions arrangements determined in a Determination Year in accordance with paragraph 9 are different to the admissions arrangements currently in existence for the Academy, the Academy shall (by 30 June in the Determination Year) apply to the Secretary of State for him to consent to such amended admissions arrangements.

Secretary of State’s power to accept, modify or reject admissions arrangements

13. Where the Secretary of State has received any representations made in accordance with paragraph 11, the Secretary of State must consult the Academy on such representations. Following such consultation, by 31 July in the Determination Year the Secretary of State may direct that the Academy amends the proposed admissions arrangements for the Academy. The Academy shall comply with any such direction.
14. Where the Secretary of State has received an application made in accordance with paragraph 12 to consent to any amended admissions arrangements, the Secretary of State must by 31 July in the Determination Year either approve the amended admissions arrangements or direct that the amended admissions arrangements are not implemented or must be modified. The Academy must comply with any such direction.

Publication of admission arrangements

15. The Academy shall each Determination Year publish the Academy’s agreed admission arrangements by:
    1. Copies being sent to the persons consulted in paragraph 9
    2. Copies being sent to primary and secondary schools in the LA’s area
    3. Copies being sent to the offices of the LA
    4. Copies being made available without charge on request from the Academy
    5. Publishing the Admissions Policy on the Academy website.
16. The published admissions arrangements will set out:
    1. The name and address of the Academy and contact details
    2. A summary of the admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria and any arrangements for post-16 admission
    3. Numbers of places and applications for those places in the previous year; and
    4. Arrangements for hearing appeals.

Proposed changes to admission arrangements by the Academy after arrangements have been published

17. Subject to paragraph 18, once the Academy’s admission arrangements have been determined for a particular year and published, the Academy will not make any change to such arrangements unless there is a major change of circumstances and the following procedures have been followed:
    1. The Academy has consulted those who were consulted under paragraph 9 above on the proposed variation
    2. Following such consultation, the Academy has applied to the Secretary of State to approve the change setting out:
       1. the proposed change
       2. reasons for wishing to make such change
       3. any comments or objections to the proposal from those consulted; and
    3. Following such application, the Secretary of State has provided his consent to the proposed variation.
18. The Academy shall, following the prior written agreement or direction of the Secretary of State, vary the Academy’s admissions arrangements where such changes are necessary to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of admissions law or the Codes as they apply to maintained schools. Such changes may be made at any time.
19. Any changes to the Academy’s admission arrangements brought about through the variation processes in paragraphs 17 or 18 above must be published within the Academy’s prospectus and website and be communicated within 7 days to those persons who must be consulted under paragraph 9.
20. The Academy must make arrangements for a parent/carer of a child who has attained the age of two but is not above compulsory school age and who has been, is or will be eligible to apply to be admitted to the Academy to make representations to the Secretary of State that any aspect of the Academy’s admission arrangements does not comply with the relevant provisions of admissions law or the Codes as they apply to Academy schools.
21. Where a representation is made in accordance with paragraph 20, the Secretary of State may, after consulting the Academy, direct that the Academy modify its arrangements for the admission of students to the Academy so that they comply with the relevant provisions of admissions law and the Codes as they apply to maintained schools. The Academy must comply with any such direction.
22. Records of applications and admissions to the Academy shall be kept by the Academy for a minimum period of ten years and shall be open for inspection by the Secretary of State.

Process of application

23. Applications for the Academy will be made on the common application form of the LA in which the applicant resides. The Academy will use the following timetable for applications each year (exact dates within the months may vary from year to year) which will fit in with the common timetable agreed by the Admissions Forum:
    1. April - June: The Academy will publish its arrangements for admission (including over-subscription criteria) for the following September. This will include details of open days and/or evenings and other opportunities for prospective students and their parents/carers to visit the Academy. It will refer to Staffordshire LA, including use of the Common Application Form of the LA in which the applicant resides and the closing date for applications within the LA arrangements and the Staffordshire Schools Admission System. The Academy will also provide information to the LA for inclusion in the composite prospectus, as required.
    2. September - October: The Academy will provide opportunities for parents/carers to visit the Academy.
    3. October: The closing date for admissions applications in accordance with the LA arrangements. If parents/carers wish to apply to Biddulph High School, they must fill and return the Common Application Form (available from the local LA to whom it should be returned).
    4. November: The LA passes list of applicants for the Academy to the Academy.
    5. By January: Applications considered by the Academy and ranked priority list provided to the LA. The LA, in liaison with other admission authorities both in the LA area and in the area close to the Academy but outside the LA area, will then secure a coordinated approach to admission for parents/carers and students via the Staffordshire Schools Admission System.
    6. March: Offers of places notified in writing to parents/carers by the LA on behalf of the Academy on or about 1 March.

Consideration of applications

24. The Academy’s Local Academy Governing Board will allocate places on the basis of their Admission Policy (paragraphs 26 -37). Decisions to offer or refuse admission will be made by the whole Board. The Academy will consider all applications for places.
25. The Academy will not refuse admission on the basis of poor behaviour elsewhere unless they have been permanently excluded from two or more other schools. These schools will include exclusion from the feeder Middle Schools. The ability to refuse admissions runs for a period of two years since the last exclusion. Exclusions which took place before the child concerned reached compulsory school age do not count for this purpose, also children who have been re-instated following a permanent exclusion (a review panel has quashed a decision of a Board of Governors not to reinstate a student), and children with special educational needs statements. The Academy will consult and co-ordinate its arrangements, including over the rapid re-integration of children including those who have been excluded from other schools and who arrive in an area after the normal admissions round, in accordance with local in-year fair access protocols for securing schools for unplaced children.

Admission policy

Admissions numbers at Year 9

26. Admission numbers at year 9

The Academy has an agreed admission number of 211 students and will accordingly admit at least 211 students in the relevant age group each year if sufficient applications are received. Where the number of applications exceeds 211, applications will be considered in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 28.

b) The Academy may set a higher admission number as its published admission number for any specific year after first notifying the LA. Before setting an admission number lower than its agreed admission number, the Academy will consult those listed at paragraph 9 above.

c) Students will not be admitted above the published admission number unless there are exceptional circumstances.

27. The school will follow the Admissions Policy for schools of the Staffordshire Education Authority.

Oversubscription criteria

28. If the total number of preferences for admission to the school exceeds the school’s Published Admission Number (PAN), the following order of priority is used to allocate the available places, (if an applicant meets the oversubscription criteria of more than one preferred school then they will be offered a place at the school ranked highest on the application form):

a) Children in care and children who ceased to be in care because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order), including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.

b) Students living within the catchment area of the preferred school

c) Students who have an elder sibling in attendance at the preferred school Biddulph High School and who will still be attending the school at the proposed admission date;

(For admission purposes, a brother or sister is a child who lives at the same address and either: have one or both natural parents/carers in common; are related by a parent/carer’s marriage; are adopted or fostered by a common parent/carer or are unrelated children who live at the same address, whose parents/carers live as partners). The Academy reserves the right to ask for proof of relationship.

d) Students who satisfy both of the following tests:

Test 1:

They are distinguished from the great majority of applicants either on medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances. Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report, (obtained by the parents/carers). It must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child to attend the preferred school rather than any other school.

Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school Biddulph High School, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent. They should be supported by a professional report, e.g. social worker, justifying why it is better for the child to attend the preferred Biddulph High School rather than any other school.

Test 2:

They would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend the preferred Biddulph High School. Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Parents/carers must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship.

e) Students who attend certain primary Woodhouse Middle School or James Bateman Junior High School defined as major contributory primary Middle schools. (See Additional Notes below.)

f) Other students arranged in order of priority according to how near their home addresses are to the main gate of the school, determined by a straight-line measurement as calculated by the Local Authority’s Geographical Information System for Biddulph High School. Where it is not possible to accommodate all students applying for places within a particular category then Biddulph High School will allocate the available places in accordance with the remaining criteria. If for instance, all the catchment area children cannot be accommodated at a school, children who are catchment area children and satisfy category (c) will receive offers of a place, followed by children who live in the catchment area and satisfy category (d), etc.

Since 2014, if Biddulph High School is named on a statement of EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plans) the child will be admitted and this will reduce the number of places available for admission.

Additional Notes

29. There is no charge or cost related to the admission of a child to a school. Admissions are administered through a coordinated admission scheme and preferences for community, controlled, aided and foundation schools will be processed centrally by the Local Authority’s School Admissions and Transport Service. Each student will receive one offer of a place at a maintained school.

30. In accordance with legislation, children who have a statutory statement of special educational need that names in particular Biddulph High School as being the most appropriate to met the child’s needs will be admitted to Biddulph High School. This may reduce the amount of places available to other applicants. Relevant Children in Care means children who are in the care of a local authority in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989(b) and who (a) are looked after at the time an application is made and (b) in relation to whom the local authority has confirmed that the children will still be looked after at the time when the child will be admitted to Biddulph High School.

31. Biddulph High School uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to calculate home to school distances in miles. The measurement is calculated using Ordnance Survey (OS) data from an applicant's home address to the main front gate of the school. The coordinates of an applicant's home address are determined using the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and OS Address Point data

32. The home address is considered to be the child’s along with their parent/carer’s main and genuine principal place of residence at the time of the allocation of places i.e. where they are normally and regularly living. If a child is resident with friends or relatives (for reasons other than legal guardianship) the friend’s or relative’s address will not be considered for allocation purposes.

33. Where parents/carers have shared responsibility for a child, and the child lives with both parents/carers for part of the school week then the home address will be determined as the address where the child lives for the majority of the school week (i.e. 3 out of the 5 school nights available).

34. Parents/carers will be required to provide documentary evidence to support the address they wish to be considered for allocation purposes. If there are a limited number of spaces available and we cannot distinguish between applicants using the criteria listed, such as in the case of children who live in the same block of flats or are the result of a multiple birth, then the child or children who will be offered the available spaces will be randomly selected by drawing lots.

Operation of waiting lists

35. Subject to any provisions regarding waiting lists in the LA’s co-ordinated admission scheme, the Academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year the Academy receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate until the end of the school year.

36. Between March and September, the academy will operate a waiting list of applicants for entry in Year 9.

37. Children’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria set out in paragraph 28-32, [or for post-16 paragraph 33-37] above. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria.

Arrangements for admitting students to other year groups, including to replace any students who have left the Academy and in-year admissions

38. In-year admissions should be made directly to the Academy’s Local Academy Governing Board who will determine whether a place is available in the requested year group. The Academy will notify the Local Authority of the outcome of the application. If an application is made for a student to be admitted to the Academy and the required year group is below the level of the published admission number applicable to the age group, the student will be accepted subject to the provisions of paragraph 25. However, within the exceptional circumstances the Academy may refuse to admit a child where there are places available on the grounds that admission would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources:

a) In any year group when a child has been permanently excluded on two or more occasions. The ability to refuse admissions runs for a period of two years since the last exclusion. Exclusions which took place before the child concerned reached compulsory school age do not count for this purpose, also children who have been re-instated following a permanent exclusion (a review panel has quashed a decision of a Local Academy Governing Board not to reinstate a student), and children with special educational needs statements.

b) Or outside the normal admission round when the child is challenging, the academy already has a high proportion of challenging students on roll If more applications are received than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria in paragraph 28-32, [or for post-16 paragraph 33-37] above shall apply. Parents/carers whose application is turned down shall be advised that they are entitled to appeal.

39. Where a year group in the Academy is at the level of the published admission number applicable to the age group, the Academy will operate a waiting list until the end of the school year for those students who have applied for a place and been refused.

40. There will be a right of appeal to the Appeals Panel for unsuccessful applicants.

Withdrawing an offer or a place

41. An offer or a place will not be withdrawn unless it has been offered in error, a parent/carer has not responded within a reasonable period of time, or it is established that the offer was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application. Where the parent/carer has not responded to the offer, the Academy will give the parent/carer a further opportunity to respond and explain that the offer may be withdrawn if they do not. Where an offer is withdrawn on the basis of misleading information, the application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if an offer is refused. 

Admission of children outside their normal age group

42. Parents/carers may seek to apply for their child’s admission to school outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is exceptionally gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health.

43. These parents/carers will need to make an application alongside children applying at the normal age which should explain why it is in the child’s best interest to be admitted outside of their normal age which may include information such as professional evidence as to why this is the case and why an exception should be made in the case of the child. A decision as to whether this is an appropriate course of action will be made by the Local Academy Governing Board who will take into account the circumstances of the case and views of the Headteacher. Parents/carers do not have the right to insist that their child is admitted to a particular year group. 

Children of UK service personnel (UK Armed Forces)

44. For children of service personnel with a confirmed posting to their area, or crown servants returning from overseas to live in that area, the Academy will allocate a place in advance of the family arriving provided that the application is accompanied by an official letter that declares a relocation date and a Unit postal address or quartering area address when considering the application their oversubscription criteria (paragraph 28-32 and 36-37).

Fair Access Protocol

45. The Academy participates in the LA’s Fair Access Protocol which ensures that unplaced children are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. The Academy may refuse to admit a child with challenging behavior outside the normal admissions round where there are places available on the grounds that admission would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources. It will refer the case to the LA for action.

46. The following list of children covered under the Fair Access Protocol will include the following:

i) Children from the criminal justice system or Pupil Referral Units

ii) Children who have been out of education for two months or more

iii) Children of Gypsies, Roma, Travelers, refugees and asylum seekers

iv) Children who are homeless

v) Children with unsupportive family backgrounds for whom a place has not been sought

vi) Children who are carers

vii) Children with special educational needs

Arrangements for appeals

47. Parents/carers will have the right of appeal to an independent Appeal Panel if they are dissatisfied with an admission decision of the Academy. The Appeal Panel will be independent of the Academy and will comprise of a minimum of three members who will include at least one independent person, who has no professional experience of education or personal experience of the Academy, known as a lay member; and at least one independent person with experience in education.

48. Parents/carers have the right to attend the Appeal Panel meeting in person and to make an oral representation - that is to clarify or supplement their written appeal. The parent/carer may be accompanied by a friend, adviser or be represented. Parents/carers may also bring an interpreter. The Academy may also be represented at the Appeal Panel meeting.

49. The arrangements for appeals will be in line with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

50. The letter sent to parents/carers notifying them of the outcome of the admissions process and the fact that they have been unsuccessful will provide the parent/carer with a written statement detailing the reason(s) why it has not been possible to allow the child to attend the Academy and will explain the parent/carer’s right of appeal.

51. Parents/carers wishing to appeal against an admission decision by the Academy should write to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at the address given in the admission decision letter from the Academy setting out their grounds for appeal. Other documentation may be submitted in support of an appeal and should be lodged with the Clerk to the Appeal Panel

Appeals – In-Year Admissions

52. The deadline for logging appeals and providing evidence to support that appeal is 20 days following the refusal date of notification that the application was unsuccessful.

Appeals – Normal round of Admissions

53. The deadline for logging appeals and providing evidence to support that appeal is 28 days following the refusal date of notification that the application was unsuccessful.

54. Any materials presented by the Academy to the Clerk will, in general, be sent in advance to the parents/carers and any materials presented by the parents/carers will be sent in advance to the Academy. The basic principle followed is that all information presented to the Clerk as part of the appeals process is available to all parties to the appeal.

55. Parents/carers will be given 14 days’ notice of the appeal hearing, unless they agree to a shorter period of notice. Where a parent/carer fails to attend an Appeal Panel hearing for which 14 days’ notice has been given (or a shorter period if the parents/carers have given their prior agreement), the Clerk will offer a second hearing and provide 14 days’ notice of that appeal hearing, unless the parents/carers agree to a shorter period of notice. In offering a second hearing, the Clerk will advise the parents/carers in writing that if they do not attend the second hearing, their written appeal will be considered by the Appeal Panel in their absence.

56. The Clerk to the Appeal Panel will, if possible, inform parents/carers of the Appeal Panel’s decision within 2 working days of the end of the hearing. The parent/carer will also be informed of the outcome in writing by the panel within 5 days of the date of the hearing. In the case of unsuccessful appeals, the Appeal Panel will give the parents/carers a written statement setting out its reason for not upholding the appeal.

Admission arrangements 2020/2021

General principles

1. This document sets out the admission arrangements for Biddulph High School.

2. For the purposes of this document, references to “the LA” shall be deemed references to Staffordshire Local Authority and references to “the Admissions Forum” to be to the Staffordshire LA Admissions Forum.

3. This policy may be amended in writing at any time by agreement between the Secretary of State and Biddulph High School.

4. The Academy will act in accordance with, and will ensure that the Independent Appeal Panel is trained to act in accordance with, all relevant provisions of the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department Education (“the Codes”) as they apply at any given time to maintained schools and with equalities law and the law on admissions as they apply to maintained schools.

5. The Academy will take part in the Admissions Forum set up by the LA and have regard to its advice; and will participate in the co-ordinated admission arrangements operated by the LA and the local in-year fair access protocol.

6. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Secretary of State may direct the Academy to admit a named student to the Academy on application from a local authority. Before doing so the Secretary of State can seek advice from the Academy Adjudicator in reaching a decision.

7. The Academy shall ensure that parents will have the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel if they are dissatisfied with an admission decision of the Academy. The Independent Appeal Panel will be independent of the Academy.

8. The arrangements for appeals will comply with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department of Education as it applies to Academy schools. The determination of the appeal panel is binding on all parties.

Annual Procedures For Determining Admission Arrangements Consultation

9. The Academy shall consult the following parties on the Academy’s proposed admission arrangements by 1 March in the determination year, i.e. the academic year which begins one year before the date of entry under consideration:

   • The LA
     
     
   • The admission forum for the LA
     
     
   • Any other admission authorities for primary and secondary schools located within the relevant area for consultation set by the LA
     
     
   • Any other Board of Trustees for primary and secondary schools located within the relevant area for consultation
     
     
   • Other admission authorities within an 8 kilometer (5 mile) radius of the Academy
     
     
   • Community groups which the Academy considers relevant
   
   If any changes to the admission arrangements are proposed except for an increase in the admission number, the Academy will perform a public consultation. The consultation will be for a minimum of 8 weeks and will take place between 1 November and 1 March with a completion deadline date of 1 March.

Academy determination of admission arrangements

10. The Academy’s Board of Trustees will determine the Academy’s admission arrangements by 15 April of the Determination Year and notify those consulted in accordance with paragraph 9 what has been determined within 14 days of that decision being made.

Representations about admission arrangements

11. Where the Board of Trustees has determined the Academy’s admission arrangements and notified all those bodies that it has consulted in accordance with paragraph 9, if any of those bodies object to the Academy’s admission arrangements, including the proposed admissions number, they can make representations to the Secretary of State. Any representations must be made by 30 June in the Determination Year.

Secretary of State’s consent for changes to admissions arrangements

12. Where the admissions arrangements determined in a Determination Year in accordance with paragraph 9 are different to the admissions arrangements currently in existence for the Academy, the Academy shall (by 30 June in the Determination Year) apply to the Secretary of State for him to consent to such amended admissions arrangements.

Secretary of State’s power to accept, modify or reject admissions arrangements

13. Where the Secretary of State has received any representations made in accordance with paragraph 11, the Secretary of State must consult the Academy on such representations. Following such consultation, by 31 July in the Determination Year the Secretary of State may direct that the Academy amends the proposed admissions arrangements for the Academy. The Academy shall comply with any such direction.

14. Where the Secretary of State has received an application made in accordance with paragraph 12 to consent to any amended admissions arrangements, the Secretary of State must by 31 July in the Determination Year either approve the amended admissions arrangements or direct that the amended admissions arrangements are not implemented or must be modified. The Academy must comply with any such direction.

Publication of admission arrangements

15. The Academy shall each Determination Year publish the Academy’s agreed admission arrangements by:
    
    

    • a) Copies being sent to the persons consulted in paragraph 9
      
      
    • b) Copies being sent to primary and secondary schools in the LA’s area
      
      
    • c) Copies being sent to the offices of the LA
      
      
    • d) Copies being made available without charge on request from the Academy
      
      
    • e) Publishing the Admissions Policy on the Academy website.
      
      

16. The published admissions arrangements will set out:
    
    
    

    • a) The name and address of the Academy and contact details
      
      
    • b) A summary of the admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria and any arrangements for post-16 admission
      
      
    • c) Numbers of places and applications for those places in the previous year; and
      
      
    • d) Arrangements for hearing appeals.
      
      

17. Subject to paragraph 18, once the Academy’s admission arrangements have been determined for a particular year and published, the Academy will not make any change to such arrangements unless there is a major change of circumstances and the following procedures have been followed:
    
    The Academy shall, following the prior written agreement or direction of the Secretary of State, vary the Academy’s admissions arrangements where such changes are necessary to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of admissions law or the Codes as they apply to maintained schools. Such changes may be made at any time.

    • The Academy has consulted those who were consulted under paragraph 9 above on the proposed variation
      
      
    • Following such consultation, the Academy has applied to the Secretary of State to approve the change setting out:
      
      
      1. the proposed change
         
         
      2. reasons for wishing to make such change
         
         
      3. any comments or objections to the proposal from those consulted; and
         
         
    • Following such application, the Secretary of State has provided his consent to the proposed variation.
      
      

19. Any changes to the Academy’s admission arrangements brought about through the variation processes in paragraphs 17 or 18 above must be published within the Academy’s prospectus and website and be communicated within 7 days to those persons who must be consulted under paragraph 9.

20. The Academy must make arrangements for a parent of a child who has attained the age of two but is not above compulsory school age and who has been, is or will be eligible to apply to be admitted to the Academy to make representations to the Secretary of State that any aspect of the Academy’s admission arrangements does not comply with the relevant provisions of admissions law or the Codes as they apply to Academy schools.

21. Where a representation is made in accordance with paragraph 20, the Secretary of State may, after consulting the Academy, direct that the Academy modify its arrangements for the admission of students to the Academy so that they comply with the relevant provisions of admissions law and the Codes as they apply to maintained schools. The Academy must comply with any such direction.

22. Records of applications and admissions to the Academy shall be kept by the Academy for a minimum period of ten years and shall be open for inspection by the Secretary of State.

Process of application

23. Applications for the Academy will be made on the common application form of the LA in which the applicant resides. The Academy will use the following timetable for applications each year (exact dates within the months may vary from year to year) which will fit in with the common timetable agreed by the Admissions Forum:
    
    

    • a) April - June: The Academy will publish its arrangements for admission (including over-subscription criteria) for the following September. This will include details of open days and/or evenings and other opportunities for prospective students and their parents to visit the Academy. It will refer to Staffordshire LA, including use of the Common Application Form of the LA in which the applicant resides and the closing date for applications within the LA arrangements and the Staffordshire Schools Admission System. The Academy will also provide information to the LA for inclusion in the composite prospectus, as required.
      
      
    • b) September - October: The Academy will provide opportunities for parents to visit the Academy.
      
      
    • c) October: The closing date for admissions applications in accordance with the LA arrangements. If parents wish to apply to Biddulph High School, they must fill and return the Common Application Form (available from the local LA to whom it should be returned).
      
      
    • d) November: The LA passes list of applicants for the Academy to the Academy.
      
      
    • e) By January: Applications considered by the Academy and ranked priority list provided to the LA. The LA, in liaison with other admission authorities both in the LA area and in the area close to the Academy but outside the LA area, will then secure a coordinated approach to admission for parents and students via the Staffordshire Schools Admission System.
      
      
    • f) March: Offers of places notified in writing to parents by the LA on behalf of the Academy on or about 1 March.

Consideration of applications

24. The Academy’s Board of Trustees will allocate places on the basis of their Admission Policy (paragraphs 26 -37). Decisions to offer or refuse admission will be made by the whole Board of Trustees. The Academy will consider all applications for places.

25. The Academy will not refuse admission on the basis of poor behaviour elsewhere unless they have been permanently excluded from two or more other schools. These schools will include exclusion from the feeder Middle Schools. The ability to refuse admissions runs for a period of two years since the last exclusion. Exclusions which took place before the child concerned reached compulsory school age do not count for this purpose, also children who have been re-instated following a permanent exclusion

    (a review panel has quashed a decision of a Board of Trustees not to reinstate a student), and children with special educational needs statements.

    The Academy will consult and co-ordinate its arrangements, including over the rapid re-integration of children including those who have been excluded from other schools and who arrive in an area after the normal admissions round, in accordance with local in-year fair access protocols for securing schools for unplaced children.

Admissions Policy

Admissions numbers at Year 9

26. Admission numbers at Year 9
    1. The Academy has an agreed admission number of 211 students and will accordingly admit at least 211 students in the relevant age group each year if sufficient applications are received. Where the number of applications exceeds 211, applications will be considered in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 28.
    2. The Academy may set a higher admission number as its published admission number for any specific year after first notifying the LA. Before setting an admission number lower than its agreed admission number, the Academy will consult those listed at paragraph 9 above.
    3. Students will not be admitted above the published admission number unless there are exceptional circumstances.
27. The school will follow the Admissions Policy for schools of the Staffordshire Education Authority. This is available online on our website.

Oversubscription criteria

28. If the total number of preferences for admission to the school exceeds the school’s Published Admission Number (PAN), the following order of priority is used to allocate the available places, (if an applicant meets the oversubscription criteria of more than one preferred school then they will be offered a place at the school ranked highest on the application form)
    1. Relevant Children in Care. This includes previous children in care who were adopted (or subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been in care
    2. Students living within the catchment area of the preferred school
    3. Students who have an elder sibling in attendance at the preferred school Biddulph High School and who will still be attending the school at the proposed admission date; (For admission purposes, a brother or sister is a child who lives at the same address and either: have one or both natural parents in common; are related by a parent’s marriage; are adopted or fostered by a common parent or are unrelated children who live at the same address, whose parents live as partners). The Academy reserves the right to ask for proof of relationship.
    4. Students who satisfy both of the following tests:
       • Test 1: they are distinguished from the great majority of applicants either on medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances. Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report, (obtained by the parents). It must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child to attend the preferred school rather than any other school.Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school Biddulph High School, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent. They should be supported by a professional report, e.g. social worker, justifying why it is better for the child to attend the preferred Biddulph High School rather than any other school.
       • Test 2: They would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend the preferred Biddulph High School. Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Parents must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship.
    5. Students who attend certain primary Woodhouse Middle School or James Bateman Junior High School defined as major contributory primary Middle schools. (See Additional Notes below.)
    6. Other students arranged in order of priority according to how near their home addresses are to the main gate of the school, determined by a straight-line measurement as calculated by the Local Authority’s Geographical Information System for Biddulph High School. Where it is not possible to accommodate all students applying for places within a particular category then the Directorate Biddulph High School will allocate the available places in accordance with the remaining criteria. If for instance, all the catchment area children cannot be accommodated at a school, children who are catchment area children and satisfy category (c) will receive offers of a place, followed by children who live in the catchment area and satisfy category (d), 

Since 2014, if Biddulph High School is named on a statement of EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plans) the child will be admitted and this will reduce the number of places available for admission.

Additional Notes

29. There is no charge or cost related to the admission of a child to a school. Admissions are administered through a coordinated admission scheme and preferences for community, controlled, aided and foundation schools will be processed centrally by the Local Authority’s School Admissions and Transport Service. Each student will receive one offer of a place at a maintained school.

    In accordance with legislation, children who have a statutory statement of special educational need that names in particular Biddulph High School as being the most appropriate to met the child’s needs will be admitted to Biddulph High School. This may reduce the amount of places available to other applicants. Relevant Children in Care means children who are in the care of a local authority in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989(b) and who (a) are looked after at the time an application is made and (b) in relation to whom the local authority has confirmed that the children will still be looked after at the time when the child will be admitted to Biddulph High School.

30. Biddulph High School uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to calculate home to school distances in miles. The measurement is calculated using Ordnance Survey (OS) data from an applicant's home address to the main front gate of the school. The coordinates of an applicant's home address are determined using the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and OS Address Point data.

31. The home address is considered to be the child’s along with their parent’s main and genuine principal place of residence at the time of the allocation of places i.e. where they are normally and regularly living. If a child is resident with friends or relatives (for reasons other than legal guardianship) the friends or relative’s address will not be considered for allocation purposes.

    Where parents have shared responsibility for a child, and the child lives with both parents for part of the school week then the home address will be determined as the address where the child lives for the majority of the school week (i.e. 3 out of the 5 school nights available).

32. Parents will be required to provide documentary evidence to support the address they wish to be considered for allocation purposes. If there are a limited number of spaces available and we cannot distinguish between applicants using the criteria listed, such as in the case of children who live in the same block of flats or are the result of a multiple birth, then the child or children who will be offered the available spaces will be randomly selected by drawing lots.

Post-16 admission criteria

The Academy has an agreed admission number of 120 students and will accordingly admit at least 120 students in the relevant age group each year if sufficient applications are received. Where the number of applications exceeds 120, applications will be considered in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 36. The Trustees can agree to take above this number in exceptional circumstances.

33. The Academy will provide for the admission or progression of students through internal admissions and for students from external admissions.

34. Normally, both internal and external students wishing to enter the sixth form will be expected to have met the minimum academic entry requirements for their preferred options in the sixth form.

35. In addition to the sixth form’s minimum academic entry requirements students will need to satisfy minimum entrance requirements to the courses for which they are applying. In addition, students should refer to the courses information booklet for the minimum grades for each subject. If either internal or external applicants fail to meet the minimum course requirements, they may be given the option of pursuing any alternative courses for which they do meet the minimum academic requirements.

    The Academy reserves the right to refuse admission to applicants who have previously been excluded from the Academy, who have a previous history of unacceptable attendance i.e. has fallen below 90% or who have a record of poor behaviour. These academic entry requirements form part of the admission arrangements and so will be consulted upon and published in the academy’s prospectus and in the LA composite admissions prospectus.

Procedures where the Academy is oversubscribed in admissions to Year 12

36. When the Sixth Form is undersubscribed, all applicants meeting entry requirements specified in paragraphs 34 and 35 will be admitted. Where the number of students applying for places exceeds the maximum capacity of the school applications will be considered for Year 12 against the criteria set out below. After the admission of students with Statements of Special Educational Needs where the Academy is named on the Statement, the criteria will be applied in the following order:
    
     There will be a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for internal students refused transfer and external applicants refused admission.

    1. Admission of children in public care (looked after children). This includes previous children in care who were adopted (or subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been in care.
       
       
    2. Siblings of students currently attending the Academy and who will continue to do so on the date of admission; (For admission purposes, a brother or sister is a child who lives at the same address and either: have one or both natural parents in common; are related by a parent’s marriage; are adopted or fostered by a common parent or are unrelated children who live at the same address, whose parents live as partners). The Academy reserves the right to ask for proof of relationship.
       
       
    3. Specific medical needs, social needs and special needs where the application is supported by written specific professional advice as to why admission to the Academy is necessary. The decision as to whether the Academy is uniquely placed to meet the stated need of the applicant will be determined by a panel appointed by the Board of Trustees. The panel will give special consideration to children with a visual impairment.
       
       
    4. Nearest straight-line distance to the Academy. The distance which determines how close the student lives to the Academy is the shortest straight-line distance between the door to the student’s permanent address and the entrance to the Academy main building.
    
    A child’s permanent address is the place of normal residence during term time. Where parents have shared responsibility for a child, and the child lives with both parents for part of the school week then the home address will be determined as the address where the child lives for the majority of the school week (i.e. 3 out of the 5 school nights available). Proof of residence can be requested at any time throughout the admissions process. If false or misleading information is used to gain entry to the Academy, the offer of a place will be withdrawn and an appeal offered.

Operation of waiting lists

38. Subject to any provisions regarding waiting lists in the LA’s co-ordinated admission scheme, the Academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year the Academy receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate until the end of the school year.

39. Between March and September, the academy will operate a waiting list of applicants for entry in Year 9.

40. Children’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria set out in paragraph 28-32, [or for post-16 paragraph 33-37] above. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria.

Arrangements for admitting students to other year groups, including to replace any students who have left the Academy and in year admissions

41. In year admissions should be made directly to the Academy’s Board of Trustees who will determine whether a place is available in the requested year group. The Academy will notify the Local Authority of the outcome of the application. If an application is made for a student to be admitted to the Academy and the required year group is below the level of the published admission number applicable to the age group, the student will be accepted subject to the provisions of paragraph 25. However, within the exceptional circumstances the Academy may refuse to admit a child where there are places available on the grounds that admission would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources:
    
    Where a year group in the Academy is at the level of the published admission number applicable to the age group, the Academy will operate a waiting list until the end of the school year for those students who have applied for a place and been refused.

    1. In any year group when a child has been permanently excluded on two or more occasions. The ability to refuse admissions runs for a period of two years since the last exclusion. Exclusions which took place before the child concerned reached compulsory school age do not count for this purpose, also children who have been re-instated following a permanent exclusion (a review panel has quashed a decision of a Board of Trustees not to reinstate a student), and children with special educational needs statements.
       
       
    2. Or outside the normal admission round when the child is challenging, the academy already has a high proportion of challenging students on roll If more applications are received than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria in paragraph 28-32, [or for post-16 paragraph 33-37] above shall apply. Parents whose application is turned down shall be advised that they are entitled to appeal.

42. There will be a right of appeal to the Appeals Panel for unsuccessful applicants.

Withdrawing an offer or a place

44. An offer or a place will not be withdrawn unless it has been offered in error, a parent has not responded within a reasonable period of time, or it is established that the offer was obtained through a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application. Where the parent has not responded to the offer, the Academy will give the parent a further opportunity to respond and explain that the offer may be withdrawn if they do not. Where an offer is withdrawn on the basis of misleading information, the application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if an offer is refused.

Admission of children outside their normal age group

45. Parents may seek to apply for their child’s admission to school outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is exceptionally gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health.

    These parents will need to make an application alongside children applying at the normal age which should explain why it is in the child’s best interest to be admitted outside of their normal age which may include information such as professional evidence as to why this is the case and why an exception should be made in the case of the child. A decision as to whether this is an appropriate course of action will be made by the Board of Trustees who will take into account the circumstances of the case and views of the Headteacher. Parents do not have the right to insist that their child is admitted to a particular year group.

Children of UK service personnel (UK Armed Forces)

46. For children of service personnel with a confirmed posting to their area, or crown servants returning from overseas to live in that area, the Academy will allocate a place in advance of the family arriving provided that the application is accompanied by an official letter that declares a relocation date and a Unit postal address or quartering area address when considering the application their oversubscription criteria (paragraph 28-32 and 36-37).

Fair Access Protocol

47. The Academy participates in the LA’s Fair Access Protocol which ensures that unplaced children are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. The Academy may refuse to admit a child with challenging behavior outside the normal admissions round where there are places available on the grounds that admission would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources. It will refer the case to the LA for action.

48. The following list of children covered under the Fair Access Protocol will include the following:
    
    

    1. Children from the criminal justice system or Pupil Referral Units
       
       
    2. Children who have been out of education for two months or more
       
       
    3. Children of Gypsies, Roma, Travelers, refugees and asylum seekers
       
       
    4. Children who are homeless
       
       
    5. Children with unsupportive family backgrounds for whom a place has not been sought
       
       
    6. Children who are carers
       
       
    7. Children with special educational needs

Arrangements for appeals

49. Parents will have the right of appeal to an independent Appeal Panel if they are dissatisfied with an admission decision of the Academy. The Appeal Panel will be independent of the Academy and will comprise of a minimum of three members who will include at least one independent person, who has no professional experience of education or personal experience of the Academy, known as a lay member; and at least one independent person with experience in education.

50. Parents have the right to attend the Appeal Panel meeting in person and to make an oral representation - that is to clarify or supplement their written appeal. The parent may be accompanied by a friend, adviser or be represented. Parents may also bring an interpreter. The Academy may also be represented at the Appeal Panel meeting.

51. The arrangements for appeals will be in line with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

52. The letter sent to parents notifying them of the outcome of the admissions process and the fact that they have been unsuccessful will provide the parent with a written statement detailing the reason(s) why it has not been possible to allow the child to attend the Academy and will explain the parent’s right of appeal.

53. Parents wishing to appeal against an admission decision by the Academy should write to the Clerk to the Appeal Panel at the address given in the admission decision letter from the Academy setting out their grounds for appeal. Other documentation may be submitted in support of an appeal and should be lodged with the Clerk to the Appeal Panel.

54. Any materials presented by the Academy to the Clerk will, in general, be sent in advance to the parents and any materials presented by the parents will be sent in advance to the Academy. The basic principle followed is that all information presented to the Clerk as part of the appeals process is available to all parties to the appeal.

55. Parents will be given 14 days’ notice of the appeal hearing, unless they agree to a shorter period of notice. Where a parent fails to attend an Appeal Panel hearing for which 14 days’ notice has been given (or a shorter period if the parents have given their prior agreement), the Clerk will offer a second hearing and provide 14 days’ notice of that appeal hearing, unless the parents agree to a shorter period of notice. In offering a second hearing, the Clerk will advise the parents in writing that if they do not attend the second hearing, their written appeal will be considered by the Appeal Panel in their absence.

56. The Clerk to the Appeal Panel will, if possible, inform parents of the Appeal Panel’s decision within 2 working days of the end of the hearing. The parent will also be informed of the outcome in writing by the panel within 5 days of the date of the hearing. In the case of unsuccessful appeals, the Appeal Panel will give the parents a written statement setting out its reason for not upholding the appeal.

Annex A Biddulph High School: Admissions Statement

1. General

   1. Biddulph High School is an inclusive school and welcomes children from the local community. The Trustees are also committed to ensuring that the admissions to the Academy reflect the full range of ability.
      
      
   2. Biddulph High School admits up to 211 students to Year 9 each September. The admission arrangements described in this document will apply to admissions in September 2012 and subsequent years.
      
      
   3. Admissions to Biddulph High School will be coordinated by Staffordshire Local Authority, through the Staffordshire Admissions Scheme and its timetable. Applications should be submitted on the Common Application Form to the local authority responsible for the parental address.
      
      
   4. The admission of students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs is conducted through a separate process. Parents of these students should contact their home Local Authority’s SEN department.
      
      
   5. There are no faith criteria as part of the admissions policy. Children from families of all faiths, or none, are very welcome.

2. Other points to note:

   1. Twins and same-year siblings: Where applications are received from twins, triplets or same-year siblings the following procedure will be followed. If one child is selected for a place within their band the twin/triplet/same year sibling will be ranked in their own band immediately below Looked After children.
      
      
   2. Confirmation of Address: Proof of residence can be requested at any time throughout the admissions process. If false or misleading information is used to gain entry to the Academy, the offer of a place will be withdrawn and an appeal offered.