The Right Secondary School 2009

Frequently asked questions

Why are there 6 preferences? I want to choose 1 school

Under section 86 (1) of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, we must make arrangements so that parents of children in our area can express a preference for the schools they would want their child to go to.

Every year, more people apply for places at our schools than we have places available. In that situation, not everybody will be given a place at the schools they have asked for. We need information to help us offer you another school, and the more schools you list the greater the chance of this.

The schools on your form are your preferences - they cannot be your choices because we cannot guarantee everyone a place at any school. If everybody named the same school, we would not be able to increase the number of places there.

Simply naming 1 school or repeating the same school does not increase your child's chance of getting a place there, and may lead us to giving your child a place at a school you have not listed.

The admission number of each school and the number of applications made for those places last year are shown on the statistical information web page. This information will show you which schools are likely to be oversubscribed (receive more applications than there are places available).

What happens if my child is not offered a place at the schools I have listed?

If you live in Barking and Dagenham and it is not possible to offer your child a place at 1 of your preferred schools, we will give your child a place at the nearest school to their home with a vacancy.

Do I have to prove where I live?

If your child goes to a primary or junior school in Barking and Dagenham and you have not changed your address since Friday 11 July 2008, you do not have to provide any proof of your address as your child's school will confirm that information.

If your child goes to a primary or junior school in Barking and Dagenham and your address is different to the one registered at the school, you will need to provide proof of both your address and your child's current address. You will also need to provide proof if your child goes to a primary or junior school outside Barking and Dagenham. In these 2 cases, please fill in your form giving your current address.

Enclose with your application a photocopy of your 2008-2009 council tax bill or a copy of your tenancy agreement as well as a photocopy of your child benefit book or letter from the Benefits Agency.

Please check that the name and address of the child matches the information you give on your application form and on the child benefit book or letter from the Benefits Agency. Similarly, the guardian named on the application must be listed on the council tax bill or tenancy agreement. If you change your address at any time in this process, you must give us proof of your new address by sending us the above documents.

What does guardianship mean?

If a child is not living with their natural parents and relatives, or another adult is looking after the child, we need documentary evidence that you are the guardian and have parental responsibility for that child. Evidence includes a will or a court order and child benefit payments.

Guardianship only applies if you can prove that you have full care and the normal, permanent home is not at their parents' address. Guardianship does not apply when picking up children to and from school, or looking after them until their parents collect them.

What if my child lives with both parents at 2 different addresses?

When a child lives with their natural parents, legal guardian or foster parent, we will consider that address to be the child's normal, permanent home. However, when a child has parents who are separated, the parents may name only 1 address for the application process, but the other parent can be named and provided with copies of information we issue.

If 1 parent has parental responsibility, we must receive documents to prove this and that parent's address must be used. If both parents have parental responsibility, we must receive documents to prove this. We will normally accept the parents' address used by the child's primary or junior school.

What happens if my child has a statement of special educational need?

All Barking and Dagenham schools, including those with special facilities, offer an inclusive environment. This means that pupils who have special educational needs, a disability or any other additional needs are encouraged and supported to access the curriculum and all the facilities available to them.

You will be invited to visit schools during their open evenings or at other times by making an appointment (if possible), to find out what each school has to offer. All schools also produce written information on how they support children with special educational needs.

If you have concerns about the admissions process and the fact that your child is going into Year 6, our 'Preference Advice' service may be able to help. The service can provide unbiased advice to help you make the best decision for your child and fill in the necessary applications on time. (Contact Ian Hewison on 020 8227 5559 or by emailing ian.hewison@lbbd.gov.uk).

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, you will also receive the admissions booklet at some point. However, you do not have to fill in the common application form. The admissions service will consult the Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Team, who will send you a different form.

The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice says that schools must review statements in Year 5, and this must include some planning in relation to secondary-school placements. At the beginning of the autumn term when your child is in Year 6, the local authority's Special Educational Needs Team will write to you asking you to fill in the special form for your child. This form is for you to give your preferences for your child's secondary school.

If a school is named on part 4 of your child's statement of special educational needs, your child will be given priority. The 2007 School Admissions Code says that schools are 'required to admit children with statements of special educational needs where the school concerned is named on the statement'.

If you would like to discuss your child's move to secondary school with a member of Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Team, please phone 020 8227 3540.

What happens if my child is in the care of a local authority?

We consider applications for children in the care of a local authority before we consider all other applications. If your child is in the care of a local authority, you must also include with the Common application form a letter from the social worker confirming the legal status of the child and the local authority where the child is in care. The letter should also provide the reasons for the preferences of the schools listed.

When asking for a school place for a child who is in care, we will try to find them a suitable place and work with the Looked After Children Health and Education Support (LACHES) Team.

If your child is in the care of a local authority and you would like to discuss the secondary transfer of your child, please contact the LACHES Team.

How do I apply for a school outside Barking and Dagenham?

If you live in this borough and would like your child to go to a voluntary aided, foundation or community school in another borough, you must list that school on your Barking and Dagenham common application form.

Please apply online or return your common application form to the Admissions and Attendance Team by the closing date, otherwise we will not consider your application in the first round of offers.

It is important that you know the admission criteria for the schools you are asking for, as you may need to fill in supplementary forms and provide further information for these schools.

Please contact the admissions authority (school or local authority) of the school you have in mind. For details of local authorities contact details, please see the Department for Children, Schools and Families website.

If you live in this borough and you do not fill in the Barking and Dagenham common application form, you will not be considered for schools outside the borough, even if you fill in their supplementary forms.

Page 1|

Page 2|

Page 3|