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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions parents frequently ask

1) What is my catchment area school?

Each home address within Worcestershire has been designated a school, which serves that area. In many cases, it may be the nearest school, but this is not always the case. Each school will have a map showing it’s own catchment area, which you may view. Alternatively, you can contact the Local Authority to check.

2) Does my child have to attend my catchment area school?

No, parents are free to express a preference for whichever school they wish their children to attend. However, where there are more applications than places available at that school, an oversubscription criteria has to be applied. In Worcestershire, the top priority is catchment area. So, if you apply for a school other than the catchment area school, your child would have a lower priority, but may be able to obtain a place, if there are still places available.

Parents should also note that if they gain admission for a child to a first or primary school of their preference, (other than the catchment area school) it does not mean that younger siblings will automatically gain admission to the same school. Should the school be over subscribed at the time of application of a younger sibling, catchment area children have a higher priority on the oversubscription criteria.

3) Does this mean that I can choose the school my child attends?

No, this is an issue, which can cause misunderstandings from parents. The right to “express a preference” is entirely different from “choosing” a school. It is a legal requirement that school places are allocated in strict accordance with the oversubscription criteria. This may mean that some parents, who have expressed a preference for a particular school, may need to be turned down, if there are too many applications.

4) Will I be guaranteed a place in my catchment area school then?

Not necessarily. Although catchment areas are generally drawn up to take account of local need and the size of the school and other schools in the area, the number of children eligible to apply for school places each year, can vary widely, and there may be occasions where some schools may not be able to take all of it’s catchment area, in a particular year.

In such situations, other parts of the oversubscription criteria also need to be taken into account (e.g. siblings, special reasons such as medical grounds, feeder schools or distance from the school – in descending order of priority).

Even if you move address into a school’s catchment area, no guarantee of a place can be given because the school may already be full in that particular year group.

5) Who decides upon the oversubscription criteria?

It depends upon the legal status of each school. For Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, the admissions criteria is decided by the LA. For Voluntary Aided schools and Foundation Schools, the criteria is decided by the school’s own governing body.

Details of the status for each school, as well as the oversubscription criteria themselves are given in the Information for Parents Handbook.

6) Can I apply for a place in a denominational school if I am not a member  of the associated Church?

Parents can apply for any school regardless of the fact that it may have a denominational foundation.  Voluntary Aided schools have to consider all applications against their published admission criteria.  These are published in Section 16 of this book.  Headteachers are always pleased to discuss admission with prospective parents.

7) What will happen if my child is refused a place at the school of my preference?

If your child is refused a school place, you will also receive information about your right of appeal, whether you wish to wait for a place at that school on a waiting list. We will also advise you on the current position regarding the availability of places at other schools.

8) Are there any issues I should be considering in deciding upon which school I should apply for?

The issue of deciding which is the best school for your child is a personal one, and nobody should advise you. The final decision is yours. As a general rule, it is suggested that you visit a number of schools in your locality, think about it’s size, it’s location, how classes are organised, take account of how your child will get there, and consider issues for the future, such as what will happen when the children transfer to a Middle/High School, (particularly important if you live outside the catchment area), or if you have younger children, what is the likelihood of them being admitted or refused?

9)   Is there transport assistance available from the LA?

Generally, travel assistance is limited to those pupils, who attend their catchment area school, and who also reside in excess of the statutory walking distance, which is two miles for children under the age of eight, and three miles for older children.

More details of the transport policy are also given in section 8.0 of this booklet.

10) I am thinking of moving address, when should I contact the LA?

As soon as possible. Some parents consider moving address purely because of school catchment areas. It is useful for parents to know the position regarding local schools before they enter into formal contracts, in case that has a bearing upon their eventual move.

11) How do I apply for a school place?

It depends upon what school or year group you are applying for. All schools in the county have supplies of application forms.

For places in Voluntary Aided or Foundation schools, or for places in the older year groups in Community or Voluntary Controlled schools, parents may obtain a form and booklet from the relevant school.

For places in the intake year of each school, or you are not yet sure which school you will be applying for, you should contact the Pupil Admissions and Transfers Section.

Refusal of school places

1) My child has been refused a place at my preferred school, what can I do?

If your child has been refused a place at your preferred school(s), you may; a) ask for your child’s name to be placed on the waiting list for your preferred school(s) (see section on waiting lists). b) Consider making an appeal against the refusal (see section on appeals).

NB If you are appealing, your child’s name will be automatically entered onto

the waiting list for that particular school.

c)contact the LA (School Admissions Team) to discuss which alternative schools have places available.

2) How many schools may I appeal for, or be placed on the waiting list?

You may either appeal for schools you have been refused places at, or be placed on the waiting list for as many schools as you like. However, you will need to consider how your child would travel to school, if a place did become available or you were successful in your appeal.

3) Who do I appeal to?

You need to lodge your appeal with the relevant admissions authority. This is either;

a)the school itself - for Voluntary Aided or Foundation Schools ;

b)Worcestershire LA (address at bottom of sheet) - for Community or Voluntary

Controlled Schools within Worcestershire;

c) The LA in whose area the school is located - for Community or Voluntary

Controlled Schools outside Worcestershire;

4) How do I appeal?

You will need to write to the relevant admissions authority. Please note that some admissions authorities may require you to complete an Appeals Form. Where such a form is not required, you should write, stating the grounds for your appeal, enclosing any supporting documents, if you have any.

(NB There is normally a deadline in which appeals should belodged – for Worcestershire LA, this is two weeks after yournotification of refusal)  

5) If I accept a place at an alternative school, will that affect my appeal?

No, not at all, it has no bearing on your appeal. But many parents consider it better to accept a placement elsewhere in case their appeal is unsuccessful. To wait until after the appeal may mean that other schools fill up in the meantime, and so there are fewer options available.

6) I cannot consider alternative schools, because I cannot get my child there.

In cases where children are unable to obtain a place in their catchment area school, assistance with transport may be given to the nearest school with available places. It is important to remember that, as parents you have a legal duty to ensure your child receives an education.

The Appeals Process

Under the requirements of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, parents have a right to appeal against the refusal of a place at your preferred school(s).

Having lodged your appeal, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. Under separate cover, you will be invited to attend the appeal hearing in person, and you will receive notification of the date, time and venue of the appeal. In most cases, at least two weeks notice is given. Wherever possible, appeal hearings are held during term time, to reduce the possibility of families being on holiday.

Admission appeals (especially for Phase transfers e.g. Primary to Secondary) are often held in groups for each school, as it is often the case that more than one family may be appealing for some schools. In most cases, appeals for your higher preference(s) of school will be held before your lower preference.

The appeal hearing, itself, will be heard by an independent Appeal Panel. The Panel  will hear representations from the LA representative (or school representative, in the case of Voluntary Aided/Foundation Schools) as to why it is felt that no more children can be admitted. You will also be asked to state your reasons as to why you think a place at the school should be given to your child.

NB For infant classes, (i.e. in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes) appeals may be more difficult to win because the law states that class sizes cannot exceed thirty children. It is therefore important how a school organises the classes for each of the year groups. You will be advised in your letter of refusal whether this legislation applies.

In cases where more than one family are appealing for a particular school, the Panel will hear all the appeals, before a decision is made. The decision is binding on all parties.

There is a leaflet available from Worcs LA, which explains the appeals process in more detail. In most cases, this should have been included with your letter of refusal from the LA.

Waiting Lists

After the initial allocation of school places, places do sometimes become available, because some families do not always wish to take up their allocated places. Therefore, for oversubscribed schools a waiting list is held, and when places become available, they will be filled from the waiting list.

Waiting lists are maintained in strict adherence of the oversubscription criteria, and NOT based upon the date on which a child’s name was added to the list (Code of Practice on School Admissions, issued by DfES, refers). Therefore a child’s name could move up or down the order of the list, as vacancies are filled or as new applications are received.

In the case of Voluntary Controlled/Community Schools, waiting lists for the intake year, are maintained by the LA until September, when it is verified that all the children have taken up their places. Thereafter, and for older year groups, waiting lists are often held by the school themselves, although there is no statutory obligation to maintain such lists.

If you have any further enquiries, please write to the School Admissions Team, P.O. Box 73, Worcester, WR5 2YA or telephone 01905 766276, or email schooladmissions@worcestershire.gov.uk.