The guiding principles of the school admission policy are, first, to enable as many children as possible to attend their parents’ preferred school; second, to enable each school to serve its local community; third, to assist parents in planning their children’s education; fourth, to ensure that all children are allocated a school place. Therefore, the aims of the admission criteria are –

· to be easy for parents and schools to understand and operate;
· to enable siblings, as far as possible, to attend the same school (or infant and junior schools on the same site);
· to enable children, as far as possible, to attend their local school and thereby minimise long or difficult journeys to school;
· to promote high educational standards through curricular and pastoral continuity between schools serving the same catchment areas;
· to promote school involvement with the local community.

Exampleshire County Council is the admission authority for all community and voluntary controlled primary and secondary schools. The admission arrangements are determined by the County Council, after statutory consultations. Governing bodies are responsible for implementing the admission arrangements on behalf of the Council.

The published admission number (PAN) for Runela Junior School for 2004-2005 is 90.

The governors will consider first all those applications received by the published deadline of midday on Friday 16 January 2006. On-time second preference applications will only be considered after all on-time first preferences have been considered by the governing body. Late applications (i.e. those submitted after 16 January 2006) will be considered at the latest after all on-time first and second preference applications have been fully processed.

If the school is oversubscribed, places will be offered in the following priority order, with first preference applications submitted by the published deadline taking initial priority. Second preferences and late applications will be allocated in the same order.

1. Children whose final statement of special educational needs names the school.

2. Children who are in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by that authority in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989. (A letter from Social Services confirming the child’s status must be provided.)

3. Children who have a serious medical, physical or psychological condition which makes it essential that they attend this school rather than any other. (Appropriate medical or psychological evidence must be provided in support.)

4. Children living within the catchment area of the school who at the time of application have a brother or sister (including children living as siblings in the same family unit) on the roll of this school or Runela Infant School and who will still be on roll at the time of the sibling’s admission.

5. Children living within the catchment area of the school who live closest to the school, measured as a straight line from the front door of their home to the school gate.

6. Children living outside the catchment area of the school who at the time of application have a brother or sister (including children living as siblings in the same family unit) on the roll of this school or of Runela Infant School and who will still be on roll at the time of the sibling’s admission. )

7. Children living outside the catchment area of the school who live closest to the school, measured as a straight line from the front door of their home to the school gate.

If the school is oversubscribed from within any of the above categories, the distance criterion as defined in the policy will be used to prioritise applications. This method of prioritising admissions will also apply to any ‘school specific’ criterion unless otherwise stated in the school brochure.

(Note: If the last pupil to be offered a place within the school’s PAN is a twin or other multiple birth sibling, the sibling(s) will be admitted, if the parents so wish, even though this will raise the intake number above the school’s PAN.)

When all available places have been allocated, schools will operate a waiting list. Parents who wish their child to be included on the waiting list must inform the school in writing after their initial application has been refused. Any places that become available will be allocated according to the criteria of the admission policy with no account being taken of the length of time on the waiting list. Late applicants (applications received after the closing date of 16 January 2004) will usually only be added to the waiting list after first and second preference offers have been made.

The waiting list will be reviewed and revised –
· each time a child is added to, or removed from, the waiting list
· at the end of each school year, when parents with a child on the waiting list will be contacted and asked if they wish to remain on the list for the following school year.

Parents may keep their child’s name on the waiting list of as many schools as they wish and for as long as they wish.

Places may be reserved within the published admission number for children with a statement of special educational needs before the official closing date for applications, where part four of the statement names that school.

This policy takes account of all relevant legislation including the Education Act 2002, the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, legislation on sex discrimination, race relations, disability (particularly the new Code of Practice for schools) and relevant regulations, in particular the Education (Co-ordination of Admissions Arrangements) (Secondary Schools) (England) Regulations 2002.

This policy has been considered by the Admission Forum, the Education Policy Review Committee, and was approved by the Executive Member on 27 March 2003 in accordance with the above legislative requirements.