Governors Policies

ADMISSIONS POLICY 2010

St Wilfrid’s Church of England High School and Technology College is a comprehensive Voluntary Aided secondary school for children aged 11 to 18. It is provided by Church of England Trustees to serve parents who wish their children to receive secondary education in a school whose principles and daily life are based on Christianity in the Anglican tradition.

The school does not have a catchment area, but mainly serves the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen and parts of the Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Burnley districts of Lancashire. For September 2010, the published admission number is 246.

The Governors are responsible for admissions to the school. Applications for admission to the school for September 2010 should be made on the common application form in your Local Authority’s brochure and submitted before the closing date of Friday 16th October 2009.

The Governing Body of St Wilfrid’s operates a system of equal preferences under which they consider all preferences equally and the Local Authority notifies parents of the result. Parents of children not admitted will be informed of the reason and offered an alternative place by their Home Local Authority.

In the event that there are more applicants than places available, after admitting all children with a final statement of Special Educational Need or an Individual Pupil Resourcing Agreement (IPRA) naming St Wilfrid’s, the Governing Body will allocate places using the criteria below, which are listed in order of priority.

1. Children in public care as defined by the Children Act 1989.

2. Children with medical and/or social needs, for whom the Governors accept that there are exceptional
circumstances specifically relevant to attendance at St Wilfrid’s rather than another school, supported by professional
medical and/or social evidence.

NOTE:Professional supporting evidence from eg a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under the criterion for special medical or social circumstances, and such evidence must set out the particular reasons why the school in question is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.

3. Children on the roll of Saint Luke and Saint Philip’s Church of England Primary School, Blackburn, who have completed the whole of Year 5 there in the school year before the closing date for applications for places.

4. Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members of the Church of England, or any church in membership (see note a) of Churches Together in England, the Free Churches Group or the Evangelical Alliance by a worship attendance of not less than weekly over the period of the two years prior to 1 September in the year of application. Within this category, first priority will be given to siblings (see note b) of pupils who are on the school roll both at the closing date for applications and the time of transfer (see note c).

5. Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members of the Church of England, or any church in membership (see note a) of Churches Together in England, the Free Churches Group or the Evangelical Alliance by a worship attendance of not less than fortnightly over a period of the two years before 1 September in the year of application to the school. Within this category, first priority will be given to siblings (see note b) of pupils who are on the school roll both at the closing date for applications and the time of transfer (see note c).


6. Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members of a faith other than Christian which is associated with the UK Inter-Faith Network by a worship attendance of not less than weekly over the period of the two years prior to 1 September in the year of application or, alternately, a statement of support from a faith leader which confirms the same level of commitment. Within this category, first priority will be given to siblings (see note b) of pupils who are on the school roll both at the closing date for applications and the time of transfer (see note c).

7. Other children on the basis of distance from the front door of their home to the school, measured by a straight line from the Duckworth Street pedestrian gate, giving priority to those living nearest the school. Within this category, first priority will be given to siblings (see note b) of pupils who are on the school roll both at the closing date for applications and the time of transfer. Where the cut off point is for addresses within the same building, then the single measure between address points will apply and the Local Authority’s system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).

Notes

a. the church concerned must be in membership of one of the organisations listed on 1 September in the year of application.

b. Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister or the child of the parent/carer’s partner, and in every case, the child should be living in the same family unit at the same address.

c. the distance criterion set out in category 7 will be used as a “tie break” in categories 4 – 6 if the admission number of 246 is reached during consideration of applications in any of these categories.


Late applications for admission

Where there are extenuating circumstances for an application being received after the last date for applications, and it is before the governors have established their list of pupils to be admitted, then it will be considered alongside all the others.

Otherwise, applications which are received after the last date will be considered after all the others, and placed on the waiting list in order according to the criteria.

Waiting list

Where we have more applications than places, the admissions criteria will be used. Children who are not admitted will have their name placed on a waiting list. The names on this waiting list will be in the order resulting from the application of the admissions criteria. Since the date of application cannot be a criterion for the order of names on the waiting list, late applicants for the school will be slotted into the order according to the extent to which they meet the criteria. Thus it is possible that a child who moves into the area later to have a higher priority than one who has been on the waiting list for some time. If a place becomes available within the admission number, the child whose name is at the top of the list will be offered a place. This is not dependent on whether an appeal has been submitted.

This waiting list will operate until the end of the Autumn Term.

Appeals

Where the governors are unable to offer a place because the school is over subscribed, parents have the right to appeal to an independent admission appeal panel, set up under the School Standards and Framework Act, 1998, as amended by the Education Act, 2002. Parents should submit appeal forms to the clerk to the governors at the school by 10 May 2010.

Parents will have the opportunity to submit their case to the panel in writing and also to attend in order to present their case. You will normally receive 14 days’ notice of the place and time of the hearing.

Please note that this right of appeal against the governors’ decision does not prevent you from making an appeal in respect of any other school.

Non-routine admissions

It sometimes happens that a child needs to change school other than at the “normal” time; such admissions are known as non-routine admissions. Parents wishing their child to attend this school should arrange to visit the school. They will be provided with an application form once they have a definite local address. If there is a place in the appropriate class, then the governors will arrange for the admission to take place. If there is no place, then the admissions committee will consider the application and information about how to appeal against the refusal will be provided. Appeals for children moving into the area will be considered from the old address until there is evidence of a permanent new address, e.g. exchange of contracts or tenancy agreement with rent book.

Please note that you cannot re-apply for a place at a school within the same school year unless there has been relevant, significant and material change in the family circumstances.


Address of pupil

The address used on the school’s admission form must be the current one at the time of application, i.e. the family’s main residence. If the address changes subsequently, the parents should notify the school. Where the parents live at different addresses, and there is shared parenting, the address used will normally be the one where the child wakes up for the majority of Monday to Friday mornings. Parents may be asked to show evidence of the claim that is being made for the address, e.g. identity cards of various sorts showing the child’s address as the one claimed. Where there is dispute about the correct address to use, the governors reserve the right to make enquiries of any relevant third parties, e.g. the child’s GP, Council Tax Office, Electoral Registration Officer, utilities provider. For children of UK Service personnel and other Crown Servants returning to the area proof of the posting is all that is required.

Fraudulent applications

Where the governing body discovers that a child has been awarded a place as the result of an intentionally misleading application from a parent (for example, giving a false address in order to gain an advantage, or a false claim of involvement in a place of worship) which effectively denies a place to a child with a stronger claim, then the governing body is required to withdraw the offer of the place. The application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if a place is refused.

Twins

Where a family of twins or triplets request admission and there is only one school place available it will be left to the family to decide whether or not they wish to take up the place for one of their children and appeal for the second or third child in the same year group, or to decline the place.

If the family wish to accept the one available place, the local authority will pick the name of one of the children by random allocation and that child will be admitted.

(b) ADMISSIONS TO YEARS 8 – 11

When vacancies arise, the Governors admit pupils to Years 8 -11. Initially, parents should obtain an application form from the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant (telephone 01254 604000). When the completed application form is received, an appointment with the Headteacher is arranged.


(c) ADMISSIONS TO THE SIXTH FORM

Information about admission to the Sixth Form is provided in a separate prospectus available from the Assistant Headteacher Post 16 (telephone 01254 604000).


(d) GENERAL

Parents are asked to note that there is a risk of losing a place offered if it is found subsequently that details given in the application form (for example, home address) are incorrect.

Pupils are admitted on condition that parents agree to support the school rules, including positively upholding the Christian traditions of the school.

If the Governors are unable to offer a place for a child, parents have a right of appeal to an independent panel. Particulars of the appeal process will be provided for parents when appropriate.

The Governors keep a waiting list for each age group. Should a vacancy arise, applications are assessed using the priority order listed in section (a) above.


INFORMATION ON APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO YEAR 7 IN SEPTEMBER 2009

The Governors are required to provide information in the school prospectus about admissions to Year 7 in the previous year (that is, in September 2009). The admission policy for Year 7 in September 2010 detailed at (a) above has been revised to meet new national requirements and, in addition, the governors will no longer consider first preferences before second preferences and second preferences before third. Consequently, figures for the previous year’s allocation of places are not entirely meaningful. However, the following information is provided to meet the legal requirement; parents requiring further advice are welcome to contact the Clerk to the Governors (telephone 01254 604000):

By the closing date in October 2008, the Governors received 991 preference applications for places. Governors received 463 preference applications together with supplementary information, made up as follows:


Category in admission policy

Children with final statements of special educational needs..........................................................24

Children on the roll of Saint Luke and Saint Philip’s Church of England Primary School............. 13

Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members
of the Church of England/Churches Together in England/Free Churches Group/Evangelical
Alliance by a worship attendance of at least weekly, with siblings in school..................................47

Category 4 without siblings in school.............................................................................................166

Category 5 with siblings in school...................................................................................................19

Category 5 without siblings in school..............................................................................................44

Other children on the basis of distance from the front door of their home to the school,
measured by a straight line........................................................................................................... 140

Governors were able to offer a total of 246 places to the following categories:
Following appeal to an independent panel, a further 10 children were admitted.

Category in admission policy
22 children under criterion 2; Children with final statements of educational needs
13 children under criterion 3; Children on the roll of Saint Luke and Saint Philip’s Church of England Primary School, Blackburn
47 children under criterion 4; Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members of the Church of England/Churches Together in England/Free Churches Group/Evangelical Alliance by a worship attendance of at least weekly, with siblings in school
86 children under criterion 4 as above; with no siblings in school
18 children under criterion 5; Children whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) show evidence of being active members of the Church of England/Churches Together in England/Free Churches Group/Evangelical Alliance by a worship attendance of at least fortnightly, with siblings in school
41 children under criterion 5 as above; with no siblings in school
5 children admitted under criterion 6; with siblings in school.
14 Children admitted under criterion 6 with no siblings in school
There were no places offered to children under criterion 7
* These places were offered using the distance tie break; the address of the last child to be offered a place is 0.566 miles from the school.


PARENTS’ COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

The Governing Body has adopted the following procedure for responding to complaints about the running of the school (but please see Section 4 for matters covered by other complaints procedures).

1. Concerns

If you wish to express a concern about your child, you should do so to the Form Tutor or the relevant Learning Support Manager. Every effort will be made to respond informally without the need to use the formal Complaints Procedure. The formal Complaints Procedure will be commenced if initial attempts to resolve the matter are unsuccessful and the person raising the concern is dissatisfied with the outcome.

2. Formal Complaints – Stage 1

(a) A complaint about a teacher (other than the Headteacher), a member of the support staff or any other matter connected with the running of the school

You, or someone on your behalf, should write, giving full details of your complaint, to the Headteacher, Saint Wilfrid’s Church of England High School and Technology College, Duckworth Street, Blackburn, BB2 2JR. If you prefer, a complaint form is available from the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant (telephone 01254 604000). The Headteacher will investigate your complaint, decide on the action to be taken and respond to you in writing. He will do this within 15 school days of receipt of your complaint unless this is impracticable, in which case he will set a different deadline and notify it to you.

(b) A complaint about the Headteacher or a Governor

You, or someone on your behalf, should write, giving full details of your complaint, to the Chairman of Governors, c/o Saint Wilfrid’s Church of England High School and Technology College, Duckworth Street, Blackburn, BB2 2JR. If you prefer, a complaint form is available from the Clerk to the Governors (telephone 01254 604000). The Chairman of Governors will investigate your complaint, decide on the action to be taken and respond to you in writing. He will do this within 15 school days of receipt of your complaint unless this is impracticable, in which case he will set a different deadline and notify it to you.

3. Formal Complaint – Stage 2

If it is not possible to resolve your complaint at Stage 1, you can appeal to a panel made up of three Governors (other than the Headteacher, Chairman of Governors or, if the complaint is about a Governor, that Governor). Further particulars of the appeal procedure will be provided for you at the end of Stage 1, but the panel will, as far as reasonably practicable, meet within 15 school days of receipt of your appeal. You will be invited to attend the Appeal Panel hearing and make representations. The decision of the panel will complete the school’s consideration of your complaint.

4. Other complaints procedures

Separate procedures exist if you wish to

(a) Appeal against a decision not to offer a place in the school to a child
(b) Make representations about the exclusion of a pupil by the Headteacher
(c) Make a complaint about the school curriculum
(d) Make a complaint about the Saint Wilfrid’s Community Leisure Centre which is operated in part of the school premises out of school hours by the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

Details of these procedures can be obtained from the Clerk to the Governors, St Wilfrid’s C of E High School and Technology College, Duckworth Street, Blackburn BB2 2JR.

5. Review

The Governing Body will monitor the level and nature of complaints and review the outcomes on an annual basis to ensure the effectiveness of the Complaints Procedure. Information provided for the Governing Body will not name individuals.


GOVERNORS’ CURRICULUM COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

The Governing Body has adopted the following procedure for responding to complaints about the school curriculum:

1. Parent(s), or someone on their behalf, should first write to the Headteacher outlining their complaint.

2. They should then discuss the complaint with the Learning Area Coordinator at a mutually convenient appointment, and seek to resolve the matter(s), informally.

3. If agreement cannot be reached, they should then discuss the complaint at a mutually convenient appointment, first with the Deputy Headteacher who has responsibility for curriculum matters and then, if still necessary, with the Headteacher, informally.

4. If agreement cannot be reached, parent(s), or someone on their behalf, should then write to the Clerk to the Governors c/o the School (sending a copy of the letter to the Headteacher), outlining the complaint. The Clerk to the Governors will then arrange for a hearing to be conducted by the appropriate Governors’ Committee which will consider the matter and take any appropriate action.

5. In the event of parent(s) not agreeing with the Governors’ action, parent(s) have a right of appeal.

CHARGING POLICY

The Governing Body is required to draw up a statement of general policy on the circumstances under which charges are made to parents. This policy will be reviewed annually in the Spring Term.

1. Admission to the school – no charge is made for a child’s admission to the school.

2. Education in school hours – no charge is made for education provided during school hours. “School hours” are those when the school is actually in session and do not include the lunchtime break. If most of the time spent on a non-residential out of school activity is in school hours, no charge is made for the activity.

3. Residential activities – if the number of school sessions missed by pupils taking part in residential activities amounts to half or more of the number of half-days taken up by the activity, no charge is made for the education element or for the cost of travel. However, charges will be made for the cost of board and lodging, except in the case of pupils whose parents receive certain state benefits, including Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance (income based) and, in certain cases, Child Tax Credit. Further details are available from the school on request.

4. Voluntary contributions – although the school does not make a charge for school time activities, the Headteacher, or a member of staff acting on his behalf, may invite voluntary contributions from parents to make school funds go further. Such requests will make it clear that contributions are voluntary and that children of parents who do not contribute will not be treated any differently from others. If a particular activity cannot take place without some help from parents, this will be explained at the planning stage. Where there are not enough voluntary contributions to make the activity possible and there is no other way to make up the shortfall, then it will be cancelled.

5. Ingredients or materials for items to be made in school – the Headteacher or a member of staff acting on his behalf may invite parents to provide or pay for ingredients or materials for items to be made in school and subsequently taken home.

6. Uniform – pupils are required to wear school uniform, particulars of which are given in the school prospectus. The whole cost of uniform is to be met by parents.

7. Public examinations – no charge is made for entering pupils for public examinations that are set out in government regulations and for which pupils have been prepared in school. However, an entry fee is re-charged to parents if, without good reason, a pupil fails to complete the requirements of any public examination. The fee for remarking is recharged to parents where the request is made by them rather than the school. In the case of resits, the fee is recharged to parents plus a charge of £5.00 per module as a contribution towards the school’s administrative costs.

8. Musical instrument tuition – a charge is made for musical instrument tuition provided after school as part of the Saint Wilfrid’s Music School.

9. Loss of, or damage to, school property – the school will expect parents to contribute to the cost of school property lost or damaged as a result of the action of the pupil concerned.

10 Books or equipment which are desirable, but not essential – the Headteacher or a member of staff acting on his behalf may, from time to time, recommend the purchase of books or equipment which may be helpful to pupils. Such purchases are voluntary and items will remain the property of parents.

11. Private tuition or activities outside school hours – where a member of staff agrees with parents to provide private tuition or activities outside school hours, such an arrangement is regarded as being outside the school’s responsibility and costs are a matter for agreement between the parties concerned.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION ENTRY POLICY

It is the School’s aim to enter all pupils for the final examination. In most subjects, there is more than one level of entry; these levels are called foundations or higher level. Decision on levels of entry are taken by Learning Area Coordinators. If parents wish to have their son/daughter entered for a particular subject at a level other than that recommended by the school, they may be asked to pay for the entry; should the pupil subsequently obtain a grade within the appropriate range for the level of entry, the fee would be returned.

Occasionally, with the agreement of parents, a student may be allowed to drop a subject, if it is felt that this will result in better performance in the remaining subjects and is, therefore, in the student’s best interests. At present, no restrictions are placed on students who wish to retake GCSE examinations, even if it is not possible for them to attend classes in the subject(s) concerned; however, students are expected to approach members of Staff to ask for guidance and/or establish a programme of work.


THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2000

The Governors have adopted a scheme on information to be made available under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. A copy of the scheme is available on request to the Clerk to the Governors at the school.