Legally children have a right to a school place at the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday. In schools controlled by Birmingham Local Education Authority they may come to school at the beginning of the academic year in which they will be five.
A child who is four years old by 31st August may come to school the following September if his or her parents so wish. If not they may reserve the right for the child to start at the statutory time.
Priority is given to children with brothers or sisters in school at the time of admission and then to those living closest to school, measured by straight line distance on a map.
The Local Education Authority should send parents with pre-school age children a pre-printed 'preference form' by the end of the October prior to the child starting school. Parents are encouraged to access the 'Information Booklet' only and make their application online. Local schools will advertise their 'Open Mornings' to help parents to make their final choices.
Older Pupils:
Individual Schools now maintain In-Year waiting lists. Parents will need to complete an 'Application for a Change of School Form'. The application form is available from individual schools or from School Admissions and Pupil Placments Service on 0121 303 1888. The waiting list gives priority to children with brothers and sisters already at the school and then to children living closest to the school. Schools are able to offer places to children if they have a vacancy in the required year group.
Criteria:
Looked after or previously looked after children.
Children with a brother or a sister already at the school who will still be in attendance in the September the child is due to start.
Children who live nearest the school.
Within each of these categories, priority is given to those who live nearest the School, calculated on the basis of a straight-line measurement between home and School.
Waiting Lists:
Waiting lists will not be fixed following the offer of places. They are subject to change. This means that a child’s waiting list position during the year could go up or down. Any applicants will be added to the School’s list in accordance with the order of priority for offering places. Waiting lists will be maintained until the end of each academic year.
Appeals:
Appeals are administered by the Local Authority for this Academy. Parents who wish to appeal against the decision to refuse their child admission should visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions.
In Year Applications:
Applications made outside the normal admissions round (in-year admissions) should be made directly to the School. Parents/carers can apply for a place for their child at any time and to any School. On receipt of an in-year application, the School will notify the local authority of both the application and its outcome, to allow the local authority to keep up to date with figures on the availability of School places in Birmingham.
Twitter