Monday, December 1 2008
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How to apply for your child's Junior School place

Q Do I need to apply for a Junior School place?
A You only need to apply for a Junior School place if your child is in Year 2 of an Infant School. Parents of children in Primary Schools do not need to apply as the child will continue with their education in the same school.
Q When should I apply for a Junior School place?
A You should apply for a Junior School place for your child at the beginning of Year 2 in the October prior to your child transferring. For children transferring in September 2009, applications will be sent to you through the child’s Infant School during October 2008. These applications, whether on paper or on-line, should be completed and returned to the School Admissions Team by 14 November 2008. Returning your application form after this date may affect your offer of a school place. Offer letters will be sent out 2nd Class on Friday 3 April 2009. If you applied on line our website will be available from midnight of the 2 April to enable you to find the school offered. This facility is only available to those parents who originally applied on-line.
Q Which Junior School can I apply for?
A You can apply for any school covering the age group for your child. You would usually apply for a Junior school but can also apply to enter a Primary school at Year 3. A full list can be found in the section "Wakefield Primary Schools".
Q Does the Infant School my child attends determine which Junior School he/she will be able to go to?
A No, we do not operate a feeder system from Infant to Junior Schools. Each Infant School is situated within a pyramid. Each infant pyramid has a designated Junior School. Attending an Infant School within a pyramid does not guarantee a place at the pyramid Junior School.
Q How are Junior School places allocated?
A The Admissions Policy for Community, Foundation and Voluntary Controlled schools in Wakefield is:

If schools receive more applications than places available, places will be allocated in the following priority order.

  1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children);
      1. Children who live in the school’s catchment area, who have brothers or sisters attending the school at the time of admission;
      2. Other children who live in the school’s catchment area;
      3. Children who live in that part of the Primary School’s catchment area which is designated as an option area;
    2. Children who have brothers or sisters in attendance at the school;
    3. Other children, with priority being given to those living nearest to the school.

    Please note: When a child has obtained a school place using a fraudulent address, priority will not be given to younger siblings.

    Any place offered on the basis of an address which is later found to be fraudulent will be withdrawn.

    If offering places within any one of the priorities would cause the school’s admission number to exceed, then children living nearest to the school, measured in a straight line from home to school, will be offered places first.

    Children normally transfer to the next school suitable for their age group in the catchment area. A place at an Infant School does not guarantee entry to a place in a Junior School.

    For more detailed information on policies and procedures please refer to the section marked “How to apply for you child’s first school place”.
    Q What do I do if I want to apply to a Voluntary Aided Junior School?
    A If you wish to apply for a Voluntary Aided School, you must apply for the school on the Wakefield Application Form (either on paper or on-line). Paper applications should be returned to the School Admissions Team, Family Services, County Hall, Wakefield, WF1 2QL. The Headteacher will be able to give advice on how places are allocated. However, should you preference any Voluntary Aided school, you must also complete an additional sheet for the school, which you can obtain from the school directly. This will enable the school’s Governing Body to assess your application fully. The additional sheet is only available in paper form and must be returned directly to the school.

    The LA and the school liaise regularly throughout the process to ensure the co-ordination of information. The Governing Body is responsible for the allocation of school places at the school, however, Wakefield LA will write and offer places on behalf of the school’s Governing Body.
    Q What is the timetable for transfer to Junior School - Year 3?
    A October 2008
    Distribution of application forms and letters to parents.

    14 November 2008
    Closing date.

    16 December 2008 - 8 February 2009
    Wakefield LA sends all applications to respective Wakefield Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools.

    8 February 2009 - 14 March 2009
    Wakefield LA will consider all applications against the published admissions policy and determine the single offer of a school place.

    4 April 2009
    LA send parents offer and refusal letters for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools.

    The LA will also write to offer places on behalf of the Governing Body of all Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools.

    30 April 2009
    Closing date for parents to either accept or refuse offer.

    End of May 2009 onwards
    Appeals.