Monday, December 1 2008
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Changing a School - Transfers and Mid-Year Applications

Q What is a mid-year application?
A A mid-year application is an application made for a school place outside the normal admission cycle and may be for a place in any year group. It normally applies to parents moving house, but sometimes parents apply for a place because they feel their child is experiencing difficulties at a school.

All mid-year applications for non Voluntary Aided Wakefield Primary Schools MUST be made on the Wakefield admissions form, which is available from the School Admissions Team. Parents will be able to express up to three preferences. All preferences expressed will be considered against the admissions criteria for the school. Where more than one offer can be made, the parents’ ranking will be used to decide which offer is made. All mid-year applications are subject to address checks and background information is researched.
Q Applying for another Wakefield School?
A Please think carefully before deciding to transfer your child from one school to another. Sometimes a school transfer is unavoidable, however, you should always check that there is a place available at an alternative school before removing your child from the school they currently attend. If your child is experiencing difficulties at school, you should discuss your concerns with the Headteacher of the school. You may wish to contact the Education Welfare Service on 01924 307398.

If a school place is available, the School Admissions Team will send an offer letter and your child’s details will be passed to the school. You will then be asked to contact the school to arrange a start date for your child.
Q Applying for another school outside Wakefield District?
A Mid-year transfers for schools outside Wakefield should be made to the LA where the school is located. For further details and advice, please see the contact details contained in the section "Helpful Telephone Numbers".
Q What if no places are available at my preferred school?
A The admission number for a school is set each year for that school’s intake year (i.e. Reception for an Infant/Junior school and Year 3 for a Junior school). As a general rule, this admission number then remains with that year group as it moves through the school. For example, if a school’s 2007/2008 Reception admission number is 30 then, in the following year, as the Reception group moves into Year 1, that year group’s admission number will also be 30 and so on, as they move through the school. There may be exceptions, for example if accommodation in a school is removed, when the admission number may change for subsequent year groups.

If a school is full and a place cannot be offered, a refusal letter will be sent which will tell you how to appeal against the decision. If you are resident in Wakefield, and do not have a school place, a school place will be allocated at your next closest Community School with places available.
Q Applying for a Voluntary Aided School?
A Mid-year transfers for Voluntary Aided Schools will be considered by the Governing Body of the school. The Governing Body of the school will confirm any offer of a school place. Applications for a Voluntary Aided School should be made directly to the school.