Governors Policy on Admissions to the College

The Governing Body of Sawtry Community College is the admission authority for the college. The Governing Body sets and applies the admissions policy for the college. All decisions regarding the admission of students into the college are made in accordance with the policy set  by the Governing Body.

Please note that the address used for the purpose of admission is the child’s usual. Applications based on future addresses can only be considered up to 6 teaching weeks before the child is expected to take up the place and upon confirmation of tenancy or exchange of contracts. Parents are expected to notify the college of any changes of address as this may affect the allocation of a place. Further guidance on this issue is available from the college.

 

Admissions into Year 7 in September 2010.

The Governing Body will offer places to 230 students for admission into the college in September 2010. This is the Published Admission Number for that year group.

In the event that more than 230 applications are received, the oversubscription criteria (admission criteria) will be applied to determine priority  for places.

These are as follows:

Children who have a statement of special educational needs that names the school will be admitted. Those children with a statement of special educational needs that does not name the school will be referred to Student Assessment to determine an appropriate place. 
 
Subsequent places will be allocated strictly against the following criteria in the order listed

1. Children in Care, also known as Looked After Children (LAC).
2. Children who live in the catchment area and have a sibling who currently attends  the school and will still be attending the school on the proposed admission date. For the purpose of these criteria, siblings are defined as children living in the same home and includes students in the sixth form.
3. Children who live in the catchment area and attend one of the following primary schools: Alconbury, Folksworth, Great Gidding, Holme, Sawtry and Stilton. For more details on the catchment areas of these schools, parents may contact the Local Education Authority’s Admissions Department.
4. Children who live in the catchment area.
5. Other children having a sibling who currently attends the school and will still be attending the school on the proposed admission date. For the purpose of these criteria, siblings are defined as children living in the same home and includes students in the sixth form.
6. Other children who attend the named primary schools listed above
7. All other applicants.

 

In cases of equal merit, priority will go to children living nearest to the College according to the shortest straight line distance. This is calculated by measuring a straight line from the centre point of the home to the main pupil entrance to the college as determined by the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG). The home address is defined as the address of the adult with parental responsibility with whom the child normally lives and which applies at the time of application. A full definition appears in the LA admission booklet for parents.

 

All preferences are treated equally, regardless of whether they are first, second or third preferences.

 

To apply for a place in Year 7 in September 2010

The application process for admissions into Year 7 is co-ordinated by Cambridgeshire Local Authority (LA), which acts on behalf of the governing body to offer places at the College. Parents should submit a Common Application Form, available from the child’s primary school or from the LA Admissions team, no later than 6th November 2009. Offer letters will be issued by the LA on 1st March 2010. Applications made between 7th November 2009 and 8th September 2010 will also be managed by the LA Admissions Team. For children attending Peterborough schools or receiving Peterborough LA Applications Forms, it is acceptable to include Sawtry on this form as one of the choices and the child will be treated equally with all other applicants.

The LA Admission team may be contacted on 01223 717985 / 718472 or admissions@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Parents wishing to visit the college prior to making an application are welcome to do so. An Open Evening will be held on Thursday 1st October 2009 and visits during the college day are also available. However, such visits may not be possible to organise at short notice and it should be emphasized that such visits are not interviews and do not affect any decision regarding the availability of places. Please contact the college to make arrangements.

 

Reserve Lists
When an application is refused, the child’s details are automatically placed on a reserve list for the year group, ranked according to the oversubscription criteria. As part of the co-ordinated scheme for secondary admissions, the LA Admissions Team holds the initial reserve list on behalf of the governing body until the end of the first week of the autumn term in the initial year of intake. The governing body then manages the reserve list until the end of the autumn term.

 

Appeals
The parent of any child who is refused a place at the college has a right of appeal to an independent Appeals Panel. This panel consists of three people who are independent of the college’s Governing Body and the Local Authority. The panel will consider the circumstances of the case put before it. Both the Governing Body and the parents must abide by the decision it makes.

Appeals should be made in writing to the Clerk to the Governing Body, who will inform the Chair of Governors and the Admissions Sub-Committee and arrange for the independent panel to be convened. Appeal forms are available on request from the Clerk to the Governing Body at the College.

 

Admissions for Years 8 to 11

For Years 8 to 11, the PAN is also 230. If a place becomes available it will be offered to the child at the top of the reserve list for the year group or, if no reserve list exists, the place will be offered to the first child for whom an application is received.

 

 

Admissions during the academic year

How to apply

To apply for a place at the college during the college year, the parent should contact the Deputy Principal at the college, not the Local Authority, for an Application Form.

If the number of students in the relevant year group is less than the agreed Published Admission Number a place may be offered after joint consideration by the Principal and the Deputy Principal. If the number of students in the relevant year group is NOT less than the agreed Published Admission Number or the Principal feels unable to offer a place for any other reason, the application will be considered by a nominated group of three governors.

If the decision of the college is not to offer a place, the parent will be informed in writing of the decision and the reasons for it. The students name will be added to a reserve list for the relevant year group. The parent will be advised of their right to appeal against the decision taken and the procedure for the appeal will be as outlined above.

The college may be contacted on 01487 830701 or college@sawtrycc.org.uk

 

Reserve Lists

A Reserve List will be maintained by the college.  This list will be ranked strictly according to the admission criteria stated above. The names of students will be held on the waiting list until the last day of the term following the term in which the initial application for a place is received.

 

Appeals

Please see procedure outlined above.