Admission Policy 2018-2019
The Academy serves mainly those areas of Stone and District which are east of the River Trent. The Governors are committed to developing an inclusive school that reflects the diversity of the local community.
Pupils with a statement of special education need or Education, Health and Care Plan that names the Academy will be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available.
The Governors set the following order of priority for considering applications for admission:
1. Priority will be given to Looked after Children who are in the care of the local authority including previously looked after children in line with the School Admissions Code 2012.
2. Pupils who have brothers or sisters (including step brothers and sisters and foster and adopted children living at the same address) in attendance at the Academy at the time of admission/application.
3. Pupils living within the Academy’s catchment area. A catchment area map is available to view at the Academy or via Staffordshire County Council.
4. Pupils from recognised feeder schools, Barlaston First School, Christ Church First School, Green Lea First School, Oulton First School, Pirehill First School and St. Michael’s First School.
5. Pupils whose parents express a wish for a Church of England education for their child.
6. Pupils with exceptional circumstances either on medical or social grounds. Applications must be supported by a professional report stating exactly what circumstances provide the grounds for medical or social inclusion.
7. For all other applications, and in the event of over subscription within a category, the Academy Governors will give priority to pupils who have siblings in attendance at the Academy at the time of admission/application (see category 2) followed by pupils living closest to the Academy by a straight line measurement. (Measured from the main school gate to the home address using the Local Authority’s Geographical Information System).
Notes
If there are a limited number of spaces available and we cannot distinguish between applicants using the criteria listed, such as in the case of children who live in the same block of flats, then the child or children who will be offered the available spaces will be randomly selected. This process will be independently verified.
Repeat and late applications will be considered by the Governors Appeals Committee. The Local Authority uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to calculate home to school distance in miles. The measurement is calculated using Ordnance Survey (OS) data from an applicant’s home address to the main front gate of the school. The co-ordinates of an applicant’s home address is determined and provided by the Local Land and PropertyGazetteer (LLPG) and OS Address Point data.
Unsuccessful applications will be placed on a waiting list which will be kept in admission criteria order.The list will be kept until the end of the Autumn Term of the year of admission.
Parents who wish to appeal against the decision of the Governors to refuse their child a place at the Academy may apply in writing to the Governors of the Academy. Appeals will be heard by an independent panel.
Parents may seek to apply for their child’s admission to school outside of their normal age group, for example if the child is exceptionally gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health.
These parents will need to make an application alongside children applying at the normal age which should explain why it is in the child’s best interest to be admitted outside of their normal age which may include information such as professional evidence as to why this is the case and why an exception should be made in the case of the child. A decision as to whether this is an appropriate course of action will be made by the Governing Body who will take into account the circumstances of the case and views of the Principal. Parents do not have the right to insist that their child is admitted to a particular year group.
The Governors have placed an admission limit of 150 pupils for the Academic Year 2018-19.