1. 2016 Secondary Intake Admissions Briefings Fair Access September 2015

2. Offer Day Kent Pupils applied… 2015 – 15,895 2014 – 15,6782013 – 15,144 Kent Pupils Offers Statistics 2015 Number Offered 2015* % Of Kent Cohort Number Offered 2014** % Of Kent Cohort 1 ST 12,795 80.50% 13,040 83.17% 2 ND 1,611 10.14% 1,536 9.80% 3 RD 612 3.85% 492 3.14% 4 th 233 1.46% 185 1.18% 5 th 10.01%00.00% LA Allocations6434.04%4252.71% Total offers made to Kent Pupils 15,895100%15,678100%

3. Changes for 2016 Kent Test Procedure retained for its second year Main application process remains unchanged The full scheme can be found on: www.kent.gov.uk/admissionscriteria

4. Key Dates for Parents 11+ Test 11+ test registration opens 1 June 11+ test registration closes 1 July Test for pupils at Kent Schools 10 September Test for pupils at OOC Schools on 12 September Results sent to parents on 14 October Those who applied online and provided a valid email address will receive an email with the child’s assessment decision AFTER 4pm on the 14 th Everyone who registered will receive a letter.

5. Key Dates for Parents Secondary Common Application Forms SCAF opening date 1 September SCAF closing date 31 October (Kent accepting up to Mon 2 November) National Offer Day 1 March Waiting List requests and Late applications 17 March Places to be accepted or refused by 17 March Appeals “on time” until 13 April Vacant places reallocated by KCC 29 April

6. Key Dates for Schools Main Round Preference Numbers 11 December Rank Lists 6 January to be returned by 20 January Offer Lists 23 February Reallocation Round Reallocation Lists 21 March Ranked Reallocation Lists and Acceptance/Refusal Lists returned by schools 12 March Reallocation Offer Lists 29 April

7. Ranking Lists Sent 6 Jan – Returned 20 Jan Schools need to rank lists using the oversubscription criteria in their arrangements Each child is to be given a rank number and/or band number The LA will import rank/band numbers using Pupil ID, so it is imperative that they match pupil data Notes column to indicate changes and applicable criteria The rank number allows the LA to allocate places to children based on their preference and eligibility compared to other applicants Ranking guidance can be found on KELSI

8. Offer Lists Sent 23 Feb – Returned as Accept/Refuse list 12 Apr Schools need to check Offer Lists for unexpected outcomes and check with the LA Results are confidential until offer day has passed Welcome Letters no earlier than 3 March Offer List is used to record parental acceptances and refusals (then referred to as Acceptance/Refusal List) Only “Accepted” or “Refused” to be recorded Leave outstanding responses as blank

9. Reallocation Lists Sent 21 Mar – Returned with Accept/Refuse list 12 Apr Contains Waiting List requests and Late Applications received until 18 March Schools need to rank lists using same oversubscription criteria as Offer Day Waiting List requests are returned to school in previous rank order, but should be checked for changes Late Applications are highlighted in red, but should be treated the same way as Waiting List requests To be returned with Acceptance/Refusal List

10. Transition to In Year Remainder of Waiting Lists returned to schools after Reallocation on 29 April and can offer places as vacancies arise New applicants for Y7 places should be managed as In Year Applications The LA will collate admissions data and roll numbers from schools to track and identify children without a school place Parents who have not applied in either co-ordinated round should use a Post Reallocation Common Application Form (PRCAF), sending a copy to the school and KCC.

11. Verifying Addresses Parents must provide proof by 21 March Important as Appeals panel will seek confirmation that all offers were made correctly Examples include utility bills, bank or credit card statements with personal financial details blacked out, a bank statement of a savings account in the child’s name, child tax and working tax credit letter (TC602), child’s medical card or a letter from a medical centre, hospital GP surgery

12. Verifying Addresses Documents should not be more than three months old Should show residence at closing date not application date Ensure that you keep notes of any conversations that you may have with parents regarding the evidence

13. Verifying Addresses The home address for a child is considered to be a residential property that is the child’s only or main residence and not an address at which the child may stay during the week such as a friend’s, grandparent’s or childminder's home It must be: owned by the child’s parent, parents or guardian OR leased or rented by the child’s parent, parents or guardian under a lease or written rental agreement OR a property that the applicant has exchanged contracts on or have a lease/rental agreement for by 2 November 2015, the deadline for completing the SCAF. However, it would be expected that they would move in before the offer day on 1 March 2016 otherwise the offer of a school place may be withdrawn. If applicants have exchanged contracts or have a rental agreement after they submitted their application, they can advise Admissions and provide us with the appropriate documentation. We will amend the application to reflect the new address if received no later than 11 December 2015

14. Appeals Deadline for “on time” appeals is 20 school days after Offer Day – 13 April The hearing must take place within 40 school days of the closing date

15. Consultation and Determination of Admission Arrangements Where changes are proposed (excluding PAN increases)the Admission Authority must consult for at least 6 weeks between 1 October and 31 January in the year preceding intake Where no changes are proposed, arrangements must be consulted on at least every 7 years

16. Consultation and Determination of Admission Arrangements All Admission Authorities must determine and publish their arrangements annually by 28 February and it is a requirement of the Code (1.47) that ‘Admission Authorities must send a copy of their full, determined arrangements to the Local Authority as soon as possible before 15 march’, even if no changes are made Objections to determined arrangements can be referred to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator until 15 May Improved guidance can be found on KELSI

17. Admitting Over PAN Maintaining or increasing the PAN does not require consultation, except between the LA and its own schools. Decreasing the PAN does. (1.3) An Admission Authority intending permanently to increase its PAN must notify the LA of the proposed increase when sending in determined arrangements and publish it on its website (1.4)

18. Admitting Over PAN If an Admission Authority wants places offered in excess of its determined PAN on National Offer Day it must let the LA know “in good time” (1.4). The latest date for this would be 20 January, when all schools return their ranked lists of applicants so that offers can be made This does not increase the PAN permanently, though it may affect the defence of future appeals for that year group An offer of places in excess of PAN is best made on National Offer Day, so that all offers are made by the same rules, and more children benefit

19. Supporting EAL Families Wherever possible, schools should support families where English is an additional language (EAL) in applying for a school place. Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) can offer a vital link for these families. This is especially important for schools with complex oversubscription criteria, or lengthy Supplementary Information Forms. Schools can contact the Admissions Team for advice and to confirm whether an application has been made for a child that they come in contact with.

20. In Year Admissions

21. Summary of Code Schools (including academies and free schools) are required under the code to “notify the local authority of both the application and its outcome” (2.22). They must also provide the LA with the necessary information to “allow the local authority to keep up to date figures on the availability of places in the area” (2.22). Schools will continue to be required to explain to parents their right to appeal against the refusal of a place. The LA is required to produce information for parents about vacancies and will “provide in the composite prospectus how in-year applications can be made and will be dealt with” (2.21).

22. LA Aiding Parents The LA will continue to provide advice to parents in our yearly admissions book, on our website and via telephone If a parent is struggling to find a place they can contact the LA who will inform them of schools in their area that have places. Parents can then approach those schools to secure the place The LA will continue to collect information about places from schools Where a parent continues to be unsuccessful in finding a place, the LA may refer cases to Fair Access Panels

23. Ongoing Issues If a place is available, you must offer it (except Grammar schools where the child is not eligible) Parents must be told about their right to join a waiting list or appeal If a child leaves, offers should be made from the waiting list as soon as possible School name and/or outcome missing from IYCAF Incomplete parental section of IYCAF Send IYCAF back when application has finished Keep copies of all correspondence

24. In Year Admissions for Children in Care (CIC) In Year Admissions for KCC CIC will continue to be supported & managed through VSK and the Admissions Placement Officers. VSK recommend that should a social worker/foster carer make direct contact with a school ( as of course they can), that in order that appropriate support is in place for the child, VSK are contacted and they will, in conjunction with the Senior Admissions Placement Officer and other professionals, advocate for a structured Education plan for the transition of the child. Carol Moyler – 03000 412202 Samantha Pilcher – 07834 417449

25. CME Process When a school offers a place and this place is accepted by the parent; if subsequently the child does not start, the school must complete a CME referral (CME2 form) and send it directly to the CME team. The school has a duty of safeguarding as well as CME A CME2 Referral form is available from the CME team at KCC Email cme@kent.gov.ukcme@kent.gov.uk Tel: 0300 333 5540 (ask for the CME team) Once completed the CME referral can be emailed to cme@kent.gov.uk or sent to: cme@kent.gov.uk Children Missing Education, Room 2.24, Sessions House, Maidstone ME14 1XQ CME Officer – Sandra Hopperton – 01622 694112

26. Send additional questions to kent.admissions@kent.gov.ukkent.admissions@kent.gov.uk Contact the team on 03000 412121 Any questions?