Admission to secondary school - A guide to parents and carers by Medway Council

September 2016 entry

For children born between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005

Admission to

secondary school nt dates:

Importa

A guide for parents and carers

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

apply online www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions Online admissions The quickest, easiest and safest way to apply for your secondary school place. If you give us your email address when applying you will: â&#x2013; receive

confirmation your application has been received;

â&#x2013; receive

details of the school offered on offer day, without having to wait for your offer letter.

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Make a note of your log in details - you will need this information every time you visit the website.

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Contacts

Contents

● Medway Council Student Services Admissions Team

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

The Admissions Team, based at Gun Wharf in Chatham, coordinates all Year 6 transfers to secondary school and organise the Medway Test (11+).

Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR Phone: 01634 331110 Email: admissions@medway.gov.uk

● Medway Council Student Services Operations Team This Operations Team deals with free school meals, transport to school (except for those attending special schools) and casual admissions. Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR Phone: 01634 331155 Email: schoolstransportandfreemeals@medway.gov.uk casualadmissions@medway.gov.uk

● Medway Council Initial Contact Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. Calls to Initial Contact may be recorded or monitored for security and staff development purposes. Phone: 01634 333333 Text relay: 18001 - 01634 333333

● Kent County Council

Kent County Council Admissions and Transport Room 2.24, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ Phone: 03000 412121 Email: kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk

apply online

Key dates for the secondary transfer 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Section one Introduction and general information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Section two The Medway Test and other testing arrangements . . . . . . .8 Section three The school application process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Section four The online admissions process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Section five The school offer process and next steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Section six Free school meals and home to school transport . . . . . . . .20 Section seven Common oversubscription criteria and other useful information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Section eight The schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Location and access areas of schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

How to use the school pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Medway Primary School DFE numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Nearest qualifying school confirmation request . . . . . . .49

Disclaimer The information given in this booklet relates to the academic year, September 2016 to August 2017. Details are correct at the time of going to print.

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Welcome Dear parent/carer, The transfer from primary to secondary education is an exciting time for young people and their families. There is a wide range of opportunities available to your child as we have a diverse mix of schools open to all children, these include grammar schools, academies, single sex schools and faith schools. All of these schools have a single aim, which is to ensure that all young people have a happy and successful time at their secondary school. All of our schools are committed to providing high quality teaching and learning for all students, to make the best use of technology available and provide young people with a full education experience. Whilst we all want young people to achieve the best exam results that they can, we equally want young people to build on their talents, skills and interests to ensure that they leave education as capable and confident young adults. I would actively encourage you to go along to all the secondary schools you are interested in during their organised open sessions to ensure that you have as much knowledge of the schools when you are deciding which to name as preferences on your application. I would also encourage you to attend one of the presentations being offered by the Student Services Admissions Team to hear about the admissions process first hand and to ask any questions you may have. This information booklet will give you all of the information you need for the admissions process and I encourage you to read it carefully. The Student Services Admissions Team is also available to offer you the help or support you need and to guide you through the whole process, so please contact them if you have any questions or need any advice. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your child all the best for their secondary school career. Barbara Peacock

Director of Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Adult Services

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Key dates

for the secondary transfer 2016

Registration for the Medway Test opens. Online registrations open at 9am Student Services admission presentations for Year 5 parents/carers Closing date and time for Medway Test registration Deadline for special arrangements requests from schools Secondary applications open. Online application open at 9am Medway Test date

Monday, 8 June 2015

Tuesday, 9, Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 June 2015 4pm - Friday, 3 July 2015

9am - Friday, 10 July 2015

Monday, 7 September 2015

Tuesday, 15 / Wednesday, 16 September, 2015

The Medway Test is for admission to Medway grammar schools only.

(in school for children in Medway primary/junior schools)

sit that local authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s test.

(in school for Medway schools that opt for Saturday testing and

Assessment Decision Letters posted to parents/carers

Friday, 2 October 2015

For grammar schools in another local authority, children must

(emails sent after 4pm to those who registered online) Deadline for Medway Test Review Requests Deadline for primary and junior schools to submit review work to the council Medway Test Reviews Review decisions posted to parents/carers

Saturday, 19 September 2015

in test centres for children not in Medway primary/junior schools)

Friday, 9 October 2015

10am - Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Between Wednesday, 14 and Friday, 16 October 2015 By Friday, 23 October 2015

Closing date and time for applications (online and SCAFs) - National closing date

4pm - Monday, 2 November 2015

Offer emails and letters sent to parents/carers - National offer day

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Places must be accepted/refused and requests to go on a waiting list and

By Thursday, 31 March 2016

(emails sent after 4pm to those who applied online)

appeals must be submitted The council re-allocates any places that have become available to those who

(as 31 October 2015 is a Saturday)

From Monday, 11 April 2016

have asked to go on the waiting lists for each school

Section one Introduction and general information Making the right decision about which secondary school is right for your child can be an anxious time for families. Medway Council’s Student Services Team is here to help you understand and guide you through the process. It is very important that you read carefully, and understand, the information in this booklet regarding how the admissions process works, and how school places are allocated, before you submit your school application. Throughout this booklet we have provided useful information to help you make the most informed decisions possible. We encourage you to use this information, do your own research on schools and visit all of the schools you are interested in during their open sessions. Most importantly, please discuss your decisions with your child to ensure that they are fully involved and happy about the transition from primary to secondary education.

Where can I hear about the admissions process?

Student Services is giving all parents of children in Year 5 the opportunity to attend a presentation session. These sessions are designed to go through the admissions process from start to finish and give you the chance to ask any questions you may have.

Medway Council works within the guidelines set out in the School Admissions Code published by the

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions and have any questions, please contact Student Services or speak to your child’s primary school.

Can I visit the secondary schools I’m interested in?

In addition to the presentations being offered by Student Services, each school will hold their own open sessions. These are an opportunity for you to tour the school, speak to staff and students, listen to presentations about the school and ask any questions you may have.

The table below provides details of the dates, times and venues for these presentations.They are drop in sessions so there is no need to book an appointment.

Summary of Student Services admissions presentations Date

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

If you have any questions, please contact Student Services or speak to your child’s primary school. Student Services Admissions Team Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR. Phone: 01634 331110 Email: admissions@medway.gov.uk

The presentations will take place at two venues on each date with two sessions at each venue.

Department for Education. Details of the School Admissions Code can be found at www.education.gov.uk

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Area

Venue

Time

Chatham and Rochester

Fort Pitt Grammar School, Fort Pitt Hill, Chatham ME4 6TJ

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Walderslade

Greenacre Academy, 157 Walderslade Road, Chatham ME5 0LP

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Gillingham

The Robert Napier School, Third Avenue, Gillingham ME7 2LX

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Strood

Cedar Primary School, Cedar Road, Strood ME2 2JP

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Peninsula

The Hundred of Hoo Academy, Main Road, Hoo, Rochester ME3 9HH

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Rainham

Rainham Mark Grammar School, Pump Lane, Gillingham ME8 7AJ

4.30pm and 6.30pm

Thursday, 11 June 2015 apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

These are a valuable opportunity for parents and children. We encourage you to visit as many schools as you can to help you make the most informed decisions when applying for schools.

What does it mean?

School status

A guide to the terms used in the summary over the page and in the admission process.

All schools have a particular status which describes the type of school it is.

For details of these open sessions please refer to the individual schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pages in section 8 and from the schools directly.

School type

You will hear about academies, community schools, foundation schools, voluntary aided schools and voluntary controlled schools.

What happens if my child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SSEN) or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?

If your child has one of these, they will not go through this admission process.You will discuss your school preferences with the Special Educational Needs Team to determine which secondary school is right for your child. If you wish your child to be considered for selective (grammar) schools, you will need to ensure that they have gone through the Medway Test process (see section 2). For more information, please contact the Special Educational Needs Team on 01634 337170 or 337175.

Selective schools These are grammar schools. To meet the entry requirements of the school, a child must be assessed as selective (grammar) under the Medway Test procedures. Non-selective schools Children are not required to be assessed for entry to these schools. Please be aware that Brompton Academy, Strood Academy and The Robert Napier School operate a Fair Banding test - this is not a pass or fail test, it is to ensure that children across the ability range are admitted. Summary of Schools

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

They are all secondary schools but offer different opportunities for learning and deliver these in different ways. The status of each school will be shown on its individual page. Please speak to the school to find out more about what they can offer your child.

Published Admission Number (PAN) This is the number of places available to be allocated in 2016. Type

Brompton Academy Academy Chatham Grammar School for Boys Grammar Chatham Grammar School for Girls Grammar Fort Pitt Grammar School Grammar Greenacre Academy Academy The Howard School Bi-lateral The Hundred of Hoo Academy Academy Rainham Mark Grammar School Grammar Rainham School for Girls Academy The Robert Napier School Academy The Rochester Grammar School Grammar Sir Joseph Williamsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mathematical School Grammar St John Fisher Catholic School Comprehensive Strood Academy Academy The Thomas Aveling School Academy The Victory Academy (formerly Bishop of Rochester Academy) Academy Walderslade Girls School Academy Details for all Medway Secondary Schools can be found in section 8.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status

Academy Academy Academy Academy Academy Foundation Academy Academy Academy Academy Academy Academy Voluntary Aided Academy Academy Academy Academy

PAN 210 120 142 120 200 250 270 205 270 180 205 168 180 240 190 240 160

Section two

The Medway Test and other testing arrangements

The first thing you need to think about is whether you want your child to be considered for admission to a Medway selective (grammar) school. If you do, then they will need to sit the Medway Test (also referred to as the 11 plus).

Your child’s primary school teacher and headteacher will be able to help you decide if a selective school is right for your child, and advise you on whether they feel your child is best suited to sit the Medway Test. However, it is ultimately your decision whether you register your child to sit the test or not. We do not advise that children sit the test who are not working consistently at the levels required or who will not be considering applications to Medway grammar schools. We also advise against children sitting the test as an ‘experience’ or to help measure them against their peers. Medway operates a testing before preference system. This means that your child will sit the Medway Test and receive their result before the closing date for secondary school applications. This is to help you make the most informed decision you can when selecting which schools to name on your application. You must ensure that your child is registered to sit the Medway Test. More details on how and when to do this are listed on page 9.

Which schools does the Medway Test apply to?

In Medway, we have six selective (grammar) secondary schools. These are: Chatham Grammar School for Boys Chatham Grammar School for Girls Fort Pitt Grammar School Rainham Mark Grammar School Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School The Rochester Grammar School

In addition to these, The Howard School will also provide places for children assessed as suitable for admission to a Medway grammar school. These children will be placed into the grammar stream after places have been allocated.

Further details can be found on page 33.

Can I use my child’s Medway Test result for a grammar school in another area?

The Medway Test is for Medway grammar schools only. The Kent Test is for Kent grammar schools only.

What does the Medway Test consist of? Three separate papers:

1 An extended writing exercise 2 A mathematics paper 3 A verbal reasoning (VR) paper

The Medway Test result can only be used for entrance to one of the Medway grammar schools, as listed above.

If you are considering grammar schools in another area (for example, Kent), then you will need to contact them directly to find out what their testing arrangements are. If your child sits a selective test for another area, you cannot use that result for Medway grammar schools (unless it is stated in the schools’ oversubscription criteria). apply online

These tests are specifically written for Medway and are designed to select 23 per cent of children in the year group as assessed suitable for grammar school education. Up to a further two per cent are selected through the review process.

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

When and where is the Medway Test being held?

This depends which school your child currently attends. The table on page 12 lists the dates and venues for each Medway primary/junior and independent school. Each Medway school decides where and when to undertake the testing for their children. If you have any questions regarding your school’s decision, please speak with the school directly. Children, who live and/or attend primary/junior and independent schools outside of Medway (for example, Kent schools) will be invited to sit the test in a test centre on Saturday, 19 September 2015.

Test invitation letters will be sent to all children who have registered to sit the Medway Test to confirm the venue and other details by the end of August 2015.

How do I register my child to sit the Medway Test?

Registration is open from Monday, 8 June 2015 until 4pm on Friday, 3 July 2015. www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

You can register your child online at

Alternatively you can complete a registration form and return it to your child’s primary school (if a Medway school) or to the Student Services Admissions Team details can be found on page 3. Please note: Paper registration forms will not be acknowledged over the phone or in writing.

I live outside Medway. How do I register? If you live in another area but wish your child to sit the Medway Test, then you can register your child in either of the ways previously mentioned.

If you complete a paper registration form it must be returned to the Medway Council Student Services Admissions Team by the closing date.

I live in Medway, but want my child to sit a selective test in another area. What do I do?

You must contact the local authority concerned to find out how and when to register for their test. Can my child sit selective tests in more than one area?

You can register your child for as many tests as you

wish if you are considering schools in more than one area.We advise that you contact the local authorities concerned to register your child for their tests.

special arrangements process. You may ask your child’s headteacher to submit a special arrangements request.

As all selection tests are specifically written for that local authority, we do not advise that children sit multiple tests as practice tests.

A panel of specialist advisors will consider all requests received and will determine what the appropriate arrangements should be for your child. Please be advised that special arrangements are not granted if the panel does not feel it would be appropriate. There is no opportunity to appeal against the panel’s decisions as this is not a statutory process.

My child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP. Can they sit the Medway Test?

The Medway Test is open to all children currently in Year 5 who wish to be considered for a Medway grammar school place. If your child is statemented or has an EHCP you will have already started discussions with the Special Educational Needs Team regarding which schools you wish your child to be considered for. If these include Medway grammar schools, then you will need to ensure that you register your child to sit the test in the same way as other applicants. Your child will not go through the main admissions process, but their assessment decision will be taken into account when being considered for schools through the special educational needs process.

I feel my child needs special arrangements for testing. Is this possible?

If a child has a disability, health condition or learning need that may affect how they perform under testing conditions, we have a process that allows for this to be considered.

Firstly, you will need to register your child to sit the Medway Test in the normal way. You will then need to discuss with your child’s headteacher whether they feel you child’s needs fall under the apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

All special arrangements requests with evidence must be submitted by 9am on Friday, 10 July 2015.The panel will consider them, and we will write to parents and schools by the beginning of the autumn term.

Any requests made after 10 July 2015 may not be processed. I need to advise you of special access arrangements for the day. What do I do?

If you or your child has a disability that may affect access to the test centre please contact the student services programme officer by email admissions@medway.gov.uk as soon as possible after registration.

How is the Medway Test marked? Each paper is marked based on the number of correct answers (for maths and verbal reasoning) and against specific criteria (for extended writing). These marks provide the raw scores.

The raw scores are then standardised. This means that the scores are weighted to reflect the child’s age at the time of taking the test. It enables a child’s scores to be compared with those achieved by

other children taking the Medway Test and allowance made for age, so that the youngest children are not at a disadvantage.

When will I receive my child’s test results?

The minimum standardised (weighted) score for each paper is 70 and the maximum is 140.

For children who registered on time to sit the Medway Test, assessment decision letters will be posted by 1st class post on Friday, 2 October, 2015. These letters will provide full details of your child’s result and what to do next.

Each year, a minimum weighted score is set to determine those assessed as selective. This score is set to select 23 per cent of the children in the year group and differs from year to year dependent on the size of the year group and the number of children taking the test. Medway Council will not know what this score will be for 2016 admissions until after all test papers have been marked and standardised.

Those parents who registered their child online, and provided an email address, will also be sent an email after 4pm on Friday, 2 October 2015. This email will advise you of your child’s assessment decision, and you will also receive a letter with full details of your child’s result and what to do next.

For 2015 admissions, the minimum weighted score was 525. For 2014 admissions, the minimum weighted score was 528. For 2013 admissions, the minimum weighted score required was 509. To calculate the total weighted score, the following calculation is used: Extended writing exercise = standardised score x 2 Maths = standardised score x 2 Verbal reasoning = standardised score x 1 The minimum total weighted score that can be achieved is 350 and the maximum is 700.

We cannot give results out over the phone. If I’m not satisfied with my child’s result, what can I do?

If your child has not been assessed as selective following the Medway Test, and you feel that your child is of selective ability, you can request a review of your child’s academic work by a panel.

All the information you need on how to do this will be included with your child’s assessment decision letter. We strongly advise you to discuss your decision on whether to submit a review request with your child’s school. However, it is ultimately a parental decision.

The panel will review this academic work to decide if it demonstrates that your child is of selective ability. Each year a number of children are found to be selective as a result of the review process. Depending on the size of the year group and the number of children taking the test, up to two per cent of children in each year will be successful.

When do I need to request a review by? Full details of how to request a review will be included with your child’s assessment decision letter. Review requests will need to be submitted to the Student Services Admissions Team by Friday, 9 October 2015.

The reviews will take place between Wednesday, 14 and Friday, 16 October 2015.

What is the review? Once you have submitted your review request, your child’s school will be asked to provide work in three areas (English, maths and science). The review is of academic work only and any comments made by parents or schools are only for context.

apply online

When will I know the review decision? The result of the reviews will be posted to parents by Friday, 23 October 2015. This is before the closing date for school applications, which is Monday, 2 November 2015.

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Do I have to request a review? This is a parental decision. Even if you do not request a review, you will still be able to appeal for a Medway grammar school place, as long as you have named Medway grammar schools on your application for schools.

If I am not happy with the review decision or I did not request a review, what else can I do?

If your child is not assessed as selective as a result of the Medway Test or the review process, or you did not request a review, you will need to wait until after the allocation of school places on 1 March 2016 before you can lodge an admissions appeal.

You can only appeal for a school if you have been refused admission, so you will need to ensure that your have named Medway grammar schools on your application in order to allow you to appeal for a place after 1 March 2016. The appeal will be heard by an independent appeal panel.You can appeal for more than one school, but they must have been named on your application.

Full details of how to appeal will be included with your child’s school offer letter. Will the appeal panel know if my child has had a review or not?

The panel will be made aware if you have had a review or not. This is because it will affect the way they consider the appeal.

If your child has not been through the review process, the independent appeal panel will consider all the factors you put forward in your appeal case.

What happens if I miss the closing date for Medway Test registration?

Late registrations to sit the Medway Test will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances or for good reason (for example, serious illness, bereavement, late move to the area, etc). A letter explaining the reasons for the late registration must accompany any late registration request. Late registrations for good reason and for families who have just moved into the area will be accepted up until Friday, 7 August 2015. The decision on whether a reason for late registration is acceptable will be at the discretion of the Student Services Management Team. Any late registrations received after the above dates may not be able to be tested until after the allocation of places on 1 March 2016.

Are there any other testing arrangements for Medway secondary schools?

Brompton Academy, Strood Academy and The Robert Napier School require all applicants to sit a Fair Banding Test.

This test is to assess a child’s level of ability and is used to help the school ensure that they admit an all ability intake of pupils. It is not a pass or fail test and is used to ensure that students from across the ability range are admitted. If you are considering naming Brompton Academy, The Robert Napier School or Strood Academy as one of your preferences on your school application, you will need to register your child to enable them to sit the Fair Banding Test. You will need to contact the schools directly for more information. Medway Council is not involved in these Fair Banding Tests.

Fair Banding testing across Medway 2015

If your child has gone through the review process then the independent appeal panel will consider if the review was carried out in a fair, consistent and objective manner for all children and for your child in particular. Only if they feel there is evidence to prove that the review was not carried out in a fair, consistent and objective manner can they then consider all the factors you put forward in your appeal case that may have affected your child’s performance and why you wish them to attend the school you are appealing for.

Brompton Academy

Saturday ,12 September and Saturday, 17 October

The Robert Napier School Saturday, 5 September and Saturday, 10 October

apply online

Strood Academy

Saturday, 26 September and Saturday, 10 October

Medway Test

Tuesday, 15 and Wednesday, 16 September or Saturday, 19 September

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Medway Test dates September 2015 Test invitation letters will be sent our at the end of August 2015, this will confirm your child’s test location and date. Testing is in schools unless otherwise stated. The test centres for out of area children will be advised nearer the time.

School name

Test date

School name

Test date

All Faiths’ Children’s Academy All Saints CE Primary School Allhallows Primary School Balfour Junior School Barnsole Primary School Bligh Federation - Juniors Brompton-Westbrook Primary School Bryony School Burnt Oak Primary School Byron Primary School Cedar Primary School The Cedars School (independent) Chattenden Primary School Cliffe Woods Primary School Cuxton Community Junior School Deanwood Primary School and Children’s Centre Delce Junior School Elaine Primary Academy English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School Fairview Community Primary School Featherby Junior School The Gordon School - Juniors Halling Primary School Hempstead Junior School High Halstow Primary School Hilltop Primary School Hoo St Werburgh Primary School and Marlborough Centre Horsted School - Juniors Kingfisher Primary School Kings School Rochester Lordswood School Luton Junior School Maundene Primary School Meredale Independent Primary School

Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 * Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Sat 19 Sat 19 (test centre) Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16

Miers Court Primary School Napier Primary School New Road Primary School and Nursery School Oaklands School Oasis Academy Skinner Street Park Wood Junior School Phoenix Junior Academy The Pilgrim School Riverside Primary School Saxon Way Primary School St Andrew’s School St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School St Helen’s CE Primary School St James’ CE Primary School St Margaret’s at Troy Town CE Primary School St Margaret’s CE Junior School St Mary’s Catholic Primary School St Mary’s Island CEA Primary School St Michael’s RC Primary School St Thomas More RC Primary School St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School St William of Perth RC Primary School Stoke Community Primary School Swingate Primary School Temple Mill Primary School Thames View Primary School Twydall Primary School Nursery and Children’s Centre Wainscott Primary School Walderslade Primary School Warren Wood Primary School Wayfield Primary School The Academy of Woodlands

Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16 Sat 19 Tues 15 / Wed 16

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

* Not confirmed at time of going to print

Section three The school application process Q

When can I apply for school places? Medway Council’s secondary school applications are open from 9am on Monday, 7 September 2014 until 4pm on Monday, 2 November 2015.

Who do I apply to?

You must submit your school application to your home local authority. This is the local authority where the child lives and is the local authority to which applications must be made for school places.

If your child lives in Medway, and you pay your council tax to Medway Council, then you submit your school application to Medway Council. If your child lives in Kent, and you pay your council tax to one of the 12 district councils of Kent, then you must submit your school application to Kent County Council. If your child lives in any other local authority area and you pay council tax to them, then you submit your application to that local authority.

How do I apply for secondary schools? You can apply online at www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Alternatively, you can complete a secondary common application form (SCAF) and return it to your child’s primary school (if a Medway school) or to the Student Services Admissions Team details can be found on page 3. Please note: Paper applications will not be acknowledged over the phone or in writing.

I live in Medway. What schools can I apply for?

Details of the Medway secondary schools are provided in section 8.

Medway residents can also apply for schools outside Medway, but these must be named on your Medway application. You can name any school you wish your child to be considered for. Medway invites parents to name up to six schools on the Medway application. You do not have to name six, but it is important to understand that naming only one school does not give you a stronger claim to a place. Please only name each school once. If you name a school more than once it will only be considered as one preference. If your child has been assessed as non-selective, but you wish to pursue a place at a Medway grammar school at appeal, then you must name the Medway grammar school on your application. If you do not name the school, you will not have the right of appeal after the school offers are made on 1 March 2016.

I live in Medway, but want to apply for schools outside Medway. What do I do?

You must submit your school application to Medway Council.You can name schools outside Medway and we will liaise with the relevant local authority to see if a place can be offered.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

I live outside Medway. How do I apply? If you live in another area you must submit your school application through the relevant authority.You can still name schools in Medway, but the application must go through your home local authority. If you require information on their schools, please contact the relevant local authority to ask for a copy of the secondary admissions booklet or visit their website.

My child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP. Can I apply?

No. If your child has one of these you will have

already had discussions with the Special Educational Needs Team regarding which schools you wish your child to be considered for. Your child will not go through the main admissions process.

If you have any questions regarding the special educational needs admissions process, please contact the Special Educational Needs Team on 01634 337170 or 337175.

My child has a medical or health condition or disability. What should I do?

At the time of application, you need to provide Medway Council with details of the diagnosis and a supporting letter from the GP or consultant which demonstrates a specific link between your child’s needs and how the named school can meet these needs. Please note that not all schools use health medical needs or disability in their oversubscription criteria.

Why is the order that I name schools important? Medway operates an equal preference scheme, this means that the prioritisation of school place offers is not based on which preference you name a school.Your application will be considered and ranked against the schools oversubscription criteria.When allocating places, Students Services will look to offer your child a place at the highest named school where a place can be offered. It is important to list the schools in your preferred order. The schools that you name will not be told by Student Services which preference you name them.The order of your preferences is between you and Student Services only for the purposes of allocating places.

What are the oversubscription criteria? This is a set of criteria that details the order priority in which places will be offered. Each school has its own criteria, details of these can be found in section 8.

I need to apply for more than one child, or children of multiple birth for example twins, what do I need to do?

You will need to complete a separate application for each child.

If you are applying online, please ensure that you start a fresh application for each child and do not overwrite one child’s application with the other child’s details. If you do this, the first application will become invalid.

Why is my address important? The address you give on your secondary school application is very important and will be used to calculate the home to school distance for the schools you have named. This will have an effect on your

child’s application when it is considered against the school’s oversubscription criteria.

It is important that the address you provide is your child’s main place of residence. This means that they must live at this address permanently, or, in the case of separated families, it must be the address where your child spends the majority of the school nights. Please be aware that only one address can be used on the application. We can send duplicate correspondence to another address as long as all parties are in agreement.

How do you define the majority of school nights?

For the purposes of the admissions process, school nights are defined as Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is because children will be going to school on the following morning. To determine how many school nights your child spends with each parent, please use this definition.

For example, if your child sleeps Sunday, Monday, Tuesday at your address and Wednesday, Thursday at their other parent’s address, the admission process would determine that your address is where your child spends the majority of the school nights. This is because they will be going to school from your address on three school days and from their other parent’s address on two school days. If you are unsure of the address to be used in your circumstances, please contact the Student Services Admissions Team who will be happy to help you.

My child comes from a separated family. What happens if you receive an application from me and one from my child’s other parent?

If Medway Council receive two applications for your child (one from each parent), we will contact both parties to seek written agreement on the following: apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

1 The child’s main address to be used for the application. 2 The schools to be considered on the application. 3 The preference order of the schools to be considered. Whilst awaiting written agreement from both parties, the applications will be removed from the process and held pending. Once written agreement is received from both parties, your child’s application will be included in the process with the agreed details. If written agreement from both parties is not received your child’s application will continue to be held pending until the matter is resolved. In these situations parents may wish to seek their own independent legal advice on how to resolve the situation. It is important to understand that, if both parties cannot reach agreement and the situation remains unresolved, your child may not be offered a school place on 1 March 2016 or until the matter is settled. This means that your child could be disadvantaged because agreement on the application has not been reached.

I am moving shortly. What address do I use?

You must use the address you are living at on the closing date for school applications (2 November 2015).

If you are moving after you have submitted your application, you will need to provide the Student Services Admissions Team with proof of your move. This proof can be in the form of a copy of your

exchange of contracts, completion documents or signed tenancy agreement. Any request for a change of address can be accepted up until 4pm on Friday, 13 November 2015 if accompanied by sufficient evidence. After this date, changes of address are for correspondance only.

What happens if I give false information? If you deliberately provide false information on your school application, such as an address, and a place is granted on the basis of this information that would not have otherwise been offered, we can and will withdraw the offer of a school place.

If you believe that someone has provided false information on their school application, we ask that you contact the Student Services Manager at Medway Council. All such contacts will be treated in confidence and we will not disclose any of your personal information. If any part of your application is thought to be false we will investigate, and the emphasis will be on parents to provide satisfactory evidence proving the point being queried.

What do Medway Council accept as proof of address, if required, for the admissions process?

If Medway Council request you to provide proof of the address where your child is living for the admission process, a copy of one of the following will be acceptable: • A Child Benefit letter • A Child Tax Credits award letter

• A copy of your child’s medical card showing the address they are registered at with their GP. • A copy of your most recent council tax bill. Copies of any letters or bills provided must be dated during the application period. Bank statements, driving licenses, utility bills etc are not acceptable evidence. Any evidence provided dated outside the application period may not be accepted as you wil be requested to prove your child’s address at the time of application (7 September to 2 November 2015).

What happens if I miss the closing date for applications?

The closing date for applications is Monday, 2 November 2015. Late applications cannot be made online. All late applicants must complete a secondary common application form (SCAF) and return it direct to the Student Services Admissions Team.

● By Friday, 13 November 2015 As far as reasonably practicable, late applications will be accepted to be processed on time, provided they are received by Medway Council by the above date. Such applications must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reasons for late submission. Only exceptional circumstances can be considered by the Student Services Management Team. Exceptional circumstances may include serious illness, bereavement, late move to the area, etc. Late applications received from families that have just moved into the area must be accompanied by sufficient proof of move. This can be a copy of a signed tenancy agreement, exchange of contracts or completion documents. apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

The decision on whether a reason for late application is acceptable will be at the discretion of the Student Services Management Team. If it is decided that the reason for late submission is not exceptional, the application will be held until after allocation on 1 March 2016 and will be considered at re-allocation.

● After Friday, 13 November 2015 All applications received after this date (for whatever reason) will not be considered for places on 1 March 2016. They will be held pending and included in the ongoing reallocation of vacant places after 11 April 2016 and after consultation with the relevant admission authority for the named schools/academies. The child’s name will automatically be placed on the waiting list for any schools/academies they named that are unable to offer a place.

Can I change my preferences after the closing date?

Changes to preference are not allowed after the closing date for applications (2 November 2015) other than in exceptional circumstances. If you feel that your circumstances fall into this category, please submit your request in writing to the Student Services Management Team for consideration. However, no changes can be made to your application after 13 November 2015.

Section four

The online admissions process

Medway Council would like to encourage all parents/carers of children resident in Medway to submit their Medway Test registration and secondary school application online. Applying online offers you a quick, easy and secure option for submitting your application.

You can apply online at www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

When can I register or apply online? You can access the online admissions system during the following periods:

To register your child to take the Medway Test – from 9am on Monday, 8 June 2015 until 4pm on Friday, 3 July 2015. To submit your child’s secondary school application – from 9am on Monday, 7 September 2015 until 4pm on Monday, 2 November 2015.

What are the benefits of applying online? You can submit your application at a time that suits you, anytime, day or night, during the periods shown above.

The online system provides a secure, fast and easy method of sending us your application and provides you with email confirmation that it has been received.

We strongly advise you to wait for your Medway Test result before submitting your school preferences.

You will then need to enter your details and your child’s details if you are registering for the Medway Test – you will need to submit at this stage.You can add your school preferences later, then re-submit your application during the periods shown above.

Can I submit an online request for my child to sit the Medway Test?

Yes. You can submit your Medway Test

Are there any benefits to registering online for the Medway Test?

You can register at any time during the dates shown above. When registering online, you will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been received.

Online test registration is open to everybody, whether you live in Medway or not. If you live in Medway and pay your council tax to Medway Council and have registered for the Medway Test online, your username and password will allow you to update your information with your school preferences, and re-submit the application during the application period as shown above. apply online

What do I need to do to register and/or apply online?

Firstly, you will need to register with the website. You will be asked to create a username and password for yourself. We suggest that you make these easy to remember and keep a note of them (space is provided on the inside front cover of this booklet), as you will need these in the future to access your application.

After 4pm on the offer day, 1 March 2016, Medway Council will send details by email, of which school has been offered to parents who successfully submitted an online application and provided an email address.

Will I still receive a Medway Test results letter?

Yes. All applicants receive a formal results letter.

registration online.

We cannot accept any online applications made outside these periods.

Parents who register their child online to sit the Medway Test, and provide us with an email address, will be sent an email after 4pm with their child’s results.

If you provide an email address in your information, you will receive email confirmation. This will be a copy of the information you have provided.

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Can I change my application or my information after I have submitted it?

Yes. You can make changes to your application up until the closing date for the relevant submission (3 July for Medway Test registration and 2 November for secondary school applications).

You will need your username and password to re-enter your application and make any changes. It is vitally important that you remember to re-submit your application after you have made your changes as we can only process the last submitted application as at the closing date.

If you make changes and do not re-submit the application for processing your changes will not be included when the application is processed.

Will I still get a letter telling me my child’s school offer?

Yes. All applicants receive the formal offer letter.

Can I register/apply online and submit a paper application?

No. We can only process one application for each

pupil. If you have applied online, do not complete a paper application as well and vice versa. Do I need to complete supplementary information forms (SIF) for any Medway secondary schools? Yes. Please read the school information carefully

form must be completed in addition to an application. Forms can be obtained from the relevant school and must be returned to the school by the closing date for applications (2 November 2015).

How do I register for the Kent Test or apply for schools because I live in Kent?

You will need to apply directly to Kent County Council. This can be done online at www.kent.gov.uk/ola or by obtaining a paper form from Kent County Council. Phone 03000 412121.

and if a supplementary information is required the

Section five Q

The school offer (allocation) process and next steps

When will I find out my child’s school offer?

Secondary school places across England are offered on 1 March 2016. This is a national date.

All parents will be sent a formal offer letter advising them of the school offered and what to do next. These letters will be posted by Medway Council by 1st class post on 1 March 2016 to be received in the following few days. If you apply online, and provide an email address, you will also receive an email after 4pm on 1 March 2016 advising you of your child’s school offer.You

will still receive a formal letter and will need this to take the next steps. We cannot give offer details out over the phone.

Who will I receive my offer from? You will receive your school offer letter from your home local authority.This means, if you live in Medway and pay your council tax to Medway Council you will receive your letter from Medway Council.

If you live in Kent and pay your council tax to one of the 12 district councils of Kent then you will receive your offer letter from Kent County Council.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Why does it take so long from applying for schools to receiving the school offer?

The closing date for school applications (2 November) and the offer date for school places (1 March) are national dates set by central government. There are many procedures that need to be undertaken to process applications, including exchanging data with other councils and schools and working with schools to prioritise applicants.

How does Medway Council work out what priority my child has for a place at the schools I have named?

All school places are allocated in accordance with the individual school’s published oversubscription criteria. Full details of each school’s criteria can be found on the individual school information pages in section 8.

Student Services Admissions work in partnership with each school to ensure that all applicants are prioritised (ranked) correctly against the published oversubscription criteria.

How does Medway Council work out which school is to be offered to my child?

Medway operates an equal preference scheme, this means that the prioritisation of school place offers is not based on which preference you name a school.Your application will be considered and ranked against the school’s oversubscription criteria. When allocating places, Medway Council’s Student Services look to offer your child a place at the highest named school (preference) where a place can be offered. It is important to list the schools in your preferred order.

The schools that you name will not be told which preference you named them. The order of your preference is between you and Medway Council only for the purposes of allocation places.

What happens if more than one of the schools I name can offer my child a place?

What about children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP?

Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP do not go through this admissions process and any places being offered to a statemented child at a school will be allocated before all other places.

The school’s published admission number (PAN) will be adjusted to take account of any statemented children offered, and Student Services Admissions Team will offer up to the remaining number of places available at the school.

Am I guaranteed to get one of the schools named on my application?

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that we can offer a place at one of your named schools. It will depend on how oversubscribed the named schools are and where your child is prioritised against the school’s over subscription criteria.

We strongly advise you to name more than one school on your application to give you the best opportunity to receive the offer of a place at a school you are satisfied with. Medway residents can list up to six preferences. For 2015 admissions, 94.6 per cent of children received the offer of a place at a school named on their application form on 2 March 2015. 80.74 per cent of children received the offer of a place at their first preference school.

You will only receive the offer of one school place on 1 March 2016 and Medway Council will look to offer your child a place at the highest named school where a place can be offered. apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

What happens if you can’t offer my child a place at a school named on my application?

Medway Council has a duty to ensure that a school place is offered on 1 March 2016 to every child who has applied for a school place.

If we are not able to offer a place at one of your preferences, we will look to allocate a place at the nearest appropriate school to your home address that has a place available. Appropriate school means a Medway grammar school for children assessed as selective and a Medway non-selective school for children assessed as non-selective.

If my child is assessed as selective, will I definitely be offered a grammar school?

Although the vast majority of selective assessed children are offered places at a grammar school, sometimes we offer them a place at a non-selective school because it is named as a higher preference on the application.

If I am not happy with the school place offered, what can I do?

Full details of the next steps you can take following the school offer made on 1 March 2016 will be with the offer letter.You have a number of options, including requesting to be placed on a waiting list to be considered at re-allocation and lodging a school admission appeal. Brief details of some of these options are listed on the next page:

Waiting lists / Re-allocation:

You will be sent a waiting list request form along with your school offer letter on 1 March 2016. Using this form you can request to be placed on the waiting list for any of the schools you originally named on your application* and/or any other Medway secondary school* Your child will only be added to a waiting list if you have submitted a request form. The only exception to this is where an appeal has been lodged. Children who have appealed will also be added to the relevant school’s* waiting list. *Please note that you can only request to go on the waiting list for a Medway grammar school if your child has been assessed as selective under the Medway test procedures.

Student Services Admissions will then collate all waiting list requests and look to re-allocate (offer) any vacant school places that may become available to children who have requested to be placed on the waiting list. A child’s position on a school’s waiting list will be decided in accordance with the school’s published oversubscription criteria. Places are not held on

a first come, first served basis.

It is important to understand that a child’s place on the waiting list may change (up or down) dependent on the eligibility of other children who have requested to be on the waiting list. Waiting list requests must be submitted by 31 March 2016.

Vacant places will be re-allocated after 11 April 2016. Please note: If you are offered a school place at one of the schools you have named on your waiting list request, any other school offer will be automatically withdrawn to be re-allocated to another child.You will not have a claim on the original place offered if you change your mind and will need to be added to that school’s waiting list for consideration at future re-allocation. Appeals:

You have the right of appeal to any of the schools you have named on your application that has not been able to offer your child a place. This can include grammar schools, even if your child has not been assessed as selective, as long as you named them on your application.Your child, however, would be expected to have taken the Medway Test. You cannot lodge an appeal for a school you have not named on your application.

Full details of how to appeal and an appeal form will be included with your school offer letter on 1 March 2016. You can submit more than one appeal at the same time. Who you submit your appeal request to will depend on the school being appealed for, and details of where you need to send your form will be included with your letter on 1 March 2016. An independent appeal panel will hear admission appeals. They are independent of the school and Medway Council and their decision is binding on the school and Medway Council. apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Appeal requests must be lodged by 31 March 2016. Can I go on the waiting list and lodge an appeal for the same school?

Yes. You can submit a waiting list form and lodge an

appeal for the same school. The two processes are independent of each other, and being on the waiting list will not affect your appeal and vice versa.

How do I accept or refuse the school place offered?

You will receive an acceptance/refusal form with your school offer letter on 1 March 2016.You will need to complete this form and return it to the school being offered with your decision.

Acceptance/refusal forms must be returned to the schools by 31 March 2016. If I refuse the place offered, do I have a better chance of being offered a place from the waiting list or being successful at appeal?

No. Vacant places are only offered from waiting lists in accordance with the school’s oversubscription criteria. They are not dependent on whether or not you are holding the offer of a school place or not. In a similar way, appeal decisions are based on the cases heard by the independent appeal panel and not on whether you are holding a school place or not. We recommend that you accept your offer of a place in the first instance to ensure you have a place secured.

Section six

Free school meals and home to school transport

The following information on free school meals and home to school transport is correct at the time of going to print.

Please check the Medway Council website www.medway.gov.uk for the most up-to-date information nearer the time of your child starting secondary school.

Free school meals Will my child be entitled to free school meals?

Your child may qualify to receive free school meals if you receive certain qualifying benefits. At the time of printing this booklet, these are: ● Income Support; ● Jobseeker’s Allowance (income based); ● Employment and Support Allowance (Income related); ● The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit; ● Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; ● Child Tax Credit, but not entitled to Working Tax Credit, and whose annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,190. ● Universal Credit.

How do I apply for free school meals? You will need to complete the free school meals application form.

If applying during the school holidays, you will need to send the completed form to the freepost address on the bottom of the form. If applying at any other time, as well as this option, you can also take your completed form into your child’s school office. You can obtain an application form by calling the Student Services Operations Team on 01634 331155, or collecting one from your child’s school office, Medway Council’s Community Hubs in Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester, Strood and Rainham Contact Points and Rainham library.

Do I need to provide proof of benefit with my application?

You do not need to provide proof of benefit at this time. By signing the form you are allowing the Student Services Operations Team to verify your claim, for initial and ongoing entitlement to free school meals as well as entitlement to free home to school transport.

A number of academies in Medway are now processing their own free school meals and therefore Medway Council are unable to deal with your entitlement. Please contact the school direct to make your application. For a list of schools and academies please visit www.medway.gov.uk and search free school meals.

Do I have to renew my application for free school meals and if so, when?

No, you do not have to renew your application if all your details have remained the same.

The Student Services Operations Team will carry out regular reviews and contact you for further proof of benefit, if required.

If free school meals cannot be verified, the team will ask for an up to date, full copy of the proof of benefit you are receiving, to reassess your claim.

apply online

Do I need to complete the application form for all Medway schools?

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Who do I contact if any of my and/or my child’s personal details change, or I stop receiving benefit, once I am receiving free school meals?

Please contact the Student Services Operations Team on 01634 331155 to update your details. If you have moved address, you will be asked to complete a new application form.

If you do not notify the team, it could result in you having to repay the cost of any free school meals that your child has received.

Home to school transport How do I know if my child is eligible for free home to school transport?

Following the offer of a school place on 1 March 2016, the Student Services Operations Team will automatically assess all Year 6 pupils to see if they are eligible for free home to school transport to the school they have been offered.

Letters will be sent to all parents at the beginning of July 2016, confirming if free home to school transport has been granted.

What if I don’t agree with the decision? If you feel that the decision that your child is not eligible for free home to school transport is incorrect, or that your child’s circumstances warrant an exception to be made, you can submit an application form enclosing a letter explaining the reason why you wish your child’s case to be looked at further. The Student Services Management Team will look at this.

What is the current transport policy? The basic qualifying criteria to be eligible for free home to school transport is that you must live more than three miles from the secondary school your child will be attending and it must be deemed as the nearest qualifying school to your home address. Full details of the current policy can be found on the Medway Council website by searching ‘getting to school’ and following the appropriate link.

A nearest qualifying school form is available at the back of this booklet for you to request details of the schools deemed the nearest qualifying from your home address. Please note, these forms cannot be responded to prior to the beginning of September 2015.

Can I still apply for home to school transport if my child attends a private independant school?

No. Medway Council do not provide home to school transport for children attending private or independant schools.

How do I find out what bus routes and companies cover the journey to my child’s chosen school?

Arriva Bus Company operates the majority of bus routes in Medway. You can contact them for advice on 01634 283600 or visit their website www.arrivabus.co.uk to find out the service numbers, times and boarding points.

Tenders for bus services are often renewed, so at the time of printing this booklet, the following bus companies also operate in certain parts of Medway. To find out if they operate near you, please contact them on the numbers below: Bus Company 01622 882288 Coaches 01634 201065 ● Red Route 01474 353896 ● ASD Coaches 01634 726412 ● Chalkwell Coaches 01795 423982

If my child does not qualify for free home to school transport, are there any other schemes available in Medway?

Medway Youth Pass (young persons half-price bus fare scheme) - this entitles all young people who live in Medway to pay half the adult fare at all times when travelling on any local bus service. Full details of the terms and conditions and how to apply can be found on the Medway Council website by searching ‘Medway Youth pass’ and following the appropriate link.

Yellow Bus Scheme Medway Council provides the Yellow Bus Scheme, which supplies school buses for pupils living in certain parts of Medway to travel to specific schools. If you are interested in this service, please contact Medway Council on 01634 333455. Vacant Seat Payment Scheme

Children who do not qualify for free home to school transport may apply for a vacant seat on a hired school vehicle, if one operates on the route required, at a cost. It is important to understand that the seat on the transport may be withdrawn at any time if it is required by a child eligible for free home to school transport or if the transport is withdrawn. Further information on this scheme can be obtained from Medway Norse Transport on 01634 283210.

● Nu Venture ● Farleigh

If you express a preference for a school that is not the nearest qualifying school and you are offered a place, you will not qualify for free transport, even if the school is more than three miles from your home address.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section seven ● Individual school’s published

oversubscription criteria/admission arrangements

The oversubscription criteria detailed in section 8 of this booklet are the published determined admission arrangements for each school/academy. If any party feels that the published admission arrangements are unlawful or are not compliant with the provisions of the School Admission Code, they may make a referral to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk Any such referral must be made by 30 June 2015. Please be aware that if any referrals have been made, and dependent on the outcome of such referrals, a school’s arrangements may be subject to change. Medway Council will publish details of any changes on the website www.medway.gov.uk ● Independent and impartial advice

Medway Council’s Student Services Admissions Team is able to offer you impartial advice on the admissions process, Medway schools and academies. You can contact the team on 01634 331110 or email admissions@medway.gov.uk If you want specific detail on what an individual school/academy can offer your child, please contact them directly. Contact details can be found for every Medway school and academy in section 8.

Common oversubscription criteria and other useful information ● Choosing to educate at home

You may choose to educate your child at home. If you elect to do this, the council has a duty to ensure that your child is receiving suitable and effective full time education.

www.medway.gov.uk/schoolsandeducation/s choolsandcolleges/gettingtoschool.aspx

Further information can be found at

If you wish to consider educating your child at home, please contact the Inclusion Team on 01634 332572 for more information. You will be asked to provide full details on the arrangements you are making. ● School term dates

Full details of term dates for the academic year September 2016 to July 2017 can be found at www.medway.gov.uk

Please be aware that some schools may operate different term dates to the Medway Council defined ones and you will need to speak to individual schools about their arrangements. ● Sustainable School Travel Strategy

Medway Council is keen to ensure that their own plans support school travel plans (STP), so that the schools can develop a long-term commitment to implementation, monitoring and development. Working with schools, Medway Council has developed a number of initiatives.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

This table provides some of the most common oversubscription criteria used by schools. The definitions quoted are those of Medway Council and may be different for an individual school. Please ensure you read each individual school’s information page to ascertain exactly what their over subscription criteria are and what these mean for your child.

Criteria

Children in public care/looked after children and previously looked after children

Current family association/sibling Child’s health reasons Residence in an access area Nearness of child’s home/distance*

Score

Definition

Looked after children are children who are (i) in the care of a local authority, or (ii) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (as defined in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making the application for a school. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (under the terms of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, Section 46) or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order (under the terms of the Children Act 1989, Section 8 and Section 14A). Please note that Medway Council will ask for evidence of looked after or previously looked after status and a copy of the adoption/residence/special guardianship order to validate this criterion.

Sibling means children who live as brother/sister in the same house and includes natural siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings and step siblings. Extended family, for example cousins, living in the same house do not qualify as siblings. The sibling must be attending the named school at the time of application and at the time the younger child would start (September 2016). Medical evidence from a GP or consultant must be provided to Student Services Admissions Team. This evidence must demonstrate a specific link between the child’s medical conditions and needs, and how the named school can meet these needs. Please note not every school/academy has this as a criterion. If a school operates an access area, children living within the area receive a higher priority for a place than other applicants from a lower listed criterion and those living furthest from the school within the access area receive higher priority than those that live closest. Applicants are prioritised in order of nearness to the school. The distance calculated is the shortest available safe walking route known to the geographical information software (GIS) used by Student Services Admissions Team. This software may not know all footpaths that are in existence and certain new roads may not be known. Where a footpath or new road is not known to the software an alternative route will be used. Where a child’s home is situated on a new road the distance calculation will begin from the nearest available known road plotted in the software. New developments may be subject to this. In certain cases it may not be possible to calculate a distance where the entire route is deemed as a safe walking route. In these circumstances the distance calculated is used purely to prioritise an application for admission. There is no expectation that the walk should be taken. Some grammar schools elect to prioritise applicants based on their test scores. This means that all applications will be prioritised from highest score to lowest score. It is important to understand that these schools are not permitted to give any priority to siblings.

*Please note that, at the time of going to print, Student Services Admissions are researching the use of new distancing software. Please check the website www.medway.gov.uk and look at ‘Co-ordinated Admission Scheme for Secondary Admissions – September 2016’ for the most up to date information on how distances are calculated.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section eight

The schools

Location and access areas of schools

What is an access area? Six Medway schools include an access area within their admissions criteria. Applications received for pupils that reside within the school’s access area will receive a higher priority for a place at that school than applicants that do not reside in the access area. Those applicants that live furthest from the school within the access area receive higher priority than those that live closest within the access area. Please note that applicants residing in an access area with valid sibling links or higher criterion will be prioritised under the higher criteria.

If you are unsure if you live in an access area for one of these schools, please contact Student Services Admissions who will be able to help you.You can either phone on 01634 331110 or email admissions@medway.gov.uk

● Access areas

The following schools have access areas, shown on the map opposite:

A- The Hundred of Hoo Academy B - The Thomas Aveling School C - Walderslade Girls’ School and Greenacre Academy

D - Rainham School for Girls E - The Howard School 24

Medway secondary schools Page

Brompton Academy

Chatham Grammar School for Boys

Chatham Grammar School for Girls

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Greenacre Academy

The Howard School

The Hundred of Hoo Academy

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Rainham School for Girls

10 The Robert Napier School

11 The Rochester Grammar School

12 Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

13 St John Fisher Catholic School

14 Strood Academy

15 The Thomas Aveling School

16 The Victory Academy

17 Walderslade Girls’ School

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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Motorway Bridge

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How to use the school pages Department for Education unique school number

Published admission number for 2016

School type (grammar, high, academy etc)

Area of Medway School status (academy, foundation, community, voluntary aided)

Map reference number, see page 25

School contact details

School specialist status

Open sessions, times and dates Introduction to school by headteacher/principal Criteria for admission and oversubscription

Total number of preferences expressed for the school

Expected school roll for September 2016

Preferences breakdown for 2015

Number of places offered on the offer day of relevant year apply online

Furthest distance or lowest score offered as applicable. If the school was undersubscribed (not full) on offer day this section will show N/A

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area see page 25

Brompton Academy DFE number: 887 6906

PAN: 210

Brompton Academy is an all ability, dynamic 11-18 school, with specialisms in science and arts, and a grammar stream, under the leadership of the University of Kent. The academy delivers high quality education leading to university entrance and equivalent progression routes. Entry to the academy is via a Fair Banding Test. The academy offers a vibrant learning environment, where all students have the opportunity to study a core academic English Baccalaureate curriculum, consisting of English, maths, sciences (physics, chemistry and biology), languages, history, geography plus a range of other subject qualifications leading to GCSE and A level. Many learning programmes are enhanced by curricular inputs from the University of Kent.

Type: Academy

Area: Gillingham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: All applicants for a place at the academy, including those with a SEN statement or EHCP, will be required to take the Fair Banding test. See page 28 for details. Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 12 September, 2015 Saturday, 17 October, 2015

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Principal: Judy Rider BA (Hons), MA

Marlborough Road, Gillingham ME7 5HT 01634 852341

Email: office@bromptonacademy.org.uk www.bromptonacademy.org.uk Open sessions

See page 28 for further details of oversubscription criteria and fair banding test.

Students in Year 7 undertake a foundation programme to support their academic and personal development in becoming skilled, confident, happy, robust and successful young people with a passion for learning.

Open evening: Thursday, 1 October, 5.30 - 8pm Principal’s presentation at 5.45pm Open morning: Saturday, 3 October 10am - 12noon Principal’s presentation at 10.15am Morning tours: Tuesday, 6, Wednesday, 7 and Thursday, 8 October *Please phone to book an appointment

The academy boasts high standards of behaviour. If you are looking for a highly effective all ability academy that will offer the best educational opportunities for a young person together with wrap around care, support and guidance, then the future has to be Brompton Academy.

For admission enquiries please contact the Admissions Manager on 01634 583512

The academy resides in a state-of-the-art new building with brand new Apple learning technologies, including a student one to one iPad Mini scheme, to support student motivation and learning. Further information is available on our website. Total number of prefs 2015 2014 761 669

1st 351

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 216 101 58 19 16 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 240 210

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014

Allocation criteria - Fair Banding plus criteria

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1200

Oversubscription: Places are first offered to students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP, where Brompton Academy is named on the statement and after agreement with the academy. If the number of applications for admission to the Academy received via the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria set out below. All applicants who have taken the NFER Fair Banding tests will be split into one of five ability bands based on their scores achieved within the national profile range. Within each band the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: a) Children in public care or previously looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). b) Current family association (i.e. elder brother or sister in the Academy at time of application who will still be attending when the applicant child is admitted). In this context, brother or sister means: a. A natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings) b. Step brother or sister c. Foster brother or sister d. Those who live as brother or sister in the same house. c) Children of staff (where the member of staff has been employed for two years or more at the time at which the application for admission to the Academy is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage). d) Nearness of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes e) Random selection within bands

Fair Banding Test Brompton Academy is an all ability school, and in order to secure an all ability intake that is representative of the national ability range, all applicants for admission must take a Fair Banding test which is prescribed by National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). This is not a pass or fail test this is just to ensure that young people across the ability range are admitted. All applicants for places in the academy will be banded according to the principles of fair banding, using the national profile. Medway operate an equal preference system which means that parents/carers who intend to put Brompton Academy down on the preference form either first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth choice will need to take the Academy Fair Banding test, which will determine what banding group their child should be placed in should they gain a place at the academy. The test will be administered during September/October â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a year ahead of entry. Parents and Carers can access the test for their child by filling in and returning a test registration form which will be available via the academy website at www.bromptonacademy.org.uk and from the Academy reception from Monday, 8 June until Friday, 17 July 2015. The test registration form should be returned within the prescribed deadlines as indicated on the registration form together with the preferred test date. A second registration period will be available from Monday, 7 September until Friday, 9 October 2015. All applicants for an Academy place, including those with a SEN statement, will be required to take the Fair Banding test. Following the test, applicants will be split into five bands based on their NFER scores within the national profile, including those with SEN statements or EHCP and Looked After Children and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or because they were subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). There are two opportunities to take the Fair Banding tests â&#x20AC;&#x201C; either Saturday, 12 September or Saturday, 17 October 2015. Students who have not taken the banding test (apart from children in care and statemented students where the

apply online

academy is named in the statement who must always be given priority) will be considered after children who have sat the banding test. All applicants who register for the test will be offered fair access to the test and reminded of the dates and times of the test.

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Chatham Grammar School for Boys DFE number: 887 4068

PAN: 120

At Chatham Grammar School for Boys (CGSB) our aim is that students develop into successful, well rounded, confident young men who are equipped with the academic and life skills necessary to thrive in the modern world. Students at CGSB are given the academic and intellectual tools to help them structure their thinking and learning effectively thus enabling them to successfully engage in their academic studies. The school is committed to becoming a Thinking School, accredited by Exeter University, and passionately believes in providing students with the appropriate learning tools to be successful. Every individual at CGSB is encouraged to achieve their personal best and there is an emphasis on celebrating student progress as well as outright attainment. Whilst many students go on to achieve places at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities we also support able students with Additional Educational Needs to successfully engage with an academic curriculum and find a successful independent path beyond school. We offer a very successful and diverse range of sports with football teams regularly reaching Kent cup finals and the 1st XI winning their league title. In addition we regularly win local athletics meetings and successfully participate in rugby, hockey and cricket fixtures and tournaments. CGSB has an outstanding sense of community with each student taking an active part within the House system. The House system is central to the school’s pastoral system which provides continuity of care and support for students throughout their time here at CGSB.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 482 426

Type: Grammar

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is with testing (either the Medway Test or Kent Test or after 2 March, other nationally recognised entrance test). Oversubscription: Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be allocated in the priority order set out below: 1 Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where the Chatham Grammar School for Boys is named on the statement. 2 Children in public care as defined in the Medway Council co-ordinated admission scheme. 3 Current family association (i.e. elder brother or sister in Chatham Grammar School for Boys or Chatham Grammar School for Girls) at time of application who will still be attending when the applicant child is admitted. In this context, brother or sister means: i) A natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings); ii) Step brother or sister; iii) Foster brother or sister; iv) Those who live as brother or sister in the same house. 4 Child’s health reasons. Written medical evidence from a General Practitioner or hospital consultant must be provided which demonstrates a specific health reason which requires the child to attend Chatham Grammar School for Boys. 5 Nearness of children’s home measured by the shortest available safe walking distance between the home address and CGSB as measured by the Medway Council Geographical Information System and determined by Medway Local Authority.

2015 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 100 192 123 54 10 3 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 81 81

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Executive Principal: Mr Stuart Gardner

Head of School: Mrs Juliet Diaz

Holcombe, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6JB

01634 830083

Email: office@cgsb.co.uk

www.cgsb.co.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Tuesday, 6 October, 5.30

Open mornings: Monday, 12 to Thursday, 22 October by appointment 01634 830083 For admission enquiries please contact Mr Richard Gardner

There will be a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for any pupils refused admission. Any decision made by an Independent Appeals Panel will be binding on the academy and over-rides the admissions number of 120 in Year 7. From the 1 March (National Offer Day), any available spaces remaining will be allocated on the basis of results of nationally recognised selection tests taken, including the Medway or Kent Test.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

900

Chatham Grammar School for Girls High Performing School for Modern Foreign Languages DFE number: 887 5429

PAN: 142

At CGSG we provide a friendly and supportive environment where able students can achieve their academic potential and develop a range of skills that will equip them effectively for the future. Our record of high academic achievement and our success in guiding students to higher education are due to the expertise of our well qualified and experienced teaching staff and the care, guidance and support provided by our dedicated pastoral team. Our broad and balanced curriculum provides numerous opportunities for students to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to access a wide range of opportunities in the future. It ranges from the traditional to the modern, such as latin and three foreign languages to GCSE Computer Science. The curriculum is designed to develop responsible citizens of the future who will contribute actively to the communities in which they live and work.

While we encourage our students to aim for high academic achievement, it is equally important to us that they enjoy their experience at CGSG. To this end, our curriculum is complemented by a wide range of extracurricular opportunities designed to provide rich experiences and to inspire a life-long passion for learning.

Type: Grammar

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: Entry is with testing (either the Medway Test or Kent Test) Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where Chatham Grammar School for Girls is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: a) Children in public care or children who have previously been in public care. b) Current family association (i.e. elder brother or sister in Chatham Grammar School for Girls or Chatham Grammar School for Boys at the time of application or who will be still attending when the applicant is admitted. In this context, brother or sister means: - A natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings); - Step brother or sister; - Foster brother or sister; - Those who live as brother and sister in the same house. c) Distance from the pupil’s home as determined using Medway Council’s GIS.

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Status: Academy

Headteacher: Mrs Christine Probin Rainham Road, Chatham ME5 7EH 01634 851262

Email: postbox@chathamgirlsgrammar. medway.sch.uk

www.chathamgirlsgrammar.medway.sch.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Tuesday, 13 October, 6- 8.30pm

Open morning: Saturday, 17 October, 10am - 1pm

Daytime tours: Monday, 19 to Friday, 23 October* *tours start at 9.15am For admission enquiries please contact Mrs D Simmonds, PA to Headteacher

Mrs Christine Probin, Headteacher

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 469 453

1st 103

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 145 138 50 23 10

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 66 74

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

800

Fort Pitt Grammar School DFE number: 887 4069

PAN: 120

Fort Pitt is an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ grammar school with academy status. We are an innovative school and have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve; this we do through our four “excellences”: academic excellence, excellent community, excellent appearance and excellent environment. There is no doubt that our main focus is academic excellence but we also encourage our students to develop their full potential in their employability skills and in other areas such as art, music, drama and sport. We are proud of the accomplishments of all of our students and we acknowledge and reward excellence in all fields. Our belief that students flourish and succeed when they feel happy and secure means that we place great emphasis on community and support. Relationships throughout the school are based on mutual respect and focus firmly on the learning process. We are a forward thinking and fast moving community but have a real commitment to traditional values and beliefs. We look forward to welcoming you to Fort Pitt on our open evening or during one of our open mornings. Carol Winn

Headteacher

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 480 463

Type: Grammar

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is with testing via the Medway Test Oversubscription: 1. Looked After Children / Children in Local Authority Care as defined in the Medway Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. 2. Students having an agreed Statement of Special Education Needs that names Fort Pitt Grammar School as the appropriate school. 3. Siblings - The sister of a girl who will still be attending the school at the time the student would be admitted. In this context “sibling” means children who live as sisters in the same house, including natural sisters, adopted sisters, stepsisters and foster sisters. 4. Students who attend a school or who have a sibling in a school within the Fort Pitt Academy Trust. In this context “sibling” means children who live as siblings in the same house, including natural siblings, adopted siblings, step siblings and foster siblings. 5. Children of staff (where the member of staff has been employed for three years or more at the time at which the application for admission is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage). 6. Girls residing within two miles of the school measured the Medway Council Geographical Information System 7. Girls residing in one of the named parishes below. Should it be necessary these places will be allocated according to nearness of home to school, using the shortest, safe walking distance, measured by the Medway Council Geographical Information System: Allhallows; Cliffe and Cliffe Woods; Cooling; Cuxton; Frindsbury Extra; Halling; High Halstow; Hoo St Werburgh; St James, Isle of Grain; St Mary Hoo; Stoke.

2015 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 129 220 77 40 6 8 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 112 120

Single sex/mixed: Girls Headteacher: Carol Winn

Fort Pitt Hill, Chatham ME4 6TJ 01634 842359

Email: office@fortpitt.medway.sch.uk www.fortpitt.medway.sch.uk

Open sessions Open evening: Thursday, 8 October, 6 - 9pm Headteacher talks at 6.45 and 7.45pm Open mornings: Monday, 19 to Thursday, 22 October, 9 - 11am Last tour 10.15am For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Jeffreys, Admissions Officer Please note that the prospective student’s address must be where they are living at the time of the application and this will be checked. If the address is not the student’s normal place of residence and an offer of a place has already been made, it will be withdrawn. 8. All other eligible girls seeking a school place and these will be allocated according to nearness of home to school, using the shortest, safe walking distance, measured by the Medway Council Geographical Information System. Tiebreaker - In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a 9.04km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

800

Greenacre Academy A High Performing Specialist Academy with Sports College and Raising Achievement Skills for Life DFE number: 887 4174

PAN: 200

Greenacre is an oversubscribed, well equipped academy set in extensive grounds. Amongst recent improvements to the buildings include an all weather sports pitch and a food technology hall.

In February 2014 Ofsted inspectors concluded that the academy was GOOD in all areas. The report states “Students in the academy make good progress at all key stages, from lower than average starting points, and achieve well. Students behave well, say they enjoy being at the academy and feel safe”. The maximum number of boys in a teaching group is 30 with many operating at 15 or less. In academic subjects, boys are placed in sets of similar ability in English and mathematics throughout the academy and learning mentors work with small groups or individuals as required. Strategies such as these are ensuring that GCSE results continue to improve year on year. In partnership with Walderslade Girls’ School, the view of Ofsted is ‘The sixth form is good, as the academy’s students progress well from their starting points and their achievement is good’. Kerri Edge

Head of School

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 268 280

1st 131

Type: Academy

Area: Walderslade

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where Greenacre Academy is specifically named, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below: 1. Children in public care - (as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme) 2. Sibling - (a brother attending Greenacre Academy or a sister attending Walderslade Girls School at the time of application and who will still be attending in September 2016. Sibling means children who live as brother/sister in the same house and includes natural siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings and step siblings. Extended family, for example cousins, living in the same house do not qualify as siblings). 3. Historical Sibling – To give priority to boys with an older sibling who attended Greenacre Academy but who has now left. This situation to remain until the older sibling has been left for 5 years. Sibling means children who live as brother/sister in the same house and includes natural siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings and step siblings. Extended family, for example cousins, living in the same house do not qualify as siblings). 4. Child’s health reasons – Medical evidence must be provided to Medway Council. This evidence must demonstrate a specific link between the child’s medical condition and needs and how the named school can meet these needs. 5. Residence in the Greenacre Academy access area.

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 60 33 24 11 9

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 160 160

apply online

Single sex/mixed: Boys Sixth form mixed

Status: Academy

Head of School: Mrs K Edge

157 Walderslade Road, Chatham ME5 0LP

01634 861593

Email: office@greenacre.medway.sch.uk www.greenacre.medway.sch.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Tuesday, 13 October, 5.45pm Headteachers talk at 7.30pm Daytime tours: Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 October 2015, 9.15am For admission enquiries please contact Main Office

6. Nearness of children’s home – (as defined in Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme using Medway Council’s GIS. Tiebreaker – in the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 3.55km 6.1km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

840

The Howard School DFE number: 887 5457

PAN: 250

The Howard School is unique to Medway and one of just five 11-19 bilateral schools in the UK. We are able to admit both grammar and high school students. Students have genuine opportunities to achieve success and we are able to offer the flexibility for promotion for high school students into our grammar school.

We are a top performing, extremely popular and successful school. This was clearly recognised in a tremendous Ofsted report in November 2013. Attainment and achievement levels are impressive at all key stages. We have an open and mixed sixth form which includes a significant number of girls.The majority of our students progress to university and places of higher education. Success extends beyond the classroom; we regularly dominate Medway, county and national sporting competitions in an incomparable range of sports including soccer, rugby (union and league), table tennis, basketball, badminton, athletics and cricket. Achievement in drama and music are second to none in the area. Our pastoral care is excellent and we have effective partnerships with the community. We offer an incredible range of extra-curricular activities, a most able programme, and an elite athletes group. The school was a training base for the 2012 Olympics. ICT provision is impressive and our learning support department is excellent. The atmosphere is friendly and links with parents/carers are strong. We work together to encourage students to succeed socially and academically. Total number of prefs 2015 2014 480 480

1st 234

Type: Bi-lateral*

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 19

Admission and over subscription criteria 2016. Admission: Entry is without testing. Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where The Howard School is specifically named, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below. If the number of preferences for The Howard School received via the Medway coordinated scheme is more than the number of places available, places are allocated in the following priority order: i) Looked After Children as defined in the Medway coordinated admission scheme. ii) Where a child has a natural brother (including adopted siblings), stepbrother, foster brother and those who live as a brother in the same house currently attending the school and will still be on roll at the time of entry. iii) Child’s health reasons. Medical evidence must be provided which demonstrates a specific health reason which requires a child to attend the preferred school. iv) Where the child resides within the access area. Priority given to those nearest the school. v) Proximity of child’s home. Distance will be measured by the shortest available safe walking route between home and school as measured by Medway Council’s GIS.

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 104 84 38 14 6 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 255 255

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Headteacher: The Hon Paul Morris

BA (Hons), PGCE, DipEd, NPQH, LLE

Derwent Way, Rainham ME8 0BX 01634 388765

Email: office@thehowardschool.co.uk

www.thehowardschool.co.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Tuesday, 6 October, 5.30 - 8pm

Open mornings: Thursday, 15 and Friday, 16 October 8.35 - 10.30am For admission enquiries please contact Mr P Cottam,Vice Principal

* Following the allocation of places, children who have been assessed as selective under the Medway Test process will be placed in the grammar stream.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 4.99km 4.83km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1550

The Hundred of Hoo Academy DFE number: 887 4000

PAN: 270

The Hundred of Hoo is a proud member of The Williamson Trust. We promote outstanding educational experiences that Inspire all learners to set their sights high, to achieve to the best of their abilities, and to excel in all that they do in order to prepare them for the next stage of their education.

Our aim is to support all children in becoming happy, confident and active citizens, ready to play a leading role in whatever walk of life they choose, and, to do this, we are passionate about promoting: • The highest standards of achievement; • Excellent teaching and learning; • A challenging, enjoyable and tailored learning journey for all; • Participation, personal development and well-being; • Courtesy, respect and self-discipline; • Partnership with parents and the wider community. Pupils are supported by teaching and learning that is stimulating; of a high quality engaging challenging curriculum, delivered by well-prepared and committed teachers, and underpinned by effective pastoral care. Our mission is to ensure that all children enjoy their learning, succeed beyond their expectations, and develop the attitudes, skills and knowledge they need to take their place in a rapidly changing global society. Mr G Vyse

Type: Academy

Area: Hoo

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing. Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where The Hundred of Hoo Academy is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: Where applications for admission received via Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below to decide which children to admit: a) Children in public care, as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme. b) Children who at the time of application have a brother or sister (including children living as siblings* in the same family unit) on the roll of the Academy and who will still be on roll at the time of the sibling’s admission. *Sibling means brother or sister, step brother or sister, foster brother or sister and those who live as brother or sister in the same house. c) Child’s health reasons. Medical evidence must be provided which demonstrates a specific health reason which requires a child to attend the preferred school. d) Residence within the access area (see page 25). e) Nearness of children’s homes to The Hundred of Hoo Academy. Nearness to The Hundred of Hoo Academy will be measured using Medway Council’s GIS based on the shortest distance from home to school.

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Executive Principal: Dr G Holden Headteacher: Mr G Vyse

Main Road, Hoo, Rochester ME3 9HH 01634 251443

Email: office@hohschool.co.uk

www.hundredofhooacademy.co.uk Open sessions

Open morning: Saturday, 10 October, 10am - 1pm

Daytime tours: Monday, 28 September to Friday, 2 October Please contact the Academy to make an appointment for a tour For admission enquiries please contact the Main Academy Office

Local Leader of Education Headteacher of the Hundred of Hoo Academy Total number of prefs 2015 2014 425 414

1st 207

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 111 45 28 19 15

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 271 270

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1385

Rainham Mark Grammar School DFE number: 887 5420

PAN: 205

At Rainham Mark Grammar School (RMGS) we provide a co-educational selective education of the highest quality.

Ofsted report in June 2014 graded RMGS as “outstanding in all areas”. “Students make excellent progress from their starting points because teachers have very high expectations of them. Teachers use their exceptionally good subject knowledge to stimulate students’ interest and to inspire them to learn.” Excellent facilities include:

• A new sports hall, comprising a dance studio, fitness suite and main hall with three full-length cricket nets. • Specialist teaching suites for all subject areas. • A purpose-built music block with a recital hall, recording studio and new Sixth Form study suite. Our strengths:

• Outstanding pastoral care and careers guidance. • Excellent relationships between staff and pupils with discipline firmly based on a tradition of mutual care and respect. • Boys and girls make exceptional progress in a caring, co-educational and academically rigorous environment. • Broad curriculum choice and sensible acceleration for the most gifted students. • A strong tradition of extra-curricular activities and trips • Over 20 “Good Schools Guide” Awards.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 650 595

1st 264

Type: Grammar

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: Entry is with testing via the Medway Test

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where Rainham Mark Grammar School is specifically named, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: (i) If the number of RMGS preferences received, via the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme, from parents of children achieving selective standard exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following priority order. Children in Public Care, as defined in the Medway Coordinated Admissions Scheme to include children who are adopted and were previously looked after. (ii) Children who are designated as receiving ‘Free School Meals’. Applicants under this criterion must complete a Supplementary Information Form so that checks can be made to determine eligibility. (iii) In rank order of score as determined by Medway’s Selection Procedures. (iv) In the event of two or more pupils having equal ranking for the last place the deciding factor will be the shortest available safe walking distance between the home address and RMGS as measured by the Medway Council GIS and determined by Medway Local Authority.

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 177 111 74 13 11 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 205 205

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Headteacher: Mr S Decker MSc, MSc(Ed)

Pump Lane, Gillingham ME8 7AJ 01634 364151

Email: office@rmgs.org.uk

www.rainhammark.com Open sessions

Open evening: Thursday, 8 October, 5 - 7.30pm Headteacher talks at 6.45pm Open morning: Saturday, 10 October, 10am - 12noon Headteacher talks at 11.30am Tours of the school during a working day can be taken from 9am to 3pm from Monday, 12 October to Friday, 16 October. We are unable to offer additional tours after 16 October. Please contact the school to make an appointment. For admission enquiries please contact the school office

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 530 535

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

1250

Rainham School for Girls An academy as part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) DFE number: 887 4199

PAN: 270

Do you want your daughter to be happy, develop her interests, talents and achieve academic success? Then look no further than Rainham School for Girls.

We pride ourselves on offering an education that balances academic challenge, support for each individual and an innovative and exciting curriculum. Our students develop their talents in creative and academic areas and we cater for students of all abilities, from those who lack confidence to the highest achievers who remain in our sixth form and progress to university. In Year 7, classes are organised to support students’ abilities, including fast track “Stellar” groups aimed at the most able and following an accelerated curriculum. Our transition arrangements are second to none. Before transferring we liaise closely with primary schools to ensure students are placed appropriately for their individual development. Our well qualified, experienced staff and excellent facilities support your daughters in developing their potential. Pastoral care is equally important to us. Relationships within school are very good with high expectations of behaviour firmly based in a tradition of mutual respect. We are committed to ensuring success for all and very much value partnership with parents.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 513 528

Type: Academy

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 270 270

apply online

Status: Academy

Executive Headteacher: Ms K Roberts

Associate Headteacher: Mrs H Burkett

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where Rainham School for Girls is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: If the number of preferences for the school, in any year, is more than the number of places available, places will be allocated in the following priority order: • Children in public care, and those who have been in care and have been subsequently adopted or have been made subject of a residence order or special guardianship. • Children who at the time of application have a sibling (including children living as siblings in the same family unit) on the roll of the school and who will be on roll at the time of the siblings admission, or were on roll in the preceding five years. • Child’s health reasons. Medical evidence must be provided which demonstrates a specific health reason which requires the child to attend the preferred school. • Children of a member of staff working at this school for two or more years at time of application for admission, or appointed to a skill shortage subject. • Residence in an access area. • Nearness of student’s home. The distance calculated is the shortest available safe walking route between the child’s home and the school using roads and footpaths known to the mapping layer used by the Medway Council GIS.

2015 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 259 117 89 25 16 7

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX 01634 362746

Email: admin@rsg.org.uk www.rsg.org.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Wednesday, 7 October, 6 - 8pm Headteacher talks at 6 and 7.45pm Open morning: Saturday, 12 September, 10am - 12noon Headteacher talks at 10 and 11.45am Daytime tours: Monday, 5 to Friday, 16 October, 9 and 11.15am by appointment For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Lee, Executive Administration Support. Tiebreaker – in the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 4.94km 4.98km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1600

The Robert Napier School

DFE number: 887 4001

PAN: 180

The Robert Napier School is a friendly co-educational academy committed to academic excellence for all students. Everything we do is about ensuring students’ experiences at school help them develop into the best they can be in a caring, supportive environment with a strong pastoral structure at the centre of their educational experience. We have high expectations and high aspirations for every one of our students and our vision is excellence in all we do.

Our school’s ethos is about developing students as individuals and not just learners. We believe that every child matters and deserves a happy first class education. Everyone has hidden potential to be uncovered and nurtured and together, as a learning community, we can unlock this potential. We have an exciting and broad curriculum as well an extensive range of extra-curricular sports and clubs. This includes the very successful Basketball Academy, which has won three titles across three year groups this year.

Type: Academy

Area: Gillingham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Headteacher: Mr Andrew Minchin BA (Hons)

Third Avenue, Gillingham ME7 2LX

Admission: Entry is without testing.

01634 851157

Email: trns@robertnapier.org.uk

Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 5 September, 2015 Saturday, 10 October, 2015

www.robertnapier.org.uk

See page 40 for further details on oversubscription criteria and fair banding test.

Open sessions

Open evening: Thursday, 16 July, 6 - 8.30pm

Open mornings: Tuesday, 6 to Thursday, 8 October, 9am - 12noon For admission enquiries please contact Mrs K Johns

In the Sixth Form, we have many students taking advantage of subjects offered here and at Fort Pitt Grammar School. Many of our students progress to University or obtain apprenticeships. Prospective parents are encouraged to visit our website to get a flavour of the school, and are very welcome to visit the school to experience the happy and caring environment. Andrew Minchin, Headteacher Total number of prefs 2015 2014 376 373

1st 87

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 145 76 22 29 17 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 180 187

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1240

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where The Robert Napier School is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: If the number of applications for admission to the school received via Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria set out below. a. Children in public care, or previously looked after. b. Current family association (i.e. elder brother or sister in the school at time of application who will still be attending when the applicant child is admitted. This means: • A natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings) • Step brother or sister • Foster brother or sister • Those who live as brother or sister in the same house c. Children of staff (where the member of staff has been employed for three years or more at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage). d. Nearness of children’s homes e. Random selection within bands Students who have not taken the banding test (apart from children in care and statemented students who must always be given priority) will be considered after children who have sat the banding test. They will be prioritised on the basis of criteria a to e above.

Fair Banding Test Robert Napier accepts students of all abilities, and in order to secure an all ability intake, all applicants for admission should take a Fair Banding test which is prescribed by NFER. (National Foundation for Educational Research). This is not a pass or fail test. It determines which band each child will be placed in, should they be successful in gaining a place at Robert Napier. All applicants for places in the school will be banded according to the principles of Fair Banding, using the national profile. Children in public care (Looked After Children) including those with a SEN statement, will be required to take the Fair Banding test. Medway operate an equal preference system which means that parents/carers who intend to put Robert Napier down on the preference form as either first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth choice will need to take the school Fair Banding test. The test will be administered during September/October – a year ahead of entry. Parents and Carers can access the test for their child by filling in and returning a test registration form which will be available via the school website http://portal.robertnapier.medway.sch.uk and from the school reception from Wednesday, 10 June to Friday, 17 July 2015. This test registration form should be returned by the deadlines indicated on the registration form together with the preferred test date. All applicants will be offered fair access to the test, and reminders of when and where the tests are being held. The applicants will be split into five equally sized bands based on their NFER results. Within each band places will be offered in the following order: a. Children in public care or previously looked after, but no longer so because they have been adopted (or become subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). b. Statemented children. Then the order will be as described in the oversubscription criteria.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

The Rochester Grammar School A designated National Teaching School, Lead School in the Thinking Schools Academy Trust and National Support School

DFE number: 887 5445

PAN: 205

Ofsted Outstanding: “A key feature of this school and its success is the ethos for learning” – Ofsted. Our students are happy and feel supported; they love to learn and want to think and discover for themselves.

The Rochester Grammar School (RGS) is committed to the highest standards in education. Our academic results are outstanding and we consistently appear in The Times top 30 State Schools. We provide a world-class education including a world qualification – International Baccalaureate. The RGS is the lead school in a growing and successful family of Thinking Schools that share a commitment to the development of cognitive education. We celebrate the achievements of all our pupils in a wide range of enrichment activities, with numerous clubs and educational visits both nationally and internationally. Our students regularly undertake World Challenge and we are one of the largest Duke of Edinburgh Award centres. We have high expectations of all of our pupils and we believe that each girl has a particular talent to offer. Our mission statement transforming life chances is a testament to our ambition and dedication to every one of our children and young people.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 515 479

Type: Grammar

Area: Rochester

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: Entry is with testing via the Medway Test

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where The Rochester Grammar School is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: If the number of RGS preference selective girls received via Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme exceeds the number of places available at the school, places will be allocated in the following priority order: (a) Children in public care – as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme. (b) Where a pupil can demonstrate a specific musical aptitude, as assessed by graded examinations. Parents/carers should write to the Chair of Governors using the Expression of Interest form with details. Two places annually will be awarded, given eligible candidates. (c) In rank order based on the scores achieved in the tests. In the event that two pupils have equal ranking for the last place, priority will be given to the pupil whose permanent address is the nearest to The Rochester Grammar School, as measured by using Medway Council’s GIS.

2015 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 245 129 79 47 7 8 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 205 175

Single sex/mixed: Girls

CEO: Ms D Shepherd, MA, NPQH, NLE

Principal: Mr G Bassan, BA(Hons), NPQH Maidstone Road, Rochester ME1 3BY 01634 843049

Email: office@rochestergrammar.medway.sch.uk

www.rochestergrammar.medway.sch.uk Open sessions

Open morning: Saturday, 10 October, 9am - 1pm

Daytime tours: Monday, 12 to Friday, 16 October, at 9, 11.15am and 2pm Please contact the school to book For admission enquiries please contact Mrs K Davidson, Principal’s PA

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 535 529

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

1190

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School A member of The Williamson Trust

DFE number: 887 4530

PAN: 168

In our most recent inspection, we received our second ‘outstanding’ judgement from Ofsted, with the lead inspector noting in her report that ‘a buzz of excitement pervades the school.’

Five core values underpin our work: • We ensure the highest standards of achievement. • We provide all students with an exciting, challenging and enjoyable curriculum that will prepare them for a rapidly changing, technology dominated world. • We promote courtesy, tolerance and respect for others. • We place great emphasis on personal development and well-being. • We work in partnership with parents and the wider community. We have excellent facilities. The school has been extended over the years by the provision of a sixth form centre, mathematics block, a larger music suite, a new building for design technology and art and a refurbished English block. With highly-qualified teaching staff, responsive pupils and supportive parents, we believe we can develop the young people in our care into young adults of whom both the parents and the school can be justifiably proud.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 475 515

1st 216

Type: Grammar

Area: Rochester

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: Entry is with testing via the Medway Test

Oversubscription: If the number of preferences for the school exceeds the number of places available at the school, the LA will allocate places in the following priority order: • Looked after children (children in public care) and previously looked after children. • Children who at the time of application have a brother or sister (including children living as siblings in the same family unit) on the roll of the school at the time of the sibling’s admission. • Child’s health reasons, supported by medical evidence, which requires the child to attend this school. • Children who at the time of application have a parent who is a member of staff at the school (where the member of staff has been employed for three years or more at the time at which the application for admission is made and/or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage). • Nearness of children’s homes. Distance will be measured by the shortest available safe walking route between home and school as measured by the council’s geographical information system. Those living closer to the school will receive the higher priority. Medway Council’s GIS measures the start point, end point and distance of each route. In the event of two or more pupils having equal ranking for the

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 141 71 33 11 3

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 169 168

apply online

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Status: Academy

Executive Principal: Dr G Holden Headteacher: Mr E Hodges

Maidstone Road, Rochester ME1 3EL

01634 844008

Email: office@sjwms.co.uk

www.sirjosephwilliamson@medway.sch.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Thursday, 22 October, 6 - 9pm Headteacher talks at 6 and 7pm Open days: Monday, 12 to Friday, 16 October, tour times 9.15am and 2.15pm For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Jacqueline Harrison, PA to Headteacher

last place the deciding factor will be the shortest available safe walking distance between the home address and the school as measured by the Medway Council Geographical Information System and determined by Medway Local Authority. Where this cannot be determined, the available place(s) will be allocated by drawing lots.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 8.31km 6.1km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1215

St John Fisher Catholic School

DFE number: 887 5436

PAN: 180

St John Fisher has a strong Christian ethos and seeks to develop the whole child as well as enabling them to reach their full academic potential. The school mission statement amplifies this further as we seek to encourage students to develop individually and collectively a way of life modelled on Christ. In July 2014 the school received an outstanding judgement in all categories for section 48.

Type: Comprehensive

Students of all faiths are welcomed into our school.

All children in our school are safe, happy and successful. We have a dedicated Lower School for years 7 and 8 only. This creates a caring and nurturing small school which makes transition from primary to secondary much easier for children.

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Voluntary Aided

Headteacher: Mrs C L Burnett

Lower school: 79 Maidstone Road, Chatham

Admission: Entry is without testing.

ME4 6DP

Please note that applicants should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) as well as the application. This is available from and must be returned to the school by the closing date for applications. The SIF is also available on the Medway Council website at www.medway.gov.uk/admissions See page 42 for further details on oversubscription criteria.

01634 335787

Upper school: Ordnance Street, Chatham ME4 6SG

01634 335757

Email: office@st-johnfisher.medway.sch.uk www.st-johnfisher.medway.sch.uk Open sessions

Open morning: Saturday, 10 October, 9am - 12noon Headteachers address at 10am and 11.15am

St John Fisher Catholic School is within a selective area, which caters for all abilities including the more able within a Christian ethos.

Daytime tours: Wednesday, 13 to Friday, 23 October, 10am Please phone the school to book

All prospective parents need to complete both the Medway form and the St John Fisher supplementary admission form. C L Burnett

For admission enquiries please contact Mrs A Bovis

Headteacher

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 336 299

1st 84

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 100 62 44 30 16 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 184 178

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1050

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where St John Fisher Catholic School is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: Where the number of applications exceeds (n) the Governors will offer places using the following criteria in the order stated: 1. Looked after Catholic children or looked after children in the care of Catholic families and previously looked after Catholic children who have been adopted or who have become the subject of a residence or guardianship order. 2. Catholic children, a baptismal certificate or evidence of reception into the Catholic Church must accompany the supplementary information form. See note a. 3. Children enrolled in the catechumenate. Evidence of enrolment in the catechumenate will be required. 4. Other looked after children and other previously looked after children who have been adopted or who have become the subject of a residence or guardianship order. 5. Non Catholic children who have attended a Catholic primary partner school, that is: • English Martyrs’, Strood • St Augustine of Canterbury, Rainham • St Benedict’s, Lordswood • St Edward’s, Sheppey • St Mary’s, Gillingham • St Michael’s, Chatham • St Peter’s, Sittingbourne • St Thomas More, Walderslade • St Thomas of Canterbury, Rainham • St William of Perth, Rochester. 6. Children of families who are members of other Christian denominations that are part of Churches Together in England. Evidence of Baptism (or dedication) provided by a priest or minister of a designated place of worship will be required. 7. Children who are members of other faiths. Evidence of membership of the faith provided by a priest, minister or religious leader of a designated place of worship will be required.

8. Any other children. The following order of priorities will be applied when applications within any of the above categories exceed the places available and it is necessary to decide between applications. I. A brother or sister on the school roll at the time of admission. Evidence of the relationship may be required. See note b. II. Social, pastoral and medical needs which make the school particularly suitable for the child in question. Strong and relevant evidence must be provided by an appropriate professional authority (eg qualified medical practitioner, education welfare officer, social worker or priest). III. Proximity to the School from the child’s home address. See note c. Notes a. Catholics include members of the Ordinariate and the Latin and Oriental Rite Churches that are in union with the Bishop of Rome. Reference to other Christian denominations refers to denominations that are full members of Churches Together in England. b. A “brother or sister” means children who live as brother and sister including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers or sisters. It would not include other relatives eg cousins. c. Home refers to the permanent home address at which the child lives for the majority of his/her time and with the parent who is in receipt of child benefit. The distance calculated is the shortest available safe walking route known to Medway Council’s GIS. d. Looked after children are those in the care of a public authority and are in public care. Applications made under this criterion must be accompanied by details of circumstance and professionally supported evidence (eg from an appropriate social worker).

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Strood Academy

DFE number: 887 6905

PAN: 240

Strood is the first of Medway’s new academies with new buildings that opened September 2012, providing exceptional accommodation for teaching and learning. Our lead sponsor is the University for the Creative Arts and our specialist subjects are mathematics and business and enterprise. These compliment our existing strengths in English, science, sports and the arts, providing outstanding opportunities for young people.

Our academy is for children of all abilities, providing a safe and well managed learning environment. Since opening, academic performance has been on an upward trend at GCSE and A Level. Our sixth form continues to grow year on year with students progressing to university, college or employment. All children are monitored closely with reports to parents every six weeks and an open door policy to meet with our staff. We set high standards for academic performance and have equally high expectations for positive attitudes and behaviour. Prospective parents are very welcome to visit the academy in session.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 500 524

1st 259

Type: Academy

Area: Strood

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Admission: All applicants for a place at the academy including those with an SEN statement or EHCP will be required to take the Fair Banding Test. Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 26 September 2015 Saturday, 10 October 2015

Oversubscription: After the admission of students with Statements of Special Educational Needs where Strood Academy is named on the statement, the oversubscription criteria shall be applied in the order in which they are set out below. Within each band the criteria will be applied in the following order: a) Children looked after (in the care of, or accommodated by, the local authority) or previously looked after who immediately after being looked after were adopted or subject to a residence or special guardianship order(as further defined in paragraph 1.7 of the School Admissions Code). b) Current family association (i.e. elder brother or sister in the Academy at time of application who will still be attending when the applicant child is admitted. In this context, brother or sister means: 1. Natural brother or sister (including adopted siblings). 2. Step brother or sister. 3. Foster brother or sister. 4. Those who live as brother or sister living together as a family unit at the same address.

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 105 65 37 19 15 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 240 240

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Principal: Mrs Kim Gunn BA (Hons), MBA

Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester ME2 2SX 01634 717121

Email: office@stroodacademy.org www.stroodacademy.org Open sessions

Open evening: Wednesday, 30 September, 6 - 8pm

Open mornings: Tuesday, 6 to Thursday, 8 October, 10.45am For admission enquiries please contact Reception or the PA to the Principal

c) Nearness of children’s homes to the school. d) Random allocation will be used as a tie-break in category c above to decide who has highest priority for admission if the distance between two children’s homes and the school is the same. This process will be independently verified.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 Allocation criteria - Fair Banding and criteria

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

1400

Fair Banding:

Strood Academy is an all ability school, and in order to secure an all ability intake that is representative of the national ability range, all applicants for admission must take a fair banding test which is prescribed by National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). This is not a pass or fail test this is just to ensure that young people across the ability range are admitted. All applicants for places in the academy will be banded according to the principles of fair banding, using the national profile. Medway operate an equal preference system which means that parents/carers who intend to put Strood Academy down on the preference form either first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth choice will need to take the Academy Fair Banding test, which will determine what banding group their child should be placed in should they gain a place at the academy. The test will be administered during September/ October â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a year ahead of entry. Parents and Carers can access the test for their child by filling in and returning a test registration form which will be available via the academy website at www.stroodacademy.org and from the Academy reception during term 6 of year 5.This test registration form should be returned within the prescribed deadlines as indicated on the registration form together with the preferred test date. All applicants for an Academy place, including those with a SEN statement, will be required to take the Fair Banding test. Following the test, applicants will be split into five bands based on their NFER scores within the national profile, including those with SEN statements and Looked After Children and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or because they were subject to a resident order of special guardianship order). Students who have not taken the banding test (apart from children in care and statemented students where

the academy is named in the statement who must always be given priority) will be considered after children who have sat the banding test. All applicants who register for the test will be offered fair access to the test and reminded of the dates and times of the test.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

The Thomas Aveling School An academy for success

DFE number: 887 5451

PAN: 190

Thomas Aveling is a popular and consistently oversubscribed school with outstanding facilities and resources, offering an excellent education for all, including the most able. We provide exciting and challenging learning opportunities in a creative and happy environment, with the highest expectations for children in every aspect of school life. Our broad curriculum provides a smooth transition from primary school, with most students following a three-year Key Stage 4, leading to the widest possible choice at age 16 and beyond. Our results have risen steeply over the past eight years and our last Ofsted inspection recognised us as a good school with a happy and lively atmosphere and a sense of shared purpose. We offer a wide and exciting range of out-of-hours activities, fully utilising our purpose built sports hall, performing arts centre, sixth form suite, science laboratories and community library. We believe that partnership with parents is pivotal for the success of our students, and regular opportunities are provided for parental participation. Staff and students are justifiably proud of their school and prospective parents and children are very welcome to visit during any of our open sessions. Paul Jackson

Headteacher

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 627 550

1st 237

Type: Academy

Area: Rochester

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing. Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where The Thomas Aveling School is specifically named, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: Where applications for admission received via Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below, to decide which children to admit: a) Children in public care. As defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme. b) Current Family Association, ie. an older sibling who is on the roll of the school when the application is made, living in the same household, and who must still be attending at the point of entry. Sibling means an older brother or sister, step-brother or sister, foster brother or sister, or those who live as brother or sister in the same house. In all cases, children must reside in the same household. c) Residence within an access area. As defined in the Medway Council Admission to Secondary School booklet and as published on the school website. d) Nearness of children’s homes. The Governors of The Thomas Aveling School have adopted Medway Council’s criteria for measuring the nearness of children’s homes to the school when allocating places. Distance will be measured by the shortest available safe walking route between home and school, as measured by Medway Council’s GIS and as defined

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 151 124 54 35 26 apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 190 190

Single sex/mixed: Mixed Headteacher: Mr P Jackson

Arethusa Road, Rochester ME1 2UW 01634 844809

Email: office@thomasaveling.co.uk www.thomasaveling.co.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Thursday, 9 July, 6 - 8pm Headteacher will speak: 6.15 and 7pm Open mornings: Tuesday, 6, Wednesday, 7 and Thursday, 8 October, 9.15 - 10.45am Headteacher will speak: 9.15am For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Y Akrill

in the Medway Local Authority Admission to Secondary School booklet. Tiebreaker – in the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 1.9km 2.6km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1110

The Victory Academy (formerly Bishop of Rochester Academy, name subject to consultation)

DFE number: 887 6907

PAN: 240

The Victory Academy is now part of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust and is, therefore, part of a family of schools including local schools such as New Horizons Children’s Academy, Chatham Grammar School for Boys and The Rochester Grammar School.

At The Victory Academy we are committed to ensuring that all of our students are supported and encouraged to achieve their personal best. We aspire for our students to develop their academic and life skills so that they are equipped and ready to be successful when they leave school. The school has a caring and compassionate ethos so that students are able to grow in a supportive atmosphere conducive to their development. Where students need additional support we will look to meet their needs through our well-resourced pastoral system and in partnership with our local schools can offer a bespoke programme for any pupil with specific aptitudes and interests. At The Victory Academy we believe that students need the right tools to be successful at school and in life. Therefore, we are becoming a Thinking School, accredited by Exeter University, which means that students learn how to use a variety of thinking structures to support their learning. The school has a thriving extra-curricular programme with many opportunities for students to grow their talents. In the sporting arena the school has a wide range of very successful teams ranging from Football to Basketball to weight lifting. We are working towards becoming a specialist Performing Arts School and regularly have outstanding student productions, dance shows and exhibitions. Total number of prefs 2015 2014 267 250

1st 82

Type: Academy

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 169 146

apply online

Status: Academy

Principal: Ms Mandy Gage

Magpie Hall Road, Chatham ME4 5JB

Oversubscription: There will be two broad groups: 120 open places and up to 120 foundation places. Open places will be open to anyone; foundation places will be for students from three local Church of England primary schools. These are All Saints’ C of E Primary School, Chatham, St Mary’s Island C of E Primary School, Chatham and St Margaret’s C of E Junior School, Rainham. If there were not enough students applying for the foundation places, then any left will become open places. Where the Academy is oversubscribed, places will be allocated to applicants in the following priority order: 1. Looked after children (as defined in the Medway co-ordinated admission scheme). 2. Siblings (pupils living as brothers and sisters, etc). 3. Child’s health reasons. Medical evidence must be provided which demonstrates a specific health reason which requires the child to attend the preferred school. 4. Those living nearest the academy based on the measured distance using Medway Council’s GIS system and procedure. 5. Children of a member of staff working in the Academy for two or more years at time of application for admission or appointed to a skill shortage subject.

2015 Preference breakdown 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 72 56 27 15 15

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

01634 303005

Email: office@boracademy.org

www.boracademy.org Open sessions

Open evening: Thursday, 8 October, 5 - 8pm

Open mornings: Tuesday, 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 Tuesday, 20, Wednesday 21 and Thursday, 22 October, from 9am by appointment. For admission enquiries please contact office@boracademy.org

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

980

Walderslade Girls’ School

DFE number: 887 4167

PAN: 160

Walderslade Girls’ School (WGS) is a small traditional and successful high school, providing a vibrant, purposeful and secure environment where the highest standards of achievement and behaviour are expected. Our committed and long serving staff share their passion and excitement for education and our girls are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning and their conduct. We place emphasis on developing well educated young women of the future through a wide curriculum with ample opportunities for students to develop their creativity through our arts specialism as well as achieve success across academic subjects.

Ofsted reported in March 2014 “All groups of students achieve well. High expectations are the norm. Students’ conduct and behaviour, both within class and around the school, is impressive. Students are proud of their school. Relationships are supportive, harmonious and respectful.” As an 11-18 school, we offer a strong and varied curriculum in the sixth form which works in close partnership with Greenacre Academy, sharing strengths and subject expertise to ensure our students receive the highest quality specialist teaching.

Total number of prefs 2015 2014 313 314

Type: Academy

Area: Walderslade

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs or EHCP where Walderslade Girls’ School is specifically named, the following over-subscription criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below: 1. Children in public care - (as defined in Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme). 2. Sibling - (a sister attending Walderslade Girls School or brother attending Greenacre Academy at the time of application and who will still be attending in September 2016. Sibling means children who live as brother/sister in the same house and includes natural siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings and step siblings. (Extended family, for example cousins, living in the same house, do not qualify as siblings). 3. Historical Sibling – girls with an older sibling who attended Walderslade Girls School but who has now left. This applies to girls whose older sibling left up to five years prior to September 2016. Sibling means children who live as brother/sister in the same house and includes natural siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings and step siblings. (Extended family, for example cousins, living in the same house, do not qualify as siblings). 4. Child’s health reasons – Medical evidence must be provided to Medway Council. This evidence must demonstrate a specific

apply online

Places allocated (on offer day) 2015 2014 160 160

Status: Academy

Headteacher: Mrs Louise McGowan

BMUS (Hons) MA NPQH FRSA

Admission: Entry is without testing

2015 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 143 51 50 32 18 19

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Bradfields Avenue, Walderslade, Chatham ME5 0LE

01634 861596

Email: office@waldersladegirls.org.uk

www.waldersladegirls.org.uk Open sessions

Open evening: Tuesday, 13 October, 6 - 8.30pm Headteacher’s presentation at 6.15 and 7pm Open mornings: Wednesday, 14 to Friday, 16 October, 9am - 12noon For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Maher, Admissions Officer: tmaher@waldersladegirls.org.uk

link between the child’s medical condition and needs and how the named school can meet these needs. 5. Residence in the Walderslade Girls’ School access area. 6. Nearness of children’s home – as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme using Medway Council’s GIS. Tiebreaker – in the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2015 2014 3.05km 2.53km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

920

Medway Primary School DFE numbers School name

Number

School name

Number

School name

Number

All Faiths Children’s Academy

887 2600

High Halstow Primary School

887 2421

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

887 3752

All Saints Church of England Primary School

887 3093

Hilltop Primary School

887 2499

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School

887 3753

Allhallows Primary Academy

887 2005

Hoo St Werburgh Primary School

St Helen’s Church of England Primary School

887 3096

Balfour Junior School

887 2214

and Marlborough Centre

887 2213

St James Church of England Primary Academy

887 2002

Barnsole Primary School

887 2396

Horsted School - Juniors

887 2506

St Margaret’s CE Junior School

887 3195

887 2492

The Hundred of Hoo Primary Phase

887 9968

St Margaret’s at Troy Town CE Primary school

887 3293

887 2646

Kingfisher Primary School and Children’s Centre

887 2003

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

887 3755

Bryony School

887 6001

King’s School Rochester

887 6000

St Mary’s Island CEA Primary School

887 3756

Burnt Oak Primary School

887 3760

Lordswood School

887 2007

St Michael’s RC Primary School

887 3712

Byron Primary School

887 2644

Luton Junior School

887 2199

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

887 3736

887 2469

Maundene School

887 2580

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

887 3732

887 6003

Meredale Independent Primary School

887 6007

St William of Perth Catholic Primary School

887 3746

Chattenden Primary School

887 2209

Miers Court Primary School

887 2623

Stoke Community School

887 2194

Cliffe Woods Primary School

887 2588

Napier Community Primary and Nursery School

887 2012

Swingate Primary School

887 2549

Cuxton Community Junior School

887 2013

New Horizons Children’s Academy

887 2008

Temple Mill Primary School

887 2685

887 2684

New Road Primary School

887 2202

Thames View Primary School

887 2592

887 2413

Oaklands School

887 2433

Twydall Primary School Nursery

Elaine Primary Academy

887 2000

Oasis Academy Skinner Street

887 2006

and Children’s Centre

887 2754

English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School

887 3729

Park Wood Junior School

887 2493

Wainscott Primary School

887 2210

Fairview Community Primary School

887 3759

Phoenix Junior Academy

887 2001

Walderslade Primary School

887 2203

Featherby Junior School

887 2400

The Pilgrim School

887 3758

Warren Wood Community Primary School

The Gordon School - Juniors

887 2009

Riverside Primary School & Children’s Centre

887 3757

and Language Unit

887 2640

Halling Primary School

887 2211

Saxon Way Primary School

887 2004

Wayfield Primary School

887 2668

Hempstead Junior School

887 2403

St Andrew’s School

887 6002

The Academy of Woodlands

887 2412

Bligh Federation - Juniors Brompton-Westbrook Primary School

Cedar Primary School The Cedars School (independent)

Deanwood Primary School and Children’s Centre Delce Academy

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Nearest qualifying school confirmation request for home to school transport purposes Please also read the information in section six of this booklet.

If you would like your nearest qualifying school(s) for the purposes of home to school transport, please complete the request form opposite and submit to Student

Services Operations Team, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR.

Forms must be submitted by 9 October 2015 to ensure a response before the closing date for school applications (2 November 2015). Please note that responses cannot be provided prior to September 2015, even if you have submitted your request before then.

Transfer to secondary school - September 2016 Nearest qualifying school confirmation request Medway residents only (Only complete this form if you pay your council tax to Medway Council)

This is not an application for a school place If you would like your nearest qualifying school confirmed for the purpose of free home to school transport, please complete your child’s details below in BLOCK CAPITALS and send the whole form to Student Services Operations Team, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR before 9 October 2015. Forms received after this date may not be processed before the closing date for preferences. Child’s name: Child’s date of birth:

Male:

Female:

Home address: Student Services Operations Team will respond to your request and provide you with the details of the three nearest non-selective and selective schools to the address you provide. The minimum statutory walking distance will still apply and, therefore, does not mean that you are guaranteed free home to school transport if your child attends any of the schools listed.

Postcode: Parent/carer’s name: Phone number home:

Work:

The distances provided in the response will only be an indication of the home to school distance and may not be the final distance used for home to school transport purposes.

Mobile:

Also, there are no guarantees that a place will be able to be offered at any of the schools named in the response.

Please note: There is no guarantee that a place at a school named in the response can

Email address: Please provide if you would like a response by email be offered. School places are only offered against the published oversubscription criteria for the individual school(s).

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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