Medway Secondary Admissions 2013 by Medway Council

For children born between 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003 dates: Important

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September 2014 entry

Admission to secondary school A guide for parents

Apply online:

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

apply online it ticks all the boxes

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions Make a note of your log in details you will need this information every time you visit the website.

Online Admissions is 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 the offer day, without having to wait for your offer letter.

Contacts

Contents

● Medway Council Student Services Admissions Team

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

The Admissions Team, based at Gun Wharf in Chatham, co-ordinates 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

Key dates for the secondary transfer 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

● 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 customer services Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. Calls to customer services may be recorded or monitored for security and staff development purposes. Phone: 01634 333333 Minicom: 01634 333111

● Kent County Council Kent County Council Admissions and Transport Room 2.24, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ Phone: 01622 696565 Email: kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk

Section one Introduction and general information . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Section two The Medway Test and other testing arrangements . .11 Section three The school application process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Section four The online admissions process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Section five The school offer process and next steps . . . . . . . . . .24 Section six Free school meals and home to school transport . . . . .28 Section seven Common oversubscription criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Section eight Other information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Section nine The schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Location and access areas of schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 How to use the school pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Nearest appropriate school confirmation request . . . . . .61 Medway Primary School DFE numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Disclaimer The information given in this booklet relates to the academic year, September 2014 to August 2015. Details are correct at the time of going to print.

Welcome Dear parent/carer,

Dear parent/carer,

The move from primary to secondary school can be a very exciting time for you and your child. Medway offers young people a wealth of opportunities in their education.

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 in Medway secondary schools. In Medway 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.

There is a wide variety of schools and academies to consider, but all of them have a common aim: to ensure that every young person has a happy and successful secondary school career and goes on to achieve their full potential. Secondary education in Medway is about aiming high and, equally important, it’s about building on young people’s talents and interest to ensure they are confident, capable students and citizens. I would encourage you to visit as many of our secondary schools and academies during their open sessions and you will see why young people in Medway are achieving so highly. All schools and academies are keen to ensure that every lesson counts, and to make use of the latest technology to enhance students’ learning and enjoyment of a wide range of educational experiences. They are committed to high-quality teaching and learning, which has led to an impressive improvement in GCSE results over the past few years. The Student Services Admissions Team is available to offer you all the help and support you require during the admissions process. I strongly advise you to read all the information provided, contact Student Services Admissions and speak with your child’s current school when deciding which schools to name on your application. I wish you and your family every success and a happy school career. Cllr Mike O’Brien Portfolio Holder

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 interest 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 give you all the information you need on the admissions process and I encourage you to read it carefully, The Student Services Admissions Team are also available to offer you any 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 Children’s and Adult Services

Key dates

for the secondary transfer 2014 By Wednesday, 22 May, 2013

Registration for the Medway test opens. Online registrations open at 9am

Monday, 3 June, 2013

Student Services admission presentations for Year 5 parents/carers

Tuesday, 4 to Thursday, 6 June and Monday, 10 to Thursday, 13 June, 2013

Closing date for Medway Test registration

Monday, 1 July, 2013

Secondary application information sent to primary and junior schools

By Friday, 6 September, 2013

Secondary applications open. Online application open at 9am

Monday, 9 September, 2013

Medway Test date The Medway Test is for admission to Medway grammar schools only. For grammar schools in another local authority, children must sit that local authority’s test.

Tuesday, 17 / Wednesday, 18 September, 2013 (in school for children in Medway primary/junior schools) Saturday, 21 September, 2013 (in school for Medway schools that opt for Saturday testing and in test centres for children not in Medway primary/junior schools)

Assessment Decision Letters posted to parents/carers (emails sent after 4pm to those that registered online)

Friday, 4 October, 2013

Deadline for Medway Test Review Requests

Friday, 11 October, 2013

Deadline for primary and junior schools to submit review work to the council

Tuesday, 15 October, 2013 (10am)

Medway Test Reviews

Wednesday, 16/Thursday, 17 October, 2013

Review decisions posted to parents/carers

By Friday, 25 October, 2013

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

Thursday, 31 October, 2013

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

Monday, 3 March, 2014 (as 1 March, 2014 is a Saturday)

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

By Monday, 31 March, 2014

The Council re-allocates any places that have become available to those who have asked to go on the waiting lists for each school

w/c Monday 7 April, 2014

‘14

‘13

Booklets and paper Medway Test registration forms to primary and junior schools

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section one

Introduction and general information

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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 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.

There are two sessions on each date. 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.

Summary of Student Services admissions presentations Date

Area

Venue

Time

Tuesday, 4 June

Rochester

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3EL

4.30pm 6.30pm

Wednesday, 5 June

Gillingham

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

4.30pm 6.30pm

Thursday, 6 June

Strood

Strood Academy Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester, ME2 2SX

4.30pm 6.30pm

Monday, 10 June

Peninsula

St James’ Church of England Primary Academy High Street, Isle of Grain, Rochester, ME3 0BS

4pm

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

6.30pm

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 Medway Council works within the guidelines set out in the School Admissions Code published by the Department for Education. Details of the School Admissions Code can be found at www.education.gov.uk

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.

Tuesday, 11 June

Chatham

St John Fisher Catholic School 79 Maidstone Road, Chatham, Me4 6DP

4.30pm 6.30pm

Wednesday, 12 June

Walderslade

Greenacre Academy 157 Walderslade Road, Chatham, ME5 0LP

4.30pm 6.30pm

Thursday, 13 June

Rainham

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

4.30pm 6.30pm

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Bishop of Rochester Academy

Brompton Academy

Chatham Grammar School for Boys

Chatham Grammar School for Girls

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Greenacre Academy

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Rainham School for Girls

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

●

Friday 25

❖ ❖ ● ❖

●

● ❖

❖ ❖ ❖ ● ❖ ❖

❖

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

10 St John Fisher Catholic School

● ●

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

12 The Howard School

● ❖ ❖

13 The Hundred of Hoo Academy

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

14 The Robert Napier School

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

11 Strood Academy

Wednesday 30

Thursday 24

Wednesday 23

Tuesday 22

❖ ❖ ❖

● ❖

●

● ❖ ❖ ❖

15 The Rochester Grammar School 16 The Thomas Aveling School

Monday 21

Friday 18

Thursday 17

Wednesday 16

Tuesday 15

Monday 14

Saturday 12

Friday 11

Thursday 10

Wednesday 9

Tuesday 8

Monday 7

Friday 4

Thursday 3

Wednesday 2

Tuesday 1

Monday 30

Saturday 28

Saturday 21

Thursday 26

Wednesday 18

OCTOBER

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ●

●

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

SEPTEMBER Saturday 14

Tuesday 9

❖ Morning sessions ● Evening sessions

Thursday 11

JULY

Tuesday 17

Summary of open sessions

❖ ❖ ❖

17 Walderslade Girls’ School

● ❖ ❖ ❖ For details of the above sessions please refer to the individual school pages.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● 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. 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. The table on page 8 provides a brief overview of when each school’s open sessions are scheduled. Further details can be found on the individual school pages and from the school directly. ● What happens if my child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SSEN)? If your child is statemented, 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 331130. ● What does it mean? A guide to some of the terms used in the admissions process The following information will help you to

understand the meaning of some of the terms you will read or hear about throughout the admissions process. There may be other terms we haven’t listed here. If you are unsure of the meaning of anything in this booklet, please contact Student Services who will be happy to help you. ● Oversubscription criteria Any application for a school is ranked (prioritised) against the school’s oversubscription criteria. This is a set of criteria that details the order of priority in which places will be offered. Each school has its own criteria and details can be found on the individual school pages later in this booklet. ● Equal Preference Scheme This means that school places are not offered based on the order of preferences you provide. Your application will be considered and ranked against the school’s oversubscription criteria. The schools you name will not be told by Medway Council which preference you named them. The order of your preferences is between you and Student Services only. When allocating places, Student 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. ● Published Admission Number (PAN) The number of places in the year group available to be offered for September 2014.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● 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. The easiest way to determine which local authority you live in is to identify the authority council tax is paid to. For example, if you pay council tax to Medway Council, you must apply for schools through Medway Council. If you pay your council tax to one of the 12 district councils of Kent (for example, Tonbridge and Malling or Swale) you must apply for schools through Kent County Council. You can name schools in any local authority, but you must apply through your home local authority. ● School specialism A number of secondary schools and academies have specialisms in certain areas. This usually means that they can offer enhanced facilities and opportunities in this particular area. Details of each school’s specialism can be found on the individual school pages later in this booklet. ● School status All schools have a particular status which describes the type of school it is. You will hear about academies, community schools, foundation schools, voluntary aided schools and voluntary controlled schools.

They are all secondary schools but offer different opportunities for learning and deliver these in different ways.

Summary of schools School

Type

Status

Specialism(s)

PAN

Page

The status of each school will be shown on its individual page.

Bishop of Rochester Academy

Academy

Mathematics, Music, ICT

240

Brompton Academy

Academy

Science and Arts

210

Please speak to the school to find out more about what they can offer your child.

Chatham Grammar School for Boys

Grammar

Academy

Languages, Science and Gifted and Talented

120

Chatham Grammar School for Girls

Grammar

Academy

Languages

142

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Grammar

Academy

Science and Mathematics

120

Greenacre Academy

Academy

Sport

160

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Grammar

Academy

Science

175

Rainham School for Girls

Academy

Technology

270

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

Grammar

Academy

Mathematics, Computing and Humanities

168

Comprehensive Voluntary Aided

N/A

180

11 Strood Academy

Academy

Business and Enterprise and Mathematics

240

12 The Howard School

Bi-lateral

Foundation

Physical Education, Sport and ICT

250

13 The Hundred of Hoo Academy Academy

Academy

Media Arts

270

14 The Robert Napier School

Academy

Humanities

210

15 The Rochester

Grammar

Academy

Mathematics, Computing and Music

175

16 The Thomas Aveling School

Academy

Technology

190

17 Walderslade Girls School

Academy

Humanities and The Arts

160

● 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 and The Robert Napier School operate a Fair Banding test this is not a pass or fail test, it is just to ensure that children across the ability range are admitted. ● Testing before preference This means that if you wish your child to be considered for a Medway grammar school, they will need to sit the Medway Test. In Medway we give your child the opportunity to do this and have the result before the closing date for school applications. Full details of the Medway Test procedures are provided in section 2 of this booklet.

10 St John Fisher Catholic School

Grammar School

PAN: Published admission number

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section two

The Medway Test and other testing arrangements

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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. 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.

Therefore, 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 13. ● Which schools does the Medway Test apply to? In Medway, we have six selective (grammar) secondary schools. These are:

● What does the Medway Test consist of? The Medway Test consists of three separate papers: 1 An extended writing exercise

Chatham Grammar School for Boys

2 A mathematics paper

Chatham Grammar School for Girls

3 A verbal reasoning (VR) paper

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

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

apply online

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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. A further two per cent are selected through the review process. ● When and where is the Medway Test being held? This depends which school you child currently attends. The table on page 16 lists the dates and venues for each Medway primary/junior and independent school. Each Medway school has been given the opportunity to decide 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 direct. Children from, 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, 21 September 2013. Test invitation letters will be sent to all children who have registered to sit the Medway Test to confirm the venue and other details nearer the time of the test.

● How do I register my child to sit the Medway Test? Registration is open from 9am on Monday, 3 June 2013 until 4pm on Monday, 1 July 2013. You can register your child online at www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions 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. ● Are there any benefits to registering online for the Medway Test? When registering online, you will receive an email confirmation that your registration has been received. Registrations made on paper forms will not be acknowledged. 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 on the day results are posted advising them of their child’s result. ● 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. ● My child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs. 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 you would 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 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

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fall under the special arrangements process. You may ask your child’s headteacher to submit a special arrangements request. 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. All special arrangements requests must be submitted by Friday, 5 July 2013. The panel will consider them, and we will write to parents and schools by the beginning of the autumn term. ● 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. 13

The minimum standardised (weighted) score for each paper is 70 and the maximum is 140. 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 2014 admissions until after all test papers have been marked and standardised. For 2013 admissions, the minimum weighted score was 509. For 2012 admissions, the minimum weighted score required was 505. For 2011 admissions, the minimum weighted score required was 508. 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. ● When will I receive my child’s test results? For children who registered on time to sit the Medway Test, assessment decision letters will be posted by 1st class post on Friday, 4 October, 2013. These letters will provide full details of your child’s result and what to do next. Those parents who registered their child online, and provided an email address, will also be sent an email after 4pm on Friday, 4 October 2013. 14

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. ● 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. ● 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. 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. The number of successful reviews normally equates to two 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.

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● 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, 11 October 2013. The reviews will take place on Wednesday, 16 and Thursday, 17 October 2013. ● When will I know the review decision? The result of the reviews will be posted to parents by Friday, 25 October 2013. This is before the closing date for school applications, which is Thursday, 31 October 2013 (this is a national date). ● 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 3 March 2014 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 3 March 2014.

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 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.

Late registrations for good reason and for families who have just moved into the area will be accepted up until Friday, 9 August 2013. 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 3 March 2014. ● Are there any other testing arrangements for Medway secondary schools? Brompton 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 or The Robert Napier School 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 them for more information. Medway Council has no involvement in these Fair Banding Tests.

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.

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Medway Test centre locations September 2013 The test centres for out of area children will be advised nearer the time. School name

Test date

All Faiths Children's Community School All Saints CE Primary School Allhallows Primary School Balfour Junior School Barnsole Junior School Bligh Junior School Brompton Westbrook Primary School Bryony School Burnt Oak Primary School Byron Primary School Chattenden Primary School Cliffe Woods Primary School Cuxton Community Junior School Deanwood Primary School Delce Junior School Elaine Primary Academy English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School Fairview Community Primary School Featherby Junior School Gordon Schools Federation Halling Primary School Hempstead Junior School High Halstow Foundation School Hilltop Primary School Hoo St Werburgh Primary School Horsted Junior School Kingfisher Community Primary School Kings School Lordswood School Luton Junior School Maundene School Meredale Primary School Miers Court Primary School

Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Sat 21 Sat 21 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18

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Test venue In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In test centre In school In school In school In school In school

School name

Test date

Napier Community Primary School New Road Primary School Oaklands School Park Wood Junior School Phoenix Junior Academy Riverside Primary School Saxon Way Primary School Skinner Street Primary School Spinnens Acre Junior School St Andrews School St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School St Benedict's RC Primary School St Helen's CE Primary School St James' CE VA Primary School St Margaret's at Troy Town Church of England School St Margaret's CE VC Junior School St Mary's Catholic Primary School St Mary's Island CE 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 Temple Mill Primary School Thames View Junior School The Pilgrim CE Primary School Twydall Primary School Wainscott Primary School Walderslade Primary School Warren Wood Community Primary School Wayfield Community Primary School Woodlands Primary School

Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Sat 21

In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school

Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18

In school In school In school In school

Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18 Sat 21 Tues 17 / Wed 18

In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school In school

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Test venue

Section three

The school application process

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● When can I apply for school places? Medway Council’s secondary school applications are open from Monday, 9 September 2013 until 4pm on Thursday, 31 October 2013. ● Who do I apply to? You must submit your school application to the local authority where your child lives. 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.

When applying online, you will receive email confirmation that your application has been received. Applications made on paper forms will not be acknowledged. Please also see page 22. ● 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.

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. ● My child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Can I apply? No. If your child is statemented 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 331130.

● 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.

● I live in Medway. What schools can I apply for? Details of the Medway secondary schools are provided later in this booklet. Medway residents can also apply for schools outside Medway, but these must be named on your Medway application.

Please note that you should only use one of these methods. We cannot accept more than one application per child. If you apply online, please do not complete a paper form and vice versa.

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 don’t 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.

● Are there any benefits to applying online? Parents who apply online for schools, and provide us with an email address, will be sent an email after 4pm on 3 March 2014 advising them of the school place offered, as well as being sent a formal offer letter which provides information on what to do next. 18

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

Please only name each school once. If you name a school more than once it will only be considered as one preference.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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 3 March 2014. ● Is the order I name schools important? Medway operates an equal preference scheme, which means that school places are not offered based on which preference you name the school.

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. 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.

● 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 (31 October 2013). 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.

Your application will be considered and prioritised against the named school’s oversubscription criteria. Medway Council will not tell the schools which preference you named them. The order of your preference is between you and Medway Council. When school places are being offered, Medway Council will look to offer your child a place at the highest named school where a place can be offered. It is important that you name the schools in your preferred order. ● 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

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Any request for a change of address can be accepted up until 15 November 2013 if accompanied by sufficient evidence.

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.

● 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 wouldn’t have otherwise been offered, we can and will withdraw the offer of a school place.

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 3 March 2014 and will be considered at re-allocation.

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 information.

● After Friday, 15 November 2013 All applications received after this date (for whatever reason) will not be considered for places on 3 March 2014.

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.

They will be held pending and included in the ongoing reallocation of vacant places after 7 April 2014 as defined above and after consultation with the relevant admission authority for the named schools/academies.

● What happens if I miss the closing date for applications?

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.

The closing date for applications is 31 October 2013. 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, 15 November 2013 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. 20

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.

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● Can I change my preferences after the closing date? Changes to preference are not allowed after the closing date for applications (31 October 2013) 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 15 November 2013.

Section four

The online admissions process

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Medway Council would like to encourage all parents/carers of children resident in Medway to submit their 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 apply online? You can access the online admissions system during the following periods: To register your child to take the Medway Test – registration is open from 9am on Monday, 3 June 2013 until 4pm on Monday, 1 July 2013. To submit your child’s secondary school application – applications are open from Monday, 9 September 2013 until 4pm on Thursday, 31 October 2013. We cannot accept any online applications made outside these periods. ● 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 safe, fast and easy method of sending us your application and provides you with confirmation that it has been received. After 4pm on 4 October 2013, parents who have registered their child online for the Medway Test and provided an email address, will receive their child’s test result by email. 22

After 4pm on the offer day, 3 March 2014, 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. ● Can I submit an online request for my child to sit the Medway Test? Yes. You can submit your Medway Test registration online. Online test registration is open to everybody, whether you live in Medway or not.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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

● What do I need to do to apply online?

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

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.

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

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 the application 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 application and a paper application?

If you provide an email address in your information, you will receive email confirmation of the application you have submitted. This will be a copy of the information you have provided. ● 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 (1 July for Medway Test registration and 31 October for secondary school applications). You will need your username and password to re-enter your application and make any changes.

Yes, all applicants receive the formal offer letter. Online applicants, who have provided an email address, also receive an email advising them of the school place offered.

No. We can only process one application for each pupil. If you have applied online, do not complete a paper application as well. Please note, if you submit an online application this will override any paper application we receive for your child unless you contact us prior to the closing date to cancel your online application. ● 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 01622 696565.

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.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section five

The school offer process and next steps

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● When will I find out my child’s school offer? Secondary school places are offered on 3 March 2014. This is a national date when all secondary school places in England will be offered. 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 3 March 2014 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 3 March 2014 advising you of your child’s school offer. You will still receive a formal letter and will need this to take the next steps.

● 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 later in this booklet. 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, which means that school places are not offered based on which preference you name the school. Your application will be considered and prioritised against the named school’s oversubscription criteria. Medway Council will not tell the schools in which preference you listed them. The order of your preference is between you and Medway Council.

● 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 you 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. ● Why does it take so long from applying for schools to receiving the school offer? The closing date for school applications (31 October) and the offer date for school places (3 March) are national dates set by central government. There are many procedures that need to be undertaken by councils to process applications, including exchanging data with other councils and schools and working with schools to prioritise applicants.

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

When school places are being offered, Medway Council will look to offer your child a place at the highest named school where a place can be offered. ● What happens if more than one of the schools I name can offer my child a place? You will only receive the offer of one school place on 3 March 2014 and Medway Council will look to offer your child a place at the highest named school where a place can be offered. ● What about children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs? Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs 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 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 most opportunity to receive the offer of a place at a school you are satisfied with. Medway residents can list up to six preferences. 26

For 2013 admissions, 96.8 per cent of children received the offer of a place at a school named on their application form on 1 March 2013. 85.95 per cent of children received the offer of a place at their first preference school. ● 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 3 March 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 nonselective 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 3 March 2014 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 below:

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● Waiting lists / Re-allocation: You will be sent a waiting list request form along with your school offer letter on 3 March 2014. 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 not automatically be added to a waiting list unless 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 2014. Vacant places will be re-allocated after 7 April 2014.

NB: 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.

● 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 3 March 2014. 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 2014. ● 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 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.

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 3 March 2014. You can submit more than one appeal at the same time, as the schools being appealed for will not be aware that you have appealed for another school. 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 3 March 2014. An independent appeal panel will hear admission appeals. They are independent of the school and the council and their decision is binding on the school and the council. Appeal requests must be lodged by 31 March 2014.

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Section six

Free school meals and home to school transport

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

The following information on free school meals and home to school transport is correct at the time of going to print. Please note that there may be changes to Medway Council’s policies as a result of changes to central government legislation. This may mean that changes may be made before your child is due to start secondary school in September 2014. 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. As the government is looking to change the benefits system, please be aware these could have changed by September 2014.

● 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 contact points, or the main libraries - Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester and Strood. ● 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. 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. ● Do I need to complete the application form for all Medway schools? At the time of going to print, the following Medway schools administer their own free school meals applications: ● Bishop of Rochester Academy ● Chatham Grammar School for Girls ● Fort Pitt Grammar School ● Rainham Mark Grammar School

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● Rainham

School for Girls Academy ● The Howard School ● The Rochester Grammar School ● The Thomas Aveling School ● Strood

For these schools, you will need to contact them directly to find out how to submit an application for free school meals. For up-todate details on schools please visit www.medway.gov.uk For all other Medway secondary schools, please complete the Medway Council application form. It is important to note that if you child currently goes to a Medway primary school (except All Faiths Children’s Community School*) and is already in receipt of free school meals at the end of Year 6 the permit will transfer automatically to the Medway secondary school, unless it is one of those listed above. *All Faiths Children’s Community School administer their own free school meals, so if your child is transferring to secondary school from this school you will need to complete a new free school meals application. Please contact Student Services Operations Team for further advice. ● 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.

● 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.

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. ● Where can I get an application form? You can get an application form from any Medway school, Medway contact points or the main libraries - Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester and Strood. Alternatively, you can contact the Student Services Operations Team on 01634 331155.

Home to school transport ● What is the current transport policy? ● How do I know if my child is eligible for free home to school transport? Following the offer of a school place on 3 March 2014, 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.

At the time of going to print, 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

If your child may qualify for free home to school transport you will be sent confirmation in writing. You will be asked to check the information and to provide a passport sized photograph of your child to enable us to process the application, or provide proof of low-income where necessary. If you have not received written confirmation from the Student Services Operations Team by the beginning of July 2014, it is likely that your child is not eligible for free home to school transport. ● 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 30

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

attending and it must be deemed as the nearest appropriate school to your home address. ● What does nearest appropriate school mean? This means the school geographically nearest to your home address that is suitable for a child’s age, ability and aptitude. We can only distinguish between non-selective and selective schools and cannot take into account the individual specialist status of a school. When deciding which is the nearest appropriate school, we do not take into account a parent’s preference for a single sex, mixed or specialist school. Please note: Medway Council do not grant transport to independent schools and only to an out of area (ie. Kent) in exceptional circumstances.

Only one school can be the nearest appropriate school from your home address. If you express a preference for a school which is not the nearest appropriate 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. A nearest appropriate school form is available at the back of this booklet for you to request details of the schools deemed the nearest appropriate from your home address. Please note, due to the current secondary transfer process, any forms received by the Student Services Operations Team up to 15 July 2013 cannot be responded to prior to the school summer holidays. ● Can I get free home to school transport if I am on a low income? Yes. If you are on a low-income you can qualify for free home to school transport if you live more than two miles, but not more than six miles, from one of your three nearest appropriate schools. Low-income families are defined as where the children are entitled to free school meals (see details on page 29), or if parents receive the maximum level of working tax credit. When returning the application form you will need to provide an up to date full copy of your proof of benefit in order for us to assess your claim. ● Can my child get free home to school transport from two addresses if the parents are separated and they live part time with each parent? No. Medway Council can only issue one travel pass for one return journey from home to school each day. We can only assess a transport

application from the address that is the child’s main place of residence. If you have any specific questions regarding these situations, please contact the Student Services Operations Team on 01634 331155. ● Will my child receive free home to school transport automatically if they have medical or special educational needs? If a child has specific medical needs for transport, you will need to provide medical evidence for assessment by the Student Service Operations Team. This evidence must provide sufficient detail to enable an assessment to be carried out. If a child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, you will need to discuss their transport needs with the Special Educational Needs Team on 01634 331130. They will advise what information they need to assess the case. ● How are distances measured for home to school transport? It is important to understand that the school admissions policies and the home to school transport policies are completely separate and do not interlink. Distances for home to school transport are calculated using the geographical information software available to Medway Council. The distance is calculated from the home address to the school address by the shortest available walking route. It may take account of footpaths, public rights of way, etc. The shortest available walking route is one along which a child can walk to school, accompanied as necessary, with reasonable safety.

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● I have chosen a school on faith grounds. Can I get free home to school transport? If your child is attending St John Fisher Catholic School or Bishop of Rochester Academy on religious grounds, Medway Council will count these schools as the nearest appropriate for a child of the Roman Catholic or Church of England faith respectively. You will be entitled to free transport if you live more than three miles from the school, and your child is a regular practising member of a church of the same religion as the school. This needs to be confirmed in writing by the church. If you are on a low-income, you will be entitled to free transport if you live between two and 15 miles from the school and your child is a regularly practising member of a church of the same religion as the school. This needs to be confirmed in writing, by the church. Please note this can include some Kent church 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: ● Nu

Venture Bus Company 01622 882288 ● Farleigh Coaches 01634 201065 ● Red Route 01474 353896 ● ASD Coaches 01634 726412 ● 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 and hold a valid pass to pay half the adult fare at all times when travelling on any local bus service. The journeys must start in Medway and can be to any destination in Medway or Kent, as long as any changes of bus are in Medway. This pass is not valid on the subsidised yellow buses run by Medway Council or companies who already offer a child fare.

You can apply for this scheme and find out the cost by ringing the Student Services Operations Team on 01634 333333, or collecting a form from your child’s school office, Medway’s contact points, or the main libraries Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester and Strood. ● 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 334438.

● 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 the Specialist Transport Unit on 01634 331057.

Passes expire after three years or when the young person becomes 16-years-old, whichever is sooner. A new pass is needed for 16-18-yearolds, this will expire when the young person reaches the end of the academic year after their eighteenth birthday. 32

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● If we are refused free transport, is there a right of appeal? If your application for free home to school transport is refused by the Student Services Operations Team and you believe that your circumstances warrant an exception being made, please put your reasons in writing to the Student Services Operations Manager, to be reconsidered. If it is still refused, you may wish to make a formal appeal to Members of Medway Council against this decision. We will provide details of how to do this at that time. ● If my child has a free bus pass and misbehaves on the bus, will the pass be taken away? All transport provided is subject to your child behaving in an acceptable manner while travelling. If, however, the transport company feels that your child’s behaviour is unacceptable, their ticket can be withdrawn. In such cases, Medway Council will cease to accept liability for travel arrangements and you will have to make your own arrangements from then on.

Section seven

Common oversubscription criteria

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The below table provides some definitions 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 is and what it means for your child. Criteria

Definition

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

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 the council may ask for a copy of the adoption/residence order to validate this criterion.

Current family association/sibling

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 2014).

Child’s health reasons

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.

Residence in an access area

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.

Nearness of child’s home/distance*

The distance calculated is the shortest available safe walking route known to the geographical information software (GIS) used by Student Services Admissions. 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.

Score

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 2014’ for the most up to date information on how distances are calculated.

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Section eight

Other information

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● Individual school’s published oversubscription criteria/admission arrangements The oversubscription criteria detailed in section nine 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 2013. 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

● 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 efficient full time education. If you wish to consider educating your child at home, please contact the Inclusions Team on 01634 332572 for more information. You will be asked to provide full details on the arrangements you are making. ● Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) ACE has been supporting families on education issues for over 50 years. They provide information, support and advice to parents on many aspects of their child’s education. You can contact them on 0808 800 5793 or via their website www.ace-ed.org.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, you can contact them directly. Contact details can be found for every Medway school and academy in section nine.

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

● School term dates Full details of term dates for the academic year September 2014 to July 2015 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. Further information can be found at www.medway.gov.uk/educationandlearning/ schoolsandcolleges/gettingtoschool.aspx

Section nine

The schools

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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 B - The Thomas Aveling School C - Walderslade Girls’ School

- The Hundred of Hoo Academy

Medway secondary schools Page

Bishop of Rochester Academy

Brompton Academy

Chatham Grammar School for Boys

Chatham Grammar School for Girls

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Greenacre Academy

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Rainham School for Girls

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School

10 St John Fisher Catholic School

11 Strood Academy

12 The Howard School

13 The Hundred of Hoo Academy

14 The Robert Napier School

15 The Rochester Grammar School

16 The Thomas Aveling School

17 Walderslade Girls’ School

and Greenacre Academy

D - Rainham School for Girls E - The Howard School 38

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www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Allhallows

Cliffe

B2 00 0

Grain

B2 00 0

es ha m T r Rive

A2 28

River Medway

A22 6

Hoo

Londo n

Jct 1

Medway

Medway Tunnel

Strood A2

A28 9

Medway Park

Gillingham

Rochester

Jct 2

2 14

Chatham

Motorway Bridge

15 16

10 3 1

B2 00 4

A289

Rainham A2 Tesco Superstore

7 12 8

Maidstone

Sittin

gbour n

17 6 Asda Superstore store

Jct 3

Splashes Leisure Centre

Jct 4

Ca nt M2 erbu ry/ Do ver

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

Published admission number for 2014

School type (grammar, high, academy etc)

Area of Medway

School status (academy, foundation, community, voluntary aided)

Map reference number, see page 39

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

Preferences breakdown for 2013

Number of places offered on 1 March (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

Expected school roll for September 2014

Access area see page 39

Bishop of Rochester Academy Specialisms: Mathematics, Music, ICT DFE number: 887 6907

PAN: 240

At the Bishop of Rochester Academy, we are determined to excel. Our staff work hard to enable students to achieve beyond their expectations, and we have a passion for excellence which is visible throughout the academy community. A rich curriculum, including subjects such as Philosophy and Latin and a diverse programme of extra-curricular activities ranging from Rugby and Weight Lifting to Archeology and Cake Decorating cater for Students' individual needs, and nurture particular particular talents. Initiatives such as free breakfast and our accelerated reader programme all further contribute to allowing your son or daughter to get the most from their time here. We are proud of our Christian Ethos and believe that this provides the basis for a culture of respect and care. Students at the Academy are based in our new campus, with access to cutting-edge ICT facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, all of which is used to enhance their learning.

Total number of prefs 2013 2012 213 254

Type: Academy

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 – 18

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Magpie Hall Road, Chatham ME4 5JB

Admission: Entry is without testing

01634 845196 Email: office@boracademy.org www.boracademy.org

Oversubscription: Any child with a Statement of Special Educational Needs that names Bishop of Rochester Academy as their school will automatically be offered a place at the school. There will be two broad groups: 150 open places and up to 90 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, after the admission of children with statements of SEN, places will be allocated to applicants in the following priority order: 1. Looked after children (as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme) 2. Siblings (pupils living as brothers and sisters, etc) 3. Those living nearest the academy based on the measured distance using Medway Council’s GIS system. After pupils have been accepted to the academy, they can apply for a music scholarship. Please enquire for further details.

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 70 58 40 22 12 11

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 107 105

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Open sessions Open evenings: Thursday, 11 July, 4 – 7pm and Thursday, 3 October, 4 – 7pm Open mornings: Tuesday, 15, to Thursday, 17 October, from 9am by appointment. For admission enquiries please contact Miss Mandi Clark, Office Manager

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1100

Brompton Academy Specialism: Science and Arts DFE number: 887 6906

PAN: 210

Brompton Academy is all ability, innovative, dynamic 11-18 school, with specialisms in science and arts, with 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. The academy provides a unique learning environment, offering a range of different curriculum opportunities to engage all students. These include the academic GCSE English Baccalaureate route as well as vocational pathways, and an extensive Advanced level qualification offer at post 16. Students in Year 7 undertake a foundation programme to support their personal development in becoming confident, happy, robust, successful young people with a passion for learning. The academy boasts high standards of behaviour. If you are looking for a highly effective all ability school 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. The academy has excellent facilities, housed within a brand new state-of-the-art building. All students benefit from the availability of outstanding technologies focused on Apple products. All students have access to ipads for learning. Further information is available on our website. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 556 552

Type: Academy

Area: Gillingham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: All applicants for an place at the academy, including those with a SEN statement, will be required to take the Fair Banding test. See page 43 for details.

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Principal: Judy Rider BA (Hons), MA Marlborough Road, Gillingham ME7 5HT 01634 852341 Email: admissions@bromptonacademy.org.uk www.bromptonacademy.org.uk

Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 14 September, 2013 Saturday, 19 October, 2013

Open sessions

See page 43 for further details of oversubscription criteria and fair banding test.

Open evening: Thursday, 26 September, 5.30 – 8pm Principal talks at 5.45pm Open morning: Saturday, 28 September, 10am – 12noon Principal talks at 10am Morning tours: Tuesday, 8 and Wednesday, 9 October* *By arrangement directly with the academy For admission enquiries please contact the admissions manager

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 260 157 77 38 12 12

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 210 210

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Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012

Access area

Expected roll

Allocation criteria - Fair Banding plus criteria

1000

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Oversubscription: Places are first offered to students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs, 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.

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. Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 14 September, 2013 Saturday, 19 October, 2013

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 3 June till Friday, 15 July 2013. This 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 9 September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11 October 2013. 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 residence order or special guardianship order).

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Chatham Grammar School for Boys Specialisms: Science DFE number: 887 4068

PAN: 120

Located in a beautiful, historic building we produce talented, high achieving young men and women excelling academically; in the arts and sport. Students progress to the finest universities in the world; the professions, public and armed services, sport and entertainment industries. We encourage the love of learning for its own sake. In addition to English and Mathematics all pupils study at least one modern language, separate sciences and humanities to GCSE. International School Status provides opportunities for visits all over the planet, especially Japan, where links exist in Kyoto, Hirado and Chigasaki. Major school sports are football, hockey and rugby. In addition we excel in athletics; there are also opportunities in cricket, tennis and many other sporting activities. Drama productions takes place every year and the school’s contemporary, jazz, and brass bands perform in concerts each term. Pupils with special educational needs are welcomed and provided with the support to help them thrive. Every pupil at Chatham Grammar School for Boys is treated as an individual, the school is well known for its caring ethos, supportive staff and desire to work in partnership with parents to ensure that pupils are happy give of their best and achieve their full potential. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 483 450

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 1 March, other nationally recognised entrance test).

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Status: Academy

Headteacher: Mr David Marshall Holcombe, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6JB 01634 830083 Email: office@cgsb.co.uk www.cgsb.co.uk

Oversubscription: Following the admission of children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs where Chatham Grammar School for Boys is named on the statements and 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 in public care as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme 2 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. 3 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.

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 114 234 95 28 7 5

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 74 95

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Open sessions Open evening: Tuesday, 8 October, 5.30 – 9pm For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Patricia Lewis

4 Nearness of children’s measured by the shortest available safe walking distance between the home address and CGSB as measured by the Medway Council GIS and determined by Medway Council. 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) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

980

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. Whilst 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 extra-curricular 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 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: Thursday, 17 October, 6 – 8.30pm Open morning: Saturday, 12 October, 10am – 1pm Daytime tours: Monday, 21 to Friday, 25 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 2013 2012 474 424

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 109 173 138 40 10 4

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 84 82

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Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

850

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 – our students regularly achieve some of the highest grades in Medway and Kent – but we also encourage our students to develop their full creative and sporting abilities. 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 2013 2012 438 461

Type: Grammar

Area: Chatham

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 where Fort Pitt Grammar 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 of eligible girls exceed this number, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below, to decide which girls who satisfied the selection requirements should be offered places: 1. Looked After Children / Children in local authority care - as defined in the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme 2. 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. 3. Students who attend a school within the Fort Pitt Academy Trust. 4. 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). 5. Girls residing within 2 miles of the school measured by the Medway Council GIS. 6. 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 GIS. Allhallows; Cliffe and

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 136 186 69 38 7 2

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 119 120

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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, 10 October, 6 – 9pm Headteachers talks at 6.45 and 7.45pm Open mornings: Monday, 21 to Thursday, 24 October, 9 – 11am Last tour 10.15am For admission enquiries please contact the Headteacher

Cliffe Woods; Cooling; Cuxton; Frindsbury Extra; Halling; High Halstow; Hoo St Werburgh; St James, Isle of Grain; St Mary Hoo; Stoke. 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. 7. 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 GIS.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a 7.75km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

800

Greenacre Academy A high performing specialist school with sports college and raising achievement status DFE number: 887 4174

PAN: 160

Greenacre is an oversubscribed, well equipped school set in extensive grounds. An all weather sports pitch and a food technology hall have been added during the past year. In February 2011 Ofsted inspectors concluded that the school was good with outstanding features. ‘Exemplary care, guidance and support, as well as outstanding work with partnership organisations (including all local primary schools), contribute to students’ good outcomes’. Further, ‘students make good progress in most lessons’. 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 including fast tracked groups in English and mathematics throughout the school. Learning mentors work with small groups or individuals. Strategies such as these are ensuring that GCSE results continue to improve almost year on year. In partnership with Walderslade Girls’ School, a large and thriving Walderslade Joint Sixth Form has, as the inspectors made clear, ‘a good curriculum with clear routes into both academic and applied courses’. Andrew Reese Headteacher Total number of prefs 2013 2012 271 309

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 where Greenacre 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 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 2014. 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).

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 157 50 30 16 12 6

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 160 160

apply online

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Headteacher: Mr Andrew Reese 157 Walderslade Road, Chatham ME5 0LP 01634 861593 Email: office@greenacre.medway.sch.uk www.greenacre.medway.sch.uk

Open sessions Open evening: Tuesday, 15 October, 6pm Headteachers talk at 7.30pm Daytime tours: Monday, 7 to Friday, 11 October, 9.15am For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Susan Bond 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 6. Nearness of children’s home – (as defined in Medway Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme using Medway Council’s GIS Tiebreaker – in the event of a tie within any criterion, places will be allocated to those living closest to the school measured by the short available walking route.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 2.70km 1.97km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

yes

930

Rainham Mark Grammar School Specialism: Science DFE number: 887 5420

PAN: 175

At Rainham Mark Grammar School (RMGS) we provide a co-educational selective education of the highest quality. Ofsted report, October 2008, stated ‘Rainham Mark Grammar School provides good quality education for its pupils. It also has many outstanding features to its work… Standards in GCSE examinations are exceptionally and consistently high.’ 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 and recording studio. • newly refurbished sixth form study suite. Our strengths include: • 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. We achieved the highest average A2 grade in Medway in both 2011 and 2012. • broad curriculum choice and sensible acceleration for the most gifted students; • a strong tradition of extra-curricular activities and trips; • 20 Good Schools Guide Awards. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 537 499

Type: Grammar

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 18

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

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, 10 October, 5 – 7pm Headteacher talks at 6.30pm Open morning: Saturday, 12 October, 10am – 12noon Headteacher talks at 11.30am Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time by appointment. Tours of the school during a working day can be taken from 9am to 3pm from Monday 14 to Friday, 18 October. We are unable to offer additional tours after 18 October. Please contact the school to make an appointment. For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Bourne, Head of Lower School

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 228 130 111 48 16 4

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 205 175

apply online

Lowest score offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 509 505

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1220

Rainham School for Girls Specialism: Technology 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 two new 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 2013 2012 480 456

Type: Academy

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 18

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Status: Academy

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Headteacher: Ms K Roberts

Admission: Entry is without testing

Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where Rainham School for Girls 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 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.

01634 362746

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 265 85 78 17 24 11

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 270 270

apply online

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

Open sessions Open evening: Wednesday, 9 October, 6 – 8pm Open morning: Saturday, 14 September, 10am – 12noon Daytime tours: Monday, 7 to Friday, 11 October* *Two sessions 9 – 10.30am and 11.15am – 12.45pm By appointment For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Lee Tiebreaker – in the event of a tie within any criterion, places will be allocated to those living closest to the school measured by the shortest available walking route.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 5.79km 12.47km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1550

Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School A member of The Williamson Trust DFE number: 887 4530

PAN: 168

In November 2008, 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 sport facilities. The school has been extended over the years by the provision of a Sixth Form Centre, Mathematics Block and a larger Music suite. A new building for Design Technology and Art was opened in April 2012 and our refurbished English Block opened in September 2012.

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 where Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical 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 preferences for the school exceeds the number of places available at the school, Medway Council will allocate places in the following priority order: • Children in public care • 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 • Nearness of children’s homes Distance will be measured by the shortest available safe walking route between home and school as measured by Medway Council’s GIS. 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.

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, 24 October, 6 – 9pm Open days: Monday, 14 to Friday, 18 October* *tour times 9am and 2.15pm For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Jacqueline Harrison, PA to Headteacher

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 2013 2012 427 444

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 195 110 77 35 7 3

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 168 168

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 14.93km 6.62km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1212

St John Fisher Catholic School

DFE number: 887 5436

PAN: 180

Type: Comprehensive

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

Area: Chatham

Age range: 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria Admission: Entry is without testing. 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 52 for further details on oversubscription criteria.

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Voluntary Aided

Headteacher: Mrs C L Burnett Lower school: 79 Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6DP 01634 335787 Upper school: Ordnance Street, Chatham ME4 6SG 01634 335757 Email: office@st-johnfisher.medway.sch.uk www.st-johnfisher.medway.sch.uk

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.

Open sessions

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

For admission enquiries please contact Mrs A Bovis

Open morning: Saturday, 12 October, 9am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12noon

C L Burnett Headteacher

Total number of prefs 2013 2012 266 291

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 72 81 55 29 14 15

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 134 97

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 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 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. 52

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. This graphical information 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.

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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).

Strood Academy Specialism: Mathematics and Business and Enterprise

DFE number: 887 6905

PAN: 240

Strood is the first of Medway’s new academies with new buildings opening in 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 risen very sharply at GCSE, doubling the number of young people achieving five ‘good’ GCSE grades. Our sixth form has grown to 240 students who progress 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.

Type: Academy

Area: Strood

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Principal: Mrs Kim Gunn BA (Hons), MBA Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester ME2 2SX

Admission: Entry is without testing.

01634 717121

Oversubscription: Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria set out below. After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where the Strood Academy is named on the statement, the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below: a) Children in public care, or have previously been in public care. 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) 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 the Strood Academy d) Nearness of children’s homes.

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

Open sessions Open evening: Wednesday, 2 October, 6 – 8pm Open mornings: Monday, 7 to Thursday, 10 October, 10.30 – 11.30am For admission enquiries please contact the PA to the Principal

A daily minibus service is planned to run from Chatham and Rochester from September 2013. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 489 395

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 259 107 65 30 15 13

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 240 201

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 3.83km n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1400

The Howard School Specialism: Physical Education, Sport and ICT

DFE number: 887 5457

PAN: 250

The Howard School is unique to Kent and Medway and one of just five 11 - 18 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. Attainment and achievement levels are impressive at all key stages. We have an open sixth form and many of our students progress to university. Success extends beyond the classroom; we regularly dominate Medway, county and national sporting competitions. Achievement in drama and music are second to none in the area. We offer an incredible range of extra-curricular activities, a gifted and talented programme, and an elite athletes’ group. The school was a training base for the 2012 Olympics. ICT provision is second to none 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.

Type: Bi-lateral*

Area: Rainham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

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

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where The Howard 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 preferences for The Howard School received via the Medway Council Co-ordinated Scheme is more than the number of places available, places are allocated in the following priority order: i) Looked After Children as defined in Medway Council’s co-ordinated 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) Nearness 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.

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 227 94 59 46 17 4

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 250 250

apply online

Status: Foundation

Headteacher: The Hon Paul Morris

Admission: Entry is without testing.

The school operates a mixed sixth form. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 447 474

Single sex/mixed: Boys

Derwent Way, Rainham ME8 0BX 01634 388765 Email: office@thehowardschool.co.uk www.thehowardschool.co.uk

Open sessions Open evening: Tuesday, 8 October, 5.30 – 8pm talks at 5.30 and 6.30pm Open mornings: Wednesday, 9 and Thursday, 10 October, 8.35 – 10.30am For admission enquiries please contact Mr M Capelin

* 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) 2013 2012 5.40km 8.37km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1470

The Hundred of Hoo Academy

DFE number: 887 4000

PAN: 270

The Hundred of Hoo is a member of The Williamson Trust and is dedicated to improving the life chances of young people by focusing on every child as an individual, helping them to build a better future. We are committed to the creation of a vibrant, diverse and innovative learning community in which children are encouraged to develop a sense of self-discipline and self-belief enabling students to achieve their goals. We ensure: • The highest standards in achievement, shown by our rapidly improving results and praise by Ofsted in 2012. • A challenging and enjoyable curriculum for all, including a ‘grammar’ stream and a specialist provision for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. • Access to outstanding learning resources and sporting facilities. • Excellent pastoral care. • Outstanding partnership with parents and the wider community. Our aim is to ensure that students aspire to the highest standards, achieve to the best of their ability and excel in all that they do, so that when they leave us, we, and you, can be justly proud of them. Gary Vyse, Head of School Total number of prefs 2013 2012 319 356

Type: Academy

Area: Hoo

Age range: 11 – 18

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Executive Principal: Dr Gary Holden

Admission: Entry is without testing.

Head of School: Mr Gary Vyse

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where The Hundred of Hoo 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 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 39). 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.

Main Road, Hoo, Rochester ME3 9HH

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 166 70 40 21 15 7

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 203 240

apply online

01634 251443 Email: office@hohschool.co.uk www.hooschool.co.uk

Open sessions Open morning: Saturday, 12 October, 10am – 1pm Daytime tours: Monday, 30 September to Friday 4 October Please contact the Academy to make an appointment for a tour For admission enquiries please contact the academy office

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1300

The Robert Napier School Specialism: Humanities College

DFE number: 887 4001

PAN: 210

Robert Napier is a co-educational academy committed to academic excellence for all students. Our aims are to: • embrace students of all abilities, enabling each one to achieve and aspire to excellence in all they do; • provide inspirational teaching and learning for all young people at our school; • reward all achievements; • develop qualities of self-discipline, integrity, respect, honesty, trust, and compassion; • develop an effective partnership with all parents; • encourage links with, and an understanding of industry and commerce • prepare students for the responsibilities, opportunities and experiences of adult life.

Type: Academy

Area: Gillingham

Age range: 11 – 18

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Headteacher: Miss Fiona Miller BA (Hons), MSc Oxon

Admission: Entry is without testing.

Third Avenue, Gillingham ME7 2LX 01634 851157 Email: trns@robertnapier.org.uk

Fair Banding test dates: Saturday, 7 September, 2013 Saturday, 12 October, 2013

www.robertnapier.org.uk

See page 57 for further details on oversubscription criteria and fair banding test.

Open sessions Open evening: Thursday, 11 July, 6 – 8.30pm Open mornings: Tuesday, 8 to Thursday, 10 October, 9am – 12noon For admission enquiries please contact Mrs J Lusinski

In order to achieve these aims the school has developed a highly successful pastoral system, ensuring all members of staff are responsible for the progress and well-being of every student. Our curriculum encourages students to value themselves and others, and to develop their intellectual, spiritual and creative talents. We believe that we can offer your child a safe and stimulating environment in which to reach their full potential. Total number of prefs 2013 2012 428 512

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 93 204 74 26 17 14

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 161 182

apply online

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

1330

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs 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 June 11 to July 13 2013. 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 5 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, Advanced Thinking School and National Support School

DFE number: 887 5445

PAN: 175

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 50 State Schools. We provide a world-class education including a world qualification – the International Baccalaureate. In 2010 the RGS became accredited as an Advanced Thinking School, committed to the development of cognitive education and we are now an acknowledged regional centre of excellence for Thinking. Currently we are supporting international research and development. We celebrate the achievements of all our students in a wide range of enrichment activities, with numerous clubs and groups across the school. We have high expectations for all students, believing that each has a particular talent to offer. Our mission statement is “furthering excellence through support, encouragement and achievement” for each student.

Total number of prefs 2013 2012 444 449

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 where The Rochester Grammar 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 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.

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 200 127 74 33 6 4

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 175 175

apply online

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Executive Principal: Ms D Shepherd, MA, NPQH, NLE Principal: Mr S Gardner, 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, 12 October, 9am – 1pm Daytime tours: Monday, 14 to Friday, 18 October* *Tours at 9am, 11.15am and 2.10pm Please phone the school to book For admission enquiries please contact Mrs J Smith, PA to Executive Principal

Lowest score offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 514 514

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

1140

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 recent 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 2013 2012 527 575

Type: Academy

Area: Rochester

Age range: 11 – 18

Single sex/mixed: Mixed

Status: Academy

Admission and oversubscription criteria

Headteacher: Mr P Jackson

Admission: Entry is without testing.

Arethusa Road, Rochester ME1 2UW

Oversubscription: After the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs 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 sibling2 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, stepbrother 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

01634 844809

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 206 145 78 46 32 20

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 190 190

apply online

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

Open sessions Open evening: Tuesday, 9 July, 6 – 8pm Headteacher will talk at 6.15 and 7pm Open mornings: Tuesday, 8, Wednesday, 9 and Thursday, 10 October, 9.15 – 10.45am For admission enquiries please contact Mrs Y Akrill shortest available safe walking route between home and school, as measured by Medway Council’s GIS and as defined in the Medway Local Authority Admission to Secondary School booklet. In the event of a tie-break with any criteria, nearness of children’s homes (as defined by the criteria in the Medway Council booklet will normally decide which child is allocated the final place.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 2.18km 2.58km

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Access area

Expected roll

yes

1110

Walderslade Girls’ School Specialism: Humanities and the Arts

DFE number: 887 4167

PAN: 160

Walderslade Girls’ School (WGS) is a highly successful, non-selective school providing an excellent quality of education to girls of all abilities aged 11-18. GCSE results place the school among the highest performing non-selective schools in the county. The school is very caring and friendly and every student is known as an individual. Strengths, gifts and talents are identified early and encouraged and developed in every child. The school upholds traditional values and principles within a progressive learning environment. Academic success is promoted and is underpinned by a vibrant programme of co-curricular clubs and activities. Every child is placed in a programme of study that meets their specific needs. Girls are streamed according to ability with the most able following an enriched curriculum that stretches and challenges them to achieve the highest possible results. A small, specialist transition group supports and nurtures those who may find the move from primary to secondary school rather daunting. WGS is a happy and friendly school that seeks to prepare girls for their future lives as independent, confident and successful young women. Ofsted graded the school as ‘Good’ in February 2011. WGS is now firmly on a pathway towards Outstanding.

Total number of prefs 2013 2012 250 272

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 where Walderslade Girls’ 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 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 2014. 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 5 years prior to September 2014. 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

2013 Preference breakdown 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 120 56 34 19 9 12

Places allocated (on offer day) 2013 2012 156 147

apply online

Single sex/mixed: Girls

Headteacher: Mrs Louise McGowan BMUS (Hons) MA NPQH Bradfields Avenue, Walderslade, Chatham ME5 0LE 01634 861596 Email: office@waldersladegirls.org.uk www.waldersladegirls.org.uk

Open sessions Open evening: Tuesday, 15 October, 6 - 8.30pm Headteacher’s talks at 6.15 and 7pm Open mornings: Wednesday, 16 to Friday, 18 October, 9am - 12noon For admission enquiries please contact the admissions officer 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 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 event of a tie within any criterion, places will be allocated to those living closest to the school measured by the short available walking route.

Furthest distance offered (on offer day) 2013 2012 n/a n/a

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

Status: Academy

Access area

Expected roll

yes

900

Work:

Male:

Postcode:

Female:

Officer initials:

Nearest selective schools

Nearest non-selective schools

Impulse ID:

Date measured:

For more information about home to school transport including eligibility criteria please read pages 30 to 32 of the Admission to Secondary School September 2014 booklet.

Please be aware that the schools named below are the three nearest non-selective and selective schools to the address you state above. The minimum walking distance criteria will apply and therefore does not mean that entitlement to free home to school transport is automatic if your child attends any of the schools listed.

The section below will be completed by Student Services Operations Team and returned to you by email, if you have provided an email address above or by post.

For office use only

offered against the published oversubscription criteria for the individual school(s).

Please note: There is no guarantee that a place at a school named below can be offered. School places are only

Email address:

Mobile:

Phone number Home:

Parent/carer’s name:

Home address:

Child’s date of birth:

Child’s name:

If you would like your nearest appropriate 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 11 October 2013. Forms received after this date may not be processed before the closing date for preferences.

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.

Transfer to secondary school - September 2014 Nearest appropriate school confirmation request

Medway Primary School DFE numbers School name

Number

School name

Number

All Faiths’ Children’s Community School

887 2600

New Road Primary School and Nursery Unit

887 2202

All Saints CE Primary School

887 3093

Oaklands School

887 2433

Allhallows Primary School

887 2570

Parkwood Junior School

887 2493

Balfour Junior School

887 2214

Phoenix Junior Academy

887 2001

Barnsole Primary School

887 2396

Riverside Primary School

887 3757

Bligh Junior School

887 2492

Saxon Way Primary School

887 2686

Brompton Westbrook Primary School

887 2646

Sherwin Knight Community Junior School

887 2450

Burnt Oak Primary School

887 3760

Skinner Street Primary School

887 2408

Byron Primary School

887 2644

Spinnens Acre Junior School

887 2630

Chattenden Primary School

887 2209

Cliffe Woods Primary School

887 2588

St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

887 3752

Cuxton Community Junior School

887 2540

St Benedict’s RC Primary School

887 3753

Deanwood Primary School

887 2684

Delce Junior School

887 2413

Elaine Primary Academy

887 2000

English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School

887 3729

St Margaret’s CE Junior School

887 3195

Fairview Community Primary School

887 3759

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

887 3755

Featherby Junior School

887 2400

St Mary’s Island CE Primary School

887 3756

Gordon Junior School

887 2218

St Michael's RC Primary School

887 3712

Halling Primary School

887 2211

St Thomas More RC Primary School

887 3736

Hempstead Junior School

887 2403

St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School

887 3732

High Halstow Primary School

887 2421

St William Of Perth RC Primary School

887 3746

Hilltop Primary School

887 2499

Stoke Lower Community School

887 2194

Hoo St Werburgh Primary School and Marlborough Centre

Temple Mill Primary School

887 2685

887 2213

Thames View Primary School

887 2592

Horsted Junior School

887 2506

Kingfisher Primary School and Children’s Centre 887 2652

887 3096 887 2002

St Margaret's at Troy Town CE VC Primary School

887 3293

The Pilgrim School

887 3758

Twydall Primary School

887 2754

Lordswood School

887 2448

Wainscott Primary School

887 2210

Luton Junior School

887 2199

Walderslade Primary School

887 2203

Maundene School

887 2580

Warren Wood Community Primary School

887 2640

Miers Court Primary School

887 2623

Wayfield Community Primary School and Nursery Unit

887 2668

Woodlands Primary School

887 2412

Napier Community Primary and Nursery School 887 2406

St Helen’s CE Primary School St James’ CE Primary Academy

apply online

www.medway.gov.uk/onlineadmissions

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