Uppingham Community College Admission Arrangements for September 2010

The Governors of the College have approved a Planned Admission Limit (PAL) of 180 for the Autumn Term 2010.  The Governors will therefore admit up to 180 pupils into Year 7  in September 2010.  This increase in PAL is in the light of greater parental choice.  The admission arrangements are carried out in accordance with the School Admissions Code. 

Applications for places at the College in September 2010 are made through a co-ordinated process, though the College retains responsibility for admissions criteria and their interpretation. Parents must therefore express their preference for Uppingham Community College to their “home” LA  (i.e. the LA in which the student lives).

Children with a formal Statement of Special Educational Needs that names Uppingham Community College will be admitted through the statementing process.  The Governing Body will admit a child with a Statement of Special Educational Needs that names Uppingham Community College.

Parents have the right to apply for a place for their children and provided that a place is available, their requests will be granted.  Where the number of applications for places exceeds the number of places available, as specified by the Planned Admission Limit, the Governing Body will apply the following criteria, in priority order, to determine those children to be admitted:

Thereafter the following criteria will be applied:

1.         Children in Care.

2.         Those living in the catchment areas of, or attending the following primary schools:
Bringhurst County, Edith Weston County, Gretton CP, Hallaton CofE, St Mary & St John CofE, North Luffenham, Tugby CofE, Uppingham CofE, Leighfield, Uppingham.  See map.

3.         Those with a sibling1 who is currently attending the College.  The sibling must be on roll at the College at the time of the proposed admission of the applicant to the College.
 
4.         Those with a special medical or social need2.  

5.         Those that have proven grounds based on the location of their place of residence, in order of distance from the College.  If measurement of distance becomes necessary, the calculation will be based on the shortest walking route from the boundary of the home address3 to the main entrance of the College.  Only those footpaths recognised by the Ordnance Survey will be allowed.

Children of Service Personnel posted to the catchment area will be admitted once proof of posting is provided.

Decision of the Admissions Committee will be notified to parents in March in the year of initial entry.  Applications for school places outside the normal admissions round will comply with sections 3.22-3.26 of the Admissions Code.

1   A sibling is defined as a child of the family sharing a parent by birth or adoption and living at the same address at the time of the proposed admission.

2   In order to be allocated a place under this criterion, such need should be supported by written evidence from a GP, educational psychologist, speech therapist or other recognised professional.
  
3   Home address is defined as the address of the parent or carer with whom the child spends the majority of time as a child of a family during term-time and proof of the home address should be in the form of a utility bill.

The College will only allocate places in advance of a family moving into the area where suitable confirmation, such as proof of property purchase, a letting agreement, or a letter from an employer has been received.

Waiting List

In the event of over-subscription, the College holds a waiting list for places which may become available.  Children who are the subject of a direction by the LA must take precedence over those on the waiting list in accordance with the Fair Access Protocol.

All applications declined through the over-subscription process will be given the opportunity to be placed on the waiting list.  Being placed on the waiting list does not remove an applicant’s right to appeal.  

It is important to note that the list does not operate on a “first come, first served” basis and that places will be offered according to the over-subscription criteria if they become available.

Right to Appeal

In the case where an application is declined due to over-subscription, all parents have the right to an independent appeal against the decision made.

Admissions 2009

Last year the College was able to admit 1 student under criterion 1, 136 students from catchment area/catchment primary schools (criterion 2), a further 16 out of catchment children who already had siblings in the college (criterion 3) and 24 under criterion 5.

The Admissions Number for September 2010 has been set at 180.