Starting secondary school is a major step in young people’s lives. This section of the site has been produced by the Choice Advice Service at ask and aims to help you through the process of obtaining a secondary school place and suggests some action points to follow.
Details of all secondary schools in Wiltshire, including their admission policies are in the booklet ‘ Finding a School Place.’ This is available from ask or Wiltshire Council.
If you are unsure which schools are near you, the governments' schools finder website enables you to enter your postcode and then lists all schools within 10km and shows profiles and basic information for each school.
Full details of schools' performance, past and present, can be found in the Achievement and Attainment Tables (league tables) produced by the government. Copies are also available from ask .
School inspection reports are available from Ofsted.
A summary of each Wiltshire secondary school can be viewed on our fully searchable database .
From the database you can also access each schools own website.
What are the different types of school?
Within Wiltshire there are 6 different types of school: community, voluntary controlled, voluntary aided, foundation, academies and independent (fee paying).
Community schools are maintained by the Local Authority (LA). The LA have the main responsibility for deciding admission arrangements. There are also Community Special schools which cater for some children with additional needs.
Voluntary controlled schools are maintained by the LA and with a foundation, usually religious, that appoints some of the school governors. The LA have the main responsibility for deciding admission arrangements.
Voluntary aided schools are maintained by the LA with a foundation, usually religious, that appoints most of the school governors. The governing body has the main responsibility for deciding admission arrangements i.e. writing the admissions policy and ranking applications.
Foundation schools are maintained by the LA and the governing body is responsible for running the school. The governing body has responsibility for deciding admissions arrangements i.e. writing the admissions policy and ranking applications.
Academies are independently managed, all ability schools set up by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups in partnership with the government Department of Children, Schools and Families and the Local Authority. Together they fund the land and buildings with the government covering the running costs.
Independent schools are private, fee paying schools where school governors decide the admission arrangements and parents apply directly to the school. Details of independent schools in the south west can be found on the Independent School Council website.
Wiltshire Council is responsible for co-ordinating admissions for the Community, Voluntary controlled, Voluntary aided, Foundation schools and Academies so all applications have to be made to Wiltshire Council.
ACTION: Find out if the school follows the Council’s Admissions Policy (community or controlled schools) or sets its own Admissions Policy (aided, foundation, academy or independent).
When can my child start?
Your child will be starting secondary school in September 2011 if they were born between 1st September 1999 and 31 August 2000. A child moving from another secondary school can usually start at the beginning of a term.
ACTION: Read through the appropriate Admissions policy.
Which schools can my child attend?
You have the right to state a preference for any maintained school.
Your child has no automatic right of entry to any school but it is likely that he or she will be able to attend your local (designated area) school as long as you meet the application deadline. Some faith schools give priority to, for example, baptised Catholics.
No school should exceed its Planned Admissions Number (PAN).
If a school receives more applications than it has places, then it must apply its oversubscription criteria as outlined in the admissions policy. All applicants are then ranked in order of how well the child meets these criteria.
ACTION: Find out your designated area school. If you ring Wiltshire Council on 01225 713010 and give your address, they will be able to tell you the name of your designated school.
How and when should I apply?
In order to secure a secondary school place for September 2011, if you live in Wiltshire (except in the Borough of Swindon) you need to apply using the common application form to Wiltshire Council ensuring that it reaches the Admissions Team before 31st October 2010.
If you live outside Wiltshire, even if you are applying for a Wiltshire school, you need to apply to your own local authority by 31st October 2010. More information on other counties can be found on our Other Counties web page.
After this date applications will be considered as they are received and after places for those applying before the deadline are allocated; therefore, it is very important to apply before the October deadline.
Applications can be made online at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/schoolseducationandlearning/schoolsandcolleges/schooladmissions/wiltshirecouncilonlineschooladmissions.htm
When applying online you must click on submit at the end of the form to ensure the application has gone through successfully, you will get an email confirming its receipt.
Application forms will be sent to all maintained primary schools in Wiltshire, for all year 6 pupils, in September 2010.
Alternatively, application forms are available from secondary schools, libraries or Wiltshire Council on 01225 713010 or via this link.
You can choose up to three schools in preference order on the application form and you can give reasons for your choices such as your preference for a faith school, wanting your child to be at the same school as older siblings or medical reasons.
It is advisable, where practical, to name three preferences on your form (starting with your favourite first) and we strongly advise you to include your local designated school as one of these, as this reduces the risk of being allocated a school you don't like.
The LA will then process all the applications and post letters to parents informing you which school your child has been offered a place at on 1st March 2011 as long as you applied by the October deadline.
You do have the right to appeal for any school which has refused you a place.
ACTION: Apply online or get the relevant form and apply for a school place before the deadline.
ACTION: If you need any help or advice when filling in the form, contact the Choice Advice Service at ask on 08457 585072
How do I decide which school will suit my child?
- Visit our secondary school database where you can search for school information.
- Visit schools and look around.
- Ask other parents about their experience.
- Look at your preferred schools website, prospectus, Ofsted report and School Profile.
- Include your child in the decision making process.
ACTION: Ring schools to arrange a visit. Most schools hold open events for prospective parents - details of which can be found within our school search database.
Some questions to ask and things to consider:
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How well does my child fit the admission criteria?
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How will my child get to and from school? (Wiltshire Council's transport policy).
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What is the schools specialism and curriculum offer?
- What records will my child’s primary school pass on?
- Will there be information sessions before he or she starts?
- What are the starting arrangements?
- What are the lunchtime arrangements?
- Tell me about a typical day?
- Which schools are your child's friends going to?
- What help can I give my child at home?
- How are break times organised?
- How will secondary school be different to primary school?
- What is the school’s policy on uniform?
- What is the school's policy on discipline/bullying/absence?
- What are the times of the school day?
ACTION: Write down the things you really want to ask when you visit schools.
ACTION: Search for school information on ask 's secondary school database.
Children with Disabilities or Special Educational Needs (SEN)
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need, you will be offered a place at the school named on the statement and you do not need to fill in a school application form.
If your child does not have a statement you should explain your child’s needs when you ring or visit and ask how the school will support those needs. All schools have a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) with whom you can discuss your child’s needs.
Enhanced Learning Provision enables mainstream secondary schools to provide a high level of personalised support so that all pupils can take advantage of the school community and activities as much as possible. A personalised approach to supporting children means tailoring learning to the needs, interests and aspirations of each individual.
ACTION: Talk to schools about any additional needs your child may have.
ACTION: Contact the ask Parent Partnership Service (aPPS) if you require advice or support.
Other Common Issues
- Children who attend primary schools attached to secondary schools do not automatically transfer into the school. You have to apply for a place in the normal way.
- If you want to apply for a school place during the secondary school year, either because you have moved to the area or you wish to transfer schools, you should complete a transfer application form. This is available from Wiltshire Council or any secondary school and should be returned to your preferred school.
- You can apply for a place in a Wiltshire school even if you do not live in the county. Check with your local authority about their arrangements and deadline.
- Parents who move into the area have to make an application in the same way as Wiltshire residents.
- If you choose not to send your child to school you need to prove to the Local Education Authority that you are able to meet their educational needs.
ACTION: Contact the Choice Advisers at ask on Lo-call 08457 585072 or choiceadvice@askwiltshire.org if you require further information or advice on any of the above.
