Admissions Policy 13/14 – Under Review
This is a draft policy which is out for consultation until 15/2/12. Please contact the Principal in writing with any comments on this draft policy by 15/2/12.
Admission Policy 2013/2014
The Ockendon Academy (“the Academy”) is a DfE designated Mathematics/Computing College and Training School and has received approval from the Secretary of State to open a Studio School in 2012 as part of the existing academy.
The Academy’s Planned Admission Numbers:
• for its year 7 student admission from September 2013 is 210
• for its year 10 student admission for the Studio School from September 2013 is 35
• for its year 12 student admission for the Studio School from September 2013 is 25. As a transitory measure for 2013 only, the Planned Admission Number for year 12 will be 75.
There will be space for 75 students in year 12. The Studio School’s year 12 admission number of 25 will apply solely to external students applying for admission. If fewer than 50 of Ockendon’s own year 11 students progress to the Sixth Form, additional students will be admitted up to the year 12 capacity.
Where there are more applicants than places, the Academy is required to have oversubscription criteria for deciding which requests have priority. These criteria form part of the Academy’s Admissions Policy, which is published annually on the Academy’s website, Thurrock Council’s website and in the Secondary Admission Information booklet published by Thurrock Council.
Application arrangements
Applications for admission for year 7, year 10 and year 12 for September 2013 are co-ordinated by the Local Authority, Thurrock Council. Parents/guardians should therefore submit their application to the Local Authority in accordance with the booklet Secondary Admission Information published annually by Thurrock Council.
Applications for In-year admissions are administered by the Admissions Team at the Academy. In-year admissions application forms are available from the Academy and should be submitted directly to the Academy.
Students are admitted into the Studio School to study a Studio School style curriculum including academic excellence and enquiry-based learning. Applicants should be aware of this when applying for admission to the Studio School.
Year 7 and Year 10 oversubscription criteria are set out below in priority order
1. “Looked After Children” or children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. A looked after child is a child who is in the care of a local authority or being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see section 22 (1) of the Children Act 1989).
2. Students whose normal place of residence is in the catchment area of the Academy at the date of application and admission. The Academy’s catchment area is detailed in the Thurrock School Catchment Areas document which is produced by Thurrock Council. This can be viewed on the website of The Ockendon Academy (under the Admissions section).
3. Students who live with parents, guardians or carers who are employees of the Academy, provided that the employee has been employed at the academy for a minimum of two years at the date of application for admission and/or are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage.
4. Students whose normal place of residence is outside the catchment area of the Academy at the date of application and admission.
Tie-breaks
The following will be applied in order to criteria 2-4 above if a tie-break is necessary to determine who is admitted:
a) Students with a sibling attending the Academy in Years 7 to 11 inclusive at the date of application and who will continue to do so on the date of admission are first priority in criteria two, three and four above.
b) Those living closest to the Academy, as defined below, will be admitted.
Distance Measurement
Distance from home to the Academy (measured in a straight-line in metres by a digital mapping system) will be used to allocate places. Students living nearer to the Academy being given higher priority. The straight-line distance measurement is taken from the address point of the home address to the main gate of the Academy. (In the case of flats measurement will be to the main entrance door of the building and places within the building will then be allocated by flat number starting with the lowest number).
Sibling Details
Siblings are classified as follows:
• Full siblings living at the same address
• Step siblings living at the same address
• Half siblings living at the same address
• Long-term foster siblings living at the same address
Twins, Multiple Births or Same Distance Measurement
If more than one student is entitled to the last place in a year group, (as in the case of twins/multiple births or same distance measurement), the Academy will offer a place to the additional student(s).
Special Education Needs
Children with a statement of special education needs that names the Academy are allocated places in any year group of the Academy under different regulations and will override all other categories of priority.
Waiting Lists
In the event of over subscription for Year 7 and Year 10 applications, Thurrock Council will maintain a waiting list until 1st September at which time the list will be provided to the Academy which will then maintain the waiting list. Students on the list will be ranked in order of priority for admissions irrespective of the date of application using the criteria stated above.
With the exception of the waiting list maintained by Thurrock Council for applications for Year 7 detailed in the preceding paragraph, the Academy will maintain a waiting list for each year group and allocate places as they become available according to its oversubscription criteria.
Students will be removed from the waiting list for each year group at the end of each academic year unless a parent/guardian makes a request in writing that the Academy should keep the student’s name on the waiting list.
Appeals
There is a right of appeal to the Independent Appeals Panel for any unsuccessful applicant. Placement on the waiting list does not affect parent’s right of appeal against an unsuccessful application.
Sixth Form Admission Policy 2013/2014
The Ockendon Academy has received approval from the Secretary of State to open a Studio School which will include a Studio School Sixth Form from 2013. A consultation process is now underway for the proposed Sixth Form.
Students wishing to enter the Sixth Form should be aware that the curriculum offered will be a Studio School style curriculum including academic excellence and enquiry-based learning.
Admission Guidance:
Of the places available in the Studio School in year 12, it is expected that the majority will be taken by our year 11 students. However the Studio School will also actively recruit externally also.
Qualifying criteria for entry:
• All existing students of The Ockendon Studio School who meet the entry requirements will be offered a place in the Sixth Form without having to apply afresh for admission as outlined below.
• Admission into the Studio School Sixth Form is open to all students gaining a minimum entry qualification of at least 5 A*-C grades (including English and Mathematics) for a level 3 programme of study
• Each post-16 programme of study has its own entry criteria which will be published annually in the school’s prospectus and on the website. While students will enter the Sixth Form on the basis of the academic criteria above, if they do not meet the academic criteria for their chosen course they will be offered a place instead on alternative courses. Where space is limited, existing Ockendon students meeting the academic criteria for specific courses will be given priority. The admission prospectus will be published in autumn term 2012.
Oversubscription Criteria:
Where there are more qualified applicants than places, the Academy is required to have oversubscription criteria for deciding which applicants have priority. The oversubscription criteria are set out below in priority order
1. “Looked After Children” or children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. A looked after child is a child who is in the care of a local authority or being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see section 22 (1) of the Children Act 1989).
2. Highest placed applicants according to their position in the order of merit based on aggregated scores of their top 5 predicted GCSE grades (including English and Maths). If a tie-break is necessary to determine who is admitted under this criterion those living closest to the Academy, as defined in “distance measurement” above, will be admitted.
We are committed to not treating disabled applicants less favourably for a reason which relates to their disability.
Special Education Needs:
Children with a statement of special education needs that names the Academy are allocated places in any year group of the Academy under different regulations and will override all other categories of priority.
