Phase Transfers/School Admissions
If you are applying for a place at a maintained school for your child's phase transfer, meaning their transfer to start Primary/Infant School or to start Junior/Middle or Secondary School you should not normally apply directly to the school. This is because your local education authority (LEA) will send an application form to you in advance of the transfer.
On this form you should be able to provide the name of up to 3 schools you want your child to attend in order of parental preference. You will be given a deadline by which you should return the completed form. As long as your application is received before the deadline, your application must be considered with all the other on-time applications for your child's year group. Any applications submitted late will not be considered until on-time applications have been allocated places. We, therefore recommend that you make a copy of your completed application for your records and obtain either proof of postage or a receipt if you hand deliver it.
What often happens at phase transfer is that more applications will be received stating preferences for the popular schools than the school's published admission number or PAN. If this happens then the school's oversubscription criteria must be applied. This is essentially a document that states the order in which places will be allocated and should be available upon request.
If the oversubscription criteria is applied and the admissions authority is unable to offer your child a place at one of your preferred schools, they will offer your child a place at the nearest school to your home which has places available after the applications received on time for that year group are allocated places. If you are not offered a place at one or more of your preferences then you must be notified of your right to appeal against this decision to an Independent Appeal Panel.
For advice on infant class sizes, admissions and statements of SEN, non-phase transfer admissions, admission appeal fees and statement assessment fees, click on the appropriate link in the menu on the left of this page.
Please contact us if you require further advice regarding admissions, in particular:
- You have applied for a school place, which has been refused and you have not been notified in writing of your right of appeal
- You have applied for a school place, which has been refused and you have been notified in writing of your right to and/ or lodged an appeal to an IAP
- You have appealed to an IAP, and you have received the decision. Your appeal was unsuccessful.
- Admissions relating to your child's statement of SEN
Please note if you require further advice or assistance with an admissions related problem please contact us immediately as time is of the essence with admission cases.
Click here for our Fixed Fee School Admissions Appeal services.
Contact Us
For more information please contact our Education team on Colchester (01206) 835230 or email Education@qsfjg.co.uk