Different rules apply in the Eckington area and part of the Long Eaton area.
These rules are set out separately together with a list of the schools to which they apply.
Community and voluntary controlled schools
Individual pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan (EHC) which names the school will be admitted.
In deciding on admissions to all community and voluntary controlled schools in Derbyshire, the following order of priority will be adopted.
Different rules apply in the Eckington area and part of the Long Eaton area.
These rules are set out separately on the next page together with a list of the schools to which they apply.
- Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
- Children living in the normal area (see note 1) served by the school at the time of application and admission who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) attending the school at the time of application and admission.
- Children living in the normal area (see note 1) served by the school at the time of application and admission.
- Children not living in the normal area (see note 1) served by the school but who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) attending the school at the time of application and admission.
- In the case of voluntary controlled church schools, children whose parents request a place on religious grounds (see note 3).
- Other children whose parents have requested a place.
Where, in the case of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, choices have to be made between children satisfying the same criteria, those children living nearest to the school measured by the straight line distance will be given preference.
Eckington area
Following a legal ruling some years ago different arrangements operate in the Eckington area.
As in all community and controlled schools, individual pupils who have a statement which names the school will be admitted.
The admissions criteria for schools in the Eckington area are as follows:
Eckington Birk Hill Infant and Killamarsh Infant, Marsh Lane Primary, Ridgeway Primary and Renishaw primary schools.
i) Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
ii) Children whose parents have requested a place at the school who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) in attendance at the time of application and admission.
iii) Other children whose parents have requested a place. If there is insufficient room to admit all applicants, those children living nearest to the school - measured by the straight line distance would have priority.
Eckington Junior and Killamarsh junior schools
i) Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
ii) Children attending these schools' main contributory infant schools (Birk Hill Infant and Killamarsh Infant) and who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) attending the school at the time of application and admission.
iii) Children attending these schools' main contributory infant schools (Birk Hill Infant and Killamarsh Infant) at the time of application.
iv) Children whose parents have requested a place at the school who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) attending the school at the time of application and admission.
v) Other children whose parents have requested a place.
When, in the case of (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), choices have to be made between children satisfying the same criteria, those children living nearest to the school measured by the straight line distance will be given preference.
Parklands Infant and Harrington Junior (Long Eaton)
The admissions criteria for these schools are as follows:
As in all community and controlled schools, individual pupils who have a statement which names the school will be admitted.
i) Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order). This includes children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
ii) Children living in the normal area served by the schools (see note 1) at the time of application and admission who have brothers or sisters (see note 2) attending the schools at the time of application and admission.
iii) Children living in the normal area served by the schools at the time of application and admission
iv) Children not living in the normal area served by the schools but who have brothers or sisters attending the schools at the time of application and admission.
v) Other children whose parents have requested a place.
When, in the case of ii), iii), iv) and v), choices have to be made between children satisfying the same criteria, those children living nearest to the school measured by the straight line distance will be given preference.
Definitions
Note 1
'Living in the normal area' is defined as the child having settled full-time residence in a property which is the child's only or main residence. Documentary evidence including proof of actual permanent residency at the property concerned may be required for example council tax or utility bills, sale or rental agreements.
We reserve the right to withdraw any offer of a school place which has been obtained as a result of misleading or fraudulent information.
Please note a place cannot be guaranteed for any child, even those living in a school’s normal area (or in the Eckington area, attending a contributory primary school).
Note 2
The term brother or sister includes:
(a) a half brother and/or a half sister
(b) a legally adopted child being regarded as a brother or sister
(c) a step-brother and/or step-sister residing in the same family unit
Note 3
Parents seeking a place at a voluntary controlled school on religious grounds should obtain a letter of support from a minister, priest or pastor or religious leader if the child is a member of another Christian church or world faith, who knows the family and can confirm regular attendance at public worship.
Regular worship is defined as attendance at public worship at least once a month.
This must be included with the application. Where appropriate baptismal certificates should also be supplied. Exceptional circumstances will be considered if explained in writing by the relevant religious leader.
Note 4
The children and adults department has a Geographic Information System (GIS) to measure the straight line distance. This measurement is taken from the postal address file, normally the house front door.
For schools, the grid reference is normally taken from the postal address file and will normally be the centre of the school.
Residence - in all categories
The home address used for school admission purposes is the address where the child is residing at the time of both application and admission. Where an application includes more than one address due to shared parental responsibility, we will use the address where the child resides for the majority of the school week (where they usually or mainly sleep between Monday and Friday).
Parents and carers are required to submit full details with supporting information to enable us to determine which address to use for the purpose of admission.
Where parents provide evidence that the child resides equally at both addresses during the school week, and we are unable to reach a decision based on the information received, parents will be asked to notify the council of the mutually agreed address to be used for the purpose of school admissions. Please note the same address will be used in the assessment of eligibility for home to school transport assistance.
Where the county council has reasonable grounds for believing the home address is not the child's only or main residence, it reserves the right to carry out investigations which may include visits to the property.
What to do if both parents cannot agree on the school(s) to be applied for
Parents are expected to consult with each other and agree on the school(s) for which they wish to express a preference. The council is unable to investigate whether applications have been agreed, or to resolve disagreements between parents. In the absence of agreement between parents the council will process the preference of the parent who has care of the child for the greater part of the week (see definition of residence). In cases where the council is unable to determine the home address (see definition of residence), and / or there is no parental agreement or Court Order, the council will be unable to process the application further until the matter has been resolved. Parents are encouraged to resolve disagreements as soon as possible, as delays may affect the availability of places at preferred schools.
Once a school place has been offered, any disagreement on the child’s placement will be a matter for parents to resolve.
Please note
A place cannot be guaranteed for any child whose parents apply after the closing date. This includes a child who moves into a school's normal area after that date.
In situations where late applications are received and the school's admission number has been reached, but subsequently a place becomes available - if choices need to be made between normal area applications, those children living nearest to the school (measured by the nearest available route) will be given preference.
Voluntary aided, academy and foundation schools
The criteria for admissions to aided, academy and foundation schools are decided by each school's governing body. Full details can be obtained directly from the school.
Withdrawing an offer
For admission procedures to be fair it is important that all the information you provide is accurate. If we find that any information provided by parents is misleading or fraudulent, we reserve the right to withdraw any offer of a school place.
Children of multiple births
Where the final place to be allocated within the Published Admission Number would separate children of multiple births a place(s) will also normally be offered to the other child / children.