Schools and learning

What can you do now?

We are sorry that you have not been offered your preferred junior or middle school place. There are some steps that you can now take. Places do become available at some oversubscribed schools, and this varies from year to year. This leaflet also gives information on home to school transport. If you have any questions or need further help please contact our Customer Service Centre.

Quick guide to options available

These options can all be done at the same time:

1 Accept the school place you have been offered by 16 April 2008
2 Ask to go on the continuing interest list by 16 April 2008
3 Request and return an appeal pack by 4.00pm on 18 April 2008
4 Request a pupil audit report from 20 March 2008

More information about next steps is contained in this leaflet.

Next steps are simple at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions

If you applied online for a junior or middle school place you can:
• print a copy of your allocation reply form online (if you lose the one we send you) and return it to the school at which your child has been offered a place by 16 April 2008
• register a continuing interest for community and voluntary-controlled schools until 16 April 2008
• view your updated position on the continuing interest list approximately every two weeks from 28 April 2008
• return an appeal for community and voluntary-controlled schools until 4pm, 18 April 2008
• view a summary of your pupil audit report.

All parents/carers can:
• request an appeal pack
• request a pupil audit report
• request a list of Hertfordshire maintained junior or middle schools with places
• view or download the Joining Junior or Middle School booklet, and get further information about junior or middle school’ admission rules and contact details
• if you would like to pursue a place at a primary school please contact that school direct.



What can you do now? Information about next steps

1 Accept the school place you have been offered by 16 April 2008


• Fill out the allocation reply form and send it to the school at which your child has been offered a place by 16 April 2008.
• If you turn down the offer of a place, inform your local Admissions and Transport team of the educational provision you will be making for your child. If you do not accept the school place and do not respond to our letter, we will give you reasonable notice, and the offer of a school place will be withdrawn.

You can accept the place even if you want to apply for continuing interest or lodge an appeal.

2 Ask to go on the continuing interest list by 16 April 2008

You can register a continuing interest in up to three community and voluntary-controlled schools. These can be different from the schools you listed on your junior and middle school application form.

• If you applied online, register a continuing interest online until 16 April 2008 (online facility is only available until this date) OR
• Fill out the paper form at the back of this leaflet and return it by 16 April 2008.

If you register a continuing interest after 16 April 2008 your application will not be included in the first round but will be included in further rounds.

If you would like to register a continuing interest in a voluntary-aided or foundation school, please contact the school direct.

3 Request and return an appeal pack by 4.00pm on 18 April 2008

You have the right to appeal for a place at any of the schools listed on your junior and middle school application form at which your child was not offered a place. Appeals are heard by independent panels made up of people who have no connection at all with the original decision. Appeal forms must be received by 4.00 pm on 18 April 2008.

• If you applied for a place at a community or voluntary-controlled school online you can submit an appeal on the website OR
• Request a paper appeal form online or by contacting the Customer Service Centre.

Appeals begin in the week commencing 19 May 2008. Everything you need to know will be in your appeal pack. Please note that returning an appeal for a school does not register you on the continuing interest list for that school. This must be done separately.

If you wish to appeal to a voluntary-aided or foundation school, please contact the school direct.

4 Request a pupil audit report from 20 March 2008

A pupil audit report shows you how we have applied the rules to your applications to community and voluntary-controlled schools. You can request a copy online or from the Customer Service Centre. Voluntary-aided and foundation schools should be able to provide you with similar information; please contact the school direct.

Home to school transport

An overview of the home to school transport policy for junior and middle school age children can be found in the Joining Junior or Middle School booklet, available online. The full policy is also available by following the links on the website.

Only a small number of children in Hertfordshire qualify for free home to school transport. If a child is not entitled to free home to school transport it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure that their child can get to school.


Some answers to common questions

Which Hertfordshire junior or middle schools have places?
You can view a full list of schools with places online, or you can contact the Customer Service Centre and request that a copy be sent to you.

What if my circumstances have changed?
If you have had a change of circumstances (for example, you have moved house or have some new evidence to support a claim that your child has a social or medical need to attend a certain school), please write to the address at the top of your allocation letter, providing details and evidence. If you are not sure what information to send in, please contact our Customer Service Centre.

A panel of officers will meet to consider any claims that a child has a particular medical or social need to go to the school. A child can only be admitted under this rule if a place becomes available at the school.

What if I have concerns about the way my child’s application has been processed?
If you are concerned that your application for a school place has not been correctly dealt with, or are not satisfied with the service that you have received, we will try to resolve this matter with you. You should discuss your concerns with your local Admissions and Transport Officer or send a letter to your local Admissions and Transport Team Manager. We find that most concerns can be resolved in this way.

How do I find out about the progress of my child’s continuing interest application?
We will write to you week commencing 28 April 2008 to let you know your child’s position on the continuing interest list, or at any point if your child is successful in gaining a place at one of the schools. We run the continuing interest process approximately every two weeks from mid-April to mid-May 2008. If you have registered a continuing interest online you can view your up-to-date position at any time. All parents can request an update by calling the Customer Service Centre. We will write to all parents/carers at the end of the continuing interest process.

How do I know if the school is a community, voluntary-controlled, voluntary-aided or foundation school?
The Joining Junior or Middle School booklet, which can be viewed online, shows each school’s type. Hertfordshire County Council manages appeals, continuing interest lists and produces pupil audit reports for all community and voluntary-controlled schools. The governing bodies of voluntary-aided and foundation schools are responsible for appeals and continuing interest lists for these schools.


Contacting us for advice and support


01432 737500 Customer Service Centre
01923 471500 if you are calling from 01923 and 0208 area codes
01438 737599 textphone (for deaf and hard of hearing people only)

The lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. Our team of advisers is able to answer most enquiries. If not, you will be put in contact with staff in your local office.

Email

You can contact us via email at hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk or via our online contact form on the website at www.hertsdirect.org

Local Admissions and Transport teams

If you need to write to your local Admissions and Transport team, please write to one of the addresses below. Check the map to see where your local team is located.

Admissions & Transport team
East 1
Old Grammar School,
Broadway, Letchworth
Hertfordshire SG6 3QG

Admissions & Transport team
East 2
County Hall, Hertford
Hertfordshire SG13 8DF

Admissions & Transport team
West
Apsley One, Brindley Way
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP3 9BF