Secondary School In Year Transfer Form

2

Guidance notes

How do I apply?

Bolton Council is responsible for co-ordinating admissions into all schools in the Bolton Metropolitan Borough area. This includes:

• Parent/carer wishing to change their child’s school from one school to another school within the Borough• Parent/carer who have arrived into the Borough requiring a school place for their child• Parent/carer wishing to move from an independent school to a school maintained by the council

Is there an application form I need to complete?

The relevant application form that the parents/carers will be required to complete when requesting admission to a new school is in this booklet. There are two parts to the application. For applications to secondary school the application form must be completed by the parent/carer and the information passport section, also in this booklet, should be completed by the Head Teacher of your child’s current school.

You must ensure your child’s continued attendance at their current school whilst your application is being considered, however it is recognised that for families who have moved into Bolton this may not always be possible. You must in such circumstances inform the Head teacher at their previous school of the arrangements you are making.

Children with a Statement for Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

In-year applications for such children are considered separately. Where your child has a statement of special educational needs or education health care plan, please contact the Inclusion and Statutory Assessment Service 01204 338653.

Please return your completed form together with the Information Passport to:

Pupil and Student servicesTown HallBolton, BL1 1RU

or

One Stop Shop Town HallBolton, BL1 1RU

Via email: admissions@bolton.gov.uk

3

What should I consider?

Some of the things which you must think about if you are considering a change of school for your child for convenience rather than necessity are:

Behaviour: Some parents/carers want to change schools because they think their child’s behaviour will improve with a change of school. Changing school does not always lead to improvements in a child’s behaviour. This is because there are many reasons for the poor behaviour. It is more important for everybody to work together in trying to address and resolve the difficulties that are causing the poor behaviour.

Bullying: Sometimes a change of school is considered because your child is being bullied. All schools have anti-bullying policies and, as such, if you think your child is being bullied you need to tell the school immediately. Moving school without confronting the problem may help in the short term but in the long run it may not help your child to understand that the bullies need to be challenged.

Disagreement with the school: Occasionally, there might be a disagreement between a parent/carer and a school. Changing a school for such a reason, even though your child may be happy at school, is not always a good idea. Instead, we suggest that parent/carers do everything possible to resolve the differences.

Curriculum: Parents/carers whose children are in years 9, 10 and 11 need to be aware that a new school may not be able to exactly match a child’s existing curriculum commitments and a change of school during the school year can disrupt a child’s education particularly if they are already in the middle of a specific piece of coursework. Additionally, some parents/carers think that a change of school will mean that their child will gain better exam results. This may not always be the case because not all schools offer the same subjects at examination level. Even if they do they may use different examination boards or syllabuses. If your child is in year 11 a move to another school will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Uniform: A change of school will mean a new set of uniform for your child. Very few parents/carers are entitled to support towards uniform costs and but for those who are eligible, a second grant to purchase the new school’s uniform is not available.

Travel to school: A change of school may lead to travel difficulties, both in getting your child to school and in disruption to your own day-to-day schedule. The Council provides assistance with travelling to school in very limited circumstances and so you may find that you will have to cover the costs of getting your child to a new school.

Peer group/friends: A change of school means having to make new friends. Peer groups and friends can have a positive and negative influence. You should think carefully about the effects of moving schools because some other pupils are having a negative influence on your child. It is often better to work with the current school to address matter. Moving a child away from an established peer group may adversely affect achievement.

4

Application formDate received by LA:

To be completed by Bolton parents/carers seeking admission to a secondary school

As explained in the notes of guidance, there are two stages to the process, and you need to fully complete all sections of this form to prevent delay. Incomplete forms may be returned.

Child’s first name:

Child’s surname:

Date of birth: Male Female

Child’s home address

This must be the child’s normal place of residence.

Proof of address may be required

This should be:• A copy of a medical card or child benefit letter with your child’s name on or• A copy of an official document with your name on such as Council Tax or utility bill

Please send copies only as originals cannot be returned

Current/new address:

Previous address:

Previous or current school:

Address:

Tel no:

Local Authority:

Date last attended:

5

To be completed only if you are moving house

If you are moving house, have you exchanged contracts on your new house? Yes No If yes, please attach a copy

Are you renting your new house? If yes please attach a copy of your rental agreement Yes No

What date do you expect to move into your new property?

Has your child been excluded from school, or excluded for a fixed period? Yes No If yes, please indicate which school(s) and what date(s) they were excluded?

Do you think your child is at risk of permanent exclusion? If so why?

Why are you applying to transfer school?

Please select:

Moving house within the borough

Moved into the borough

Recently moved to the UK

Brothers and sisters at preferred school (name/date of birth)

Advised to move by current school

Unresolved issues with current school

More Information

Distance to travel (only complete if you have moved house)

Has your decision to change schools been discussed with your child’s current school? What was the outcome of this discussion and who did you speak to?

Have you had any assistance in completing this form? If yes, please state from whom Yes No

Reason for your transfer request

6

Is your child a new arrival in the United Kingdom (UK)? Yes No

Date of arrival in the UK:

Does your child speak english? Yes No

What is your home language:

Which country did your child live in before coming to the UK?

Subject GCSE/BTEC

Has your child attended any school in the UK previously if so please provide:

Name of school: Date left:

Address of school:

If your child has started any GCSE course, please list subjects below: (Please continue on an additional sheet if necessary)

About your child

7

Does your child have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Yes No Educational Health Care Plan?If yes, you must contact the Special Needs Section of your home authority.

Is your child at SEN Support? Yes No

Is your child Looked After by a local authority (often known as ‘In Care’)? Yes No

Is your child adopted? Yes No

Is your child subject to a Child Arrangement order or special guardianship order? Yes No If yes, please state which local authority.

Does your child have a social worker? Yes No

Name: Tel No:

Please indicate if any of the following agencies are now involved or have been involved with the family or child:

Social Services Yes No

Educational Psychologists Yes No

Other agencies (please state) Yes No

Please state three different schools that you would consider for transfer in order of preference, and reasons for the preference:

1.

2.

3.

Why do you feel that one of the above preferences would be better for you child? (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary.)

8

Parent/carer details

Title: Mr / Mrs/ Miss / Dr / Other

First name:

Surname:

Date of birth: Contact tel no:

Email address:

Declaration of parent or carer

I declare that all the information which I have provided is true. I accept that any place offered to my child may be withdrawn if I have used fraudulent or intentionally misleading information to gain the place.

Signed: Date:

Full name:

Secondary Application Process

Parent/carer decides to transfer child to a new school

Parent/carer downloads or requests an In Year Transfer Form and Information Passport from Pupil and Student Services

Parent/carer returns the completed form and Information Passport to Pupil and Student Services(address on page 1 of this form)

Pupil and Student Services enter details from the form on to the ONE database

A place is allocated and a letter is sent to the parent/carer

Parent/carer asks the child’s current school to complete an Information Passport

9

Information Passport

This form must be completed and signed by the Head Teacher in the school that your child currently attends/attended. Once completed it must be returned together with your application form.

Parents/carers must not complete this section of the application

For school information only:

Once the form has been completed and signed by the Head Teacher please attach the relevant documents below:

1. Attendance information

2. Behaviour conduct log

3. Fixed term exclusion record

4. Statement of SEN (if applicable)

5. Copy of last school report

Please answer all questions fully and indicate ‘not applicable’ where appropriate.

Current school:

Child’s name: Date of birth:

UPN:

School requesting:

Name of parents:

Address:

Tel no:

LAC? Yes No

Ethincity:

Language spoken:

FSM eligibilty? Yes No

Are you aware of the parent’s reasons for changing school? If so please explain below:

10

Academic Attainment

Please indicate if teacher assessment (TA) or SAT Scores (SAT)

Key Stage 1 Key Stage 2 Key Stage 3

English

Mathematics

Science

Curriculum Options Please detail which GCSE/NVQ options the pupil is taking

Subject Qualification Subject Qualification GCSE/NVQ/BTEC GCSE/NVQ/BTEC and predicted grade and predicted grade

Please give details of any college course or work experience placement the child is attending or any alternative education which has been agreed (including contact names):

11

Special Educational Needs and Medical Information

SEN/EHCP status

Date of last SEN/EHCP meeting: Date of last review:

Are you aware of additional needs in any of these areas? Please indicate and comment

Hearing: Yes No

Vision: Yes No

Speech and language: Yes No

Specific learning difficulties: Yes No

Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Yes No

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Yes No

Other (please specify):

Support Services InvolvementPlease indicate and give the contact name and dates of intervention(s)

Early Intervention Team

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Youth Offending Team

Project 360

Behaviour Support Service

Youth Inclusion Team(s)

Parent Partnership

Alternative providers

12

Child aspirations

What is the desired next destination? (Key Stage 4)

What are the child’s strengths/aptitudes/skills?

Membership of clubs in current school

Is the child a member of any school teams?

Learning profile

Most recent progress data and any additional profiling

Behaviour profile

How does the child behave in school?

Does the child exhibit any inappropriate behaviour in school? If yes, please comment Yes No

What behaviour strategies has the school used? (if applicable)

Has the child had any fixed term exclusions in the last 12 months?

Risk to self or others (please attach risk assessment if appropriate)

Emotional/Social profile

Self esteem

Ability to reflect on own behaviour

Communication/co-operation skills

This form must only be signed by the Head Teacher

Signed: Date:

Head Teacher: School: