Islington Schools: A Great Place to Learn

Transcription

1 Islington Schools: A Great Place to Learn Your guide to the school application process for children born between 1 September 2004 and 31 August Closing date: 31 October

2 Location map Key Secondary schools Rail stations Underground stations Parks and open space Major roads Minor roads Rail lines Haringey 1. Arts and Media School, Islington 2. City of London Academy Islington 3. Central Foundation Boys School 4. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School 5. Highbury Fields School 6. Highbury Grove School 7. Holloway School 8. Mount Carmel College for Girls 9. St Aloysius College for Boys 10. St Mary Magdalene Academy Hackney Camden City of London

3 Welcome Welcome Islington is a diverse, exciting and welcoming borough and our excellent secondary schools reflect this. I m really proud of the achievements of secondary school students in Islington. Last year, our schools achieved above both the London and national averages in their GCSE results, which confirms that we are providing young people in the borough with a truly first class education. We know that children need to feel happy and safe in order to do their best at school. Excellent leadership, high expectations and rigorous standards across all areas of teaching, learning, attendance and behaviour ensures that every student is provided with the opportunity and skills to maximise their potential. Our teachers always go that extra mile to make sure they provide creative and inspirational classes that challenge all our students, whatever their strengths and abilities. Any pupils who need additional support can be sure to receive all the help they need in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Last year, we were delighted that 100% of our parents applied for their chosen schools online, feeding back how easy, quick and secure they found the online application process to be. Check out p12 for help and advice on how to apply online and where you can get online if you do not have internet access at home. Finally, may I take the opportunity to wish your child every success with their secondary education. Councillor Joe Caluori Executive Member for Children and Families Our schools work closely with parents every step of the way to ensure their child achieves their full potential, and we are confident you can find the right school for your child here in Islington. You may prefer for your child to attend a single or mixed sex school, or you may wish to consider faith schools and academies. Look through the brochure to see the full range of what is on offer. This brochure aims to provide you with the information you need to make an informed choice about your child s education and future. If you need help or advice with the application process, our School Admissions team is on hand to guide you through each stage. 3

4 Contents Section 1: Before you apply Dates to remember 6 About schools in Islington 7 Top tips before you apply 8 School open days 9 Our pledge to you 10 Section 2: How to apply Apply online 12 About school applications 13 Admission criteria for community schools 15 Criteria flowchart 17 Table of school places 18 Section 3: What happens next What happens to your application? 20 School places, waiting lists and appeals 21 Applications for University Technical Colleges 23 and Studio Schools Applying during the school year 24 4 (see page 12 for details) Section 4: Islington s schools Arts and Media School, Islington 27 Central Foundation Boys School 30 City of London Academy, Islington 33 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School 36 Highbury Fields School 39 Highbury Grove School 42 Holloway School 45 Mount Carmel College for Girls 48 St Aloysius College for Boys 51 St Mary Magdalene Academy 54 Dame Alice Owen s School, Potters Bar 56 Section 5: Useful information and contacts City and Islington Sixth Form College 59 Islington Sixth Form Consortium (IC6) 60 Tech City College 61 School sixth form admission policies 62 Places to go and things to do 63 Additional educational needs 64 School attendance: every day counts! 65 Free school meals 66 Uniform Grant 66 Islington Year 12 Bursary 66 School transport 67 Beating bullying together 68 Useful contacts for information and advice 69 Other local authority contact details 70 Glossary 72 St Aloysius College 73 Supplementary information form Mount Carmel College for Girls 75 Registration for admission form

5 Section 1: Before you apply Section 1: Before you apply The lessons are really fun and engaging, and there s a lot of practical work we don t just sit and listen all the time. The teachers make the lessons really interesting. Jay, pupil 5

6 Dates to remember There are several important deadlines in the school admissions process which you will find listed in the table below. Date September 2015 What happens Online admissions process opens: brochures and forms available from primary schools and council offices. Between now and the recommended application return date, read up about the schools, check the admissions criteria, attend school open events, and decide which schools you want to apply for. 23 October 2015 Recommended application return date: please submit your online application by this date. 31 October 2015 Application deadline: this is the final date to submit your online application form. Please note, the week beginning Monday 26 October is half term so we strongly recommend you submit your application by 23 October March 2016 Offer date: You will receive your result online in the evening of 1 March. 15 March 2016 Acceptance deadline: please let us know by this date if you want to accept the school place offered. The quickest way to do this is to accept your place online. 22 March 2016 Appeal deadline: please let us know by this date if you want to appeal for a place at a community school in Islington. Remember, you can still appeal, even if you have accepted the school place offered. You will need to complete an appeal form and return it to us by this date. You can download an appeal form from our website: Any questions? If you have any questions about applying for a school place or about anything you read in this brochure, please contact: Islington School Admissions team 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR T: E: admissions@islington.gov.uk Fax:

7 Section 1: Before you apply About schools in Islington Good to Outstanding Did you know that Islington s secondary schools are among the best in the country as judged by Ofsted? 100% of students in Islington attend a good or outstanding secondary school an achievement we are extremely proud of and determined to improve still further through our ambition to ensure outstanding teaching and learning in all our secondary schools. Of course, there are many other considerations you will want to take into account when choosing which schools to apply for and we hope this brochure helps you make an informed decision. If you need any extra information, please do us with your query at admissions@islington.gov.uk Improving outcomes for all Our aim is to provide all Islington students, whatever their needs and abilities, the opportunity to maximise their achievement and raise their aspirations. Our ambition is to develop rounded individuals with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make informed choices that will enable them to achieve success in future years whether through education, training or employment. Islington s community of schools There are a range of schools in Islington working together to meet the needs of all Islington students. We refer to this as Islington s Community of Schools. Academies Academies are independently managed, all-ability schools. The governing body sets its own admissions criteria, in line with the statutes laid down in the School Admissions Code. There are two types of academies. Type 1 academies are set up by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups, funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and independent of local authority control. Type 2 academies are stand alone converter schools funded directly by the DfE and are also independent of local authority control. Community schools Community schools are run by the local authority which employs the staff and owns the land and buildings. Islington Council sets the admission criteria for community schools. Foundation and Trust schools Foundation schools are run by their own governing body, which employs the staff and sets the admission criteria. Land and buildings are usually owned by the governing body or a charitable foundation. A Trust school is a type of foundation school which forms a charitable trust with an outside partner. For example, a business or educational charity aiming to raise standards and explore new ways of working. Voluntary-aided schools Voluntary-aided schools are mainly religious or faith schools, although anyone can apply for a place. As with foundation schools, the governing body employs the staff and sets the admission criteria. School buildings and land are normally owned by a charitable foundation, often a religious organisation. The governing body contributes to building and maintenance costs. 7

8 Top tips before you apply Read this brochure and visit our website at Visit schools that interest you: You will be able to talk to head teachers, staff, students and their parents Talk to your child: find out what they think and involve them as much as you can. Do not wait until the last day to apply: please allow plenty of time to apply - you don t want to rush your decision just before the closing date. Do not list only one school: your application will not be treated more favourably if you only list one school or one type of school. Do not list any private schools: they will not be considered as part of your application. If you are offered a private school, then please let us know. Think about what is right for your child: what s suitable for one child may not be right for another. The best way to come to a decision is to visit the school yourself - don t rely on what you have heard from other people. Consider how your child will get to school: how far away are the schools you re considering? Can your child get there by walking, public transport, etc? Talk to the School Admissions team: the team can provide you with advice and answer any questions you may have. Read the school prospectus: you can get these from the individual schools or view them online on the school s website. Do your research: look at exam results and Ofsted reports. Islington s schools have received fantastic inspection results recently you can see these useful reports online at Be realistic: look at the admissions criteria for each school before you apply. Check the previous year s cut-off distance (see p18). If you need advice, contact the School Admissions team if you need advice. 8

9 Section 1: Before you apply School open days September 2015 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday AMS am AMS am St MM School Tour 9-10am St MM Aptitude Information Evening 6pm 21 HF 9.30am HG 6-8pm 22 AMS am HF 9.30am MC pm St MM School Tour 9-10am 23 CF 6-8pm HF 9.30am and pm MC am 24 MC am EGA 9.15am MC am 28 COLA pm EGA 9.15am HF 9.30am Holl am MC am 29 AMS am EGA 9.15am Holl am MC am 30 October 2015 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CF am COLA am EGA 9.15am Holl am MC am St MM pm 1 CF am EGA 9.15am MC am 2 3 Holl 6-8pm MC am St MM School Tour 9-10am 5 AMS pm HG am MC am 6 AMS am EGA 6-8pm HG am MC am St A 5pm Prompt St MM School Tour 9-10am 7 COLA am HG am MC am 8 MC am 9 St A am 10 MC am 12 EGA 9.15am MC am St A am 13 AMS am MC am St A am 14 COLA am EGA 9.15am MC am St A am 15 MC am MC am 19 MC am 20 AMS am MC am 21 COLA am MC am 22 MC am Key AMS: Arts and Media School, Islington CF: Central Foundation Boys School COLA: City of London Academy, Islington EGA: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson HF: Highbury Fields HG: Highbury Grove Holl: Holloway MC: Mount Carmel St A: St Aloysius St MM: St Mary Magdalene Academy St Mary Magdalene Academy Head Teacher s presentation at 5.45pm and 7.15pm on 1 October City of London Academy, Islington Principal s Presentation on 29 September 9

10 Our pledge to you Islington Council is committed to providing quality customer service. We make the following promise to everyone who lives, works in, or visits the borough: We will be fair in the way we deliver services and treat everyone equally, with courtesy and respect We will provide polite, welcoming and efficient services, that are accessible to all We will provide helpful information and secure transactions on our website We will answer our phones quickly and endeavour to deal with your enquiry or issue during your first call. If we can t we will call you back the next working day We will respond to your s and letters in plain English within ten working days We will respond to your complaints within 21 days We will seek your feedback on the services we provide and publish the results on our website. 10

11 Section 2: How to apply Section 2: How to apply We want all our students to feel inspired and engaged by their lessons, and we make sure they can achieve to the best of their abilities. Melonie McLeod, English Teacher 11

12 Apply online If you live in Islington, you need to apply using Islington s online application form. To apply online visit and click on the link to the London eadmissions system. When to apply Your application must reach Islington Council by 31 October 2015 to be on time. You can submit your application online on this day, but it is highly recommended that you apply by Friday 23 October Why apply online? You can change your application as many times as you like before the closing date. You can save your application and go back to it later. It will not be sent to us until you submit it. You will receive an confirming your application has been received. The system helps you by checking for errors or if you forget to fill anything in. You will be told which school your child has been offered in the evening of 1 March The system is secure and your information is safe. No need to pay for postage. Supplementary Information Form (SIF) If you are applying for a Catholic, Church of England school or Academy outside Islington, you may need to complete a SIF - check the school s website to find out. Forms for Islington schools are available for download from our website at and at the end of this brochure. Before you start You will need an address. You can register for a free account with many providers including Google, Hotmail and Yahoo, for example. How to register online Visit and click on the link to the London eadmissions system. You will be asked to register your address. You will then be sent an with details on how to start your application. Offer of a school place National Secondary Offer Day is 1 March If you have applied online, you will be able to view your offer by logging on to e-admissions in the evening of 1 March Support with online applications and offers Your child s primary school will be happy to help you set up an account and show you how to apply online or the School Admissions team can talk you through the system please ask, we re here to help. We can also offer one-to-one support from 222 Upper Street - please call to arrange an appointment. For technical help you can contact the London eadmissions support helpdesk: E: support@eadmissions.org.uk T: (Option 1) Make a note here of your online application details so you always know where they are when you need them. Application Reference Number: Username: Make a note Password: 12

13 Section 2: How to apply About school applications You must apply to the local council where your child lives. Filling in the school application form 1. You can apply online via admissions where you can click through to the London eadmissions service. 2. You can list up to six schools, which can be in or outside of Islington. There is no advantage in listing only one or two schools. We highly recommend that you list six schools. 3. List the schools in order of preference, with your favourite school listed first. The schools will not know in which order you have listed them. 4. It is a good idea to list your nearest schools. If you apply for schools further away but don t get a place there, your local school could be full with students who applied and your child may need to travel further for a place. 5. Do not list private schools. These have separate application procedures and you should contact them directly for more information. 6. For some schools (faith schools and academies) you will need to complete a supplementary information form. More information about this is given under each school s section in this brochure. 7. You cannot change the order of preference or delete any preferences on your application after 31 October 2015 (unless there are exceptional reasons). If you change your mind after this date, you must write to the School Admissions team to ask us to consider changing or withdrawing your preferences. 8. You must submit your application form by 31 October 2015 for it to be on time. If it is late your chances of getting a place at your preferred school may be reduced. Application address The address that we will use to process your application will be your child s current permanent address on 31 October We can only use one address. This must be the official address where your child spends most of their time Monday to Friday. Please note that we may not accept a temporary address if you still possess a property that was previously used as a home address; nor accept a temporary address if it is used solely or mainly to obtain a school place. We may also carry out additional checks with the new school to see whether the child s home address has changed since the application was completed and will investigate all applications where: there are any doubts about the information originally provided information has been received from a member of the public to suggest misleading information has been provided and a fraudulent application made the council tax account is in a different name from the applicant s. Whistleblowing Islington Council takes a firm stand against any attempt to obtain a school place by fraud. If you provide false or deliberately misleading information whilst completing a school admissions application, or use a temporary address intentionally for the purpose of gaining an advantage over other applicants, your application will become void. The provision of false or misleading information will result in the school place being withdrawn, and may lead to prosecution. If you know someone who intends to use, or has used, a false address to obtain a school place, you can report this confidentially to the Islington School Admissions team on or admissions@islington.gov.uk 13

14 Shared parental responsibility If parents live separately, but the child lives equally with both, it is the parents responsibility to make this clear at the time of the application, and to provide supporting evidence in respect of both addresses, for example, a Residency Order from a court. Please note only one address can be used for school admission purposes and the final decision will rest with the School Admissions team. Proof of address The School Admissions team may request proof of your address. In order for us to verify your address, you will need to provide your Council Tax reference number (you can find this on your Council Tax bill). If you cannot provide this, please provide a photocopy of your most recent rent, mortgage statement or tenancy agreement. If you cannot obtain these documents, please provide at least two alternative documents. For example: utility bill; bank statement; GP, hospital, dentist or optician letter. We may also require proof that the child you are applying for lives with you. Therefore, you may need to provide a photocopy of your most recent child benefit or family tax credit letter which clearly states your child s name and address. If you do not receive child benefit or family tax credit, please provide at least two alternative documents to prove your child lives with you. For example: a letter from your child s GP, dentist, hospital, optician; NHS Medical Card; child trust fund document; or the page within your child s health record book that has his/her name and address. Please ensure that all documents are photocopies and are no older than one year. You can upload these documents directly when you apply online. If we require any further information, we will contact you. Change of address If your child moves after 31 October 2015, please provide a photocopy of the documents listed above. This is so that we can send your offer letter to the correct address and apply the correct waiting list position if required. Children of UK service personnel or Crown Servants If you or your partner are a serving member of UK forces with a confirmed posting to the borough, or a Crown servant returning from overseas, we will use your expected address in the borough providing that you supply documentary evidence from your employer of your relocation date and your address in Islington. There is no guarantee that a place will be available at your preferred school; each application will be considered in line with the school s admissions criteria. If an offer can be made, then that place may be held for a reasonable period, depending on individual circumstances. If we cannot offer you a place at your preferred school, then we will in advance of your return, allocate the nearest Islington community school to your home address that has a place available. Late applications If we receive your application after 31 October 2015 then your application will be late. This means that it will not be considered until we have allocated school places for all applications received on time. This could reduce your chances of getting a place at the school you want. If there are exceptional reasons why it was not possible to make your application before the deadline, then please us at admissions@islington.gov.uk providing any supporting documentation. Privacy Notice London Borough of Islington will handle the information you have provided in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Any personal information will be held in confidence with only the necessary people able to see or use it. Under the Data Protection Act you have the right to make a formal request in writing for access to personal data held about you or your child. This privacy notice can be read in full on p73. 14

15 Section 2: How to apply Admission criteria for community schools Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan they will be admitted to the school named in the Statement or Education, Health and Care Plan. Over-subscription criteria When more applications are received than there are places available, the following criteria will be used to decide which students are offered a place at an Islington community school in the order listed below: 1. Children looked after This refers to children who are in the care of a local authority and children who have been adopted (or made subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship orders) immediately after being looked after. 2. Siblings A sibling is defined as a brother or sister, half brother or sister, step brother or sister or adopted brother or sister whose main residence will be at the same address. This will apply only to applicants with a sibling living at the same address who will be on the roll of the preferred school (years 7 to 11) at the time of proposed admission in the new academic year. 3. Social/medical The Director of Children s Services may give priority to applicants who can demonstrate that admission to a particular school is necessary on the grounds of professionally supported exceptional medical, social or special educational needs. Parents must supply details of any such special factors at the time of the original application together with recent supporting documentation for these factors to be considered. If your child has an exceptional social (for example child protection/safeguarding issues) or medical need (for example requires wheelchair access) to attend a specific school, then please provide professional evidence (eg from a doctor or educational psychologist) and a completed social-medical form explaining why this is the only school that can meet your child s needs. The social-medical application form can be found on our website at Your case will be considered by a panel comprising a senior admissions officer, educational psychologist and senior social worker. The panel will consider the evidence presented and consult relevant professionals as necessary to determine: a. whether your child has an exceptional social or medical need and b. that this need can only be met by a specific school. Please note: late applicants applying under social/ medical criterion can be prioritised only on the waiting list. 4. Distance Applicants will be prioritised by distance (starting with the nearest). Nearness to the school will be determined by a computerised mapping system using a straight line distance measurement. Routes will be calculated from the home address (as defined by the Land and Property Gazetteer) to the midpoint of the school grounds (as determined by Islington Council). Schools without a cut off distance in the table in Section 2 of this brochure were able to offer places to all applicants for the 2015 intake. Please note, distance will be used as a tiebreaker for over-subscription criteria 1-3. How we calculate home to school distances We use the Capita ONE system to calculate the distance from your child s home (the start point) to the school (the end point). This system calculates the distance in miles to three decimal places. The routing database system uses two dimensional maps. This means it does not take into account any contours or terrains. The start point (applicant s home) For calculation purposes, Islington Council uses the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) database to determine the start point for Islington addresses. The starting points for other addresses are provided by your home local authority. Calculations are based on the assumption that the child s home address is classified at the point of application as a residential property. If you live in a block of flats where you use a communal entrance, we will use the NLPG point for the block and not the centroid of your individual flat for the distance calculation. 15

16 The end point (school) The centre of the school grounds is used as the end point for Islington community schools for the calculation of home to school distance as defined by Islington Council. NB: Please note that you cannot compare distances produced on Islington s Capita ONE system to those calculated using any personal or online geographical information system software you may have access to such as satellite navigations systems or Google maps. Islington residents can obtain an approximate distance measurement to any Islington school by clicking on Find My Nearest Schools at the following address: Tie break If only one place is available and two or more children qualify for that place, the child offered the place will be determined by random allocation using a computerised system. Further advice If you need any help understanding the process, you can contact your child s primary school. The School Admissions team will also be pleased to help you and can be contacted on Alternatively, you can call the School Admissions team for an approximate measurement on Multiple births If only one place is available at the school and the next child who qualifies for a place is one of multiple-birth siblings, we will ask community schools to admit the sibling and go over their published admission number to support the family. 16

17 Section 2: How to apply Criteria flowchart SEN: Does your child have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plan? YES Please contact the SEN team on NO 1) Children looked after: Is your child looked after by a local authority or was adopted (or made subject to a child arrangements orderor special guardianship orders) immediately after being looked after? NO YES Your application will be considered under this criterion and will have the highest priority. Please provide a letter from your child s social worker to confirm that your child is or was looked after. 2) Siblings: Does your child have a brother or sister who will be attending the school in September 2016? See p15 for a full definition of this rule. NO YES Your application will be considered under this criterion, which has priority over applications considered under criteria 3 and 4. 3) Social/medical: Does your child have an exceptional social or medical need to attend a specific school? If yes, then please provide: professional evidence (eg from a doctor or educational psychologist) and an explanation outlining why this is the only school that can meet your child s needs using our social medical application form. See p15 for a full definition of this rule. NO YES If the panel agrees your case is strong enough to meet the requirements of this rule, your application will be considered under this criterion which has priority over applications considered under criterion 4. 4) Distance: All remaining applications will be considered under the distance criterion, with priority given to those children who live closest to the school. Please see p15-16 for an explanation of how we measure distances. 17

18 Table of school places The table below provides a summary of information for Islington secondary schools for last year s admission round. Name of school Published admission number Type of school Number of applications received Number offered under Special Educational Needs Number offered under Children Looked After criterion Number offered under Sibling criterion Number offered under Social/ Medical criterion Other criteria Number offered under Distance criterion Cut-off distances in 2015 (in miles) Total offers Number of appeals lodged Number of appeals upheld Arts and Media, Islington 150 Mixed Trust N/A 136 All applicants were offered a place 150* 0 0 Central Foundation Boys School 150 Boys Voluntary -Aided N/A 109 Band 1: Band 2: Band 3: Band 4: City of London Academy Islington 125 Mixed Academy City of London resident: 0 Attending Richard Cloudesley: 0 93 Band 1: Band 2: Band 3: Band 4: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School Highbury Fields School Highbury Grove School Holloway School Mount Carmel College for Girls St Aloysius College for Boys 180 Girls Community 140 Girls Community 210 Mixed Community 180 Mixed Community 140 Girls Voluntary- Aided Catholic 180 Boys Voluntary- Aided Catholic N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (No sibling criterion) N/A (No sibling criterion) 2 Faith: 98 Other criteria apply N/A Faith: 153 Other criteria apply All applicants were offered a place Other criteria apply 103* St Mary Magdalene Academy 180 Mixed Church of England Academy N/A Primary School: 22 Language: 18 Open: 55 Foundation: 23 Open: Foundation: *This figure includes allocations. 18

19 Section 3: What happens next Section 3: What happens next I like using computers so ICT is my favourite lesson. I like the atmosphere here and I enjoy coming here to meet all my friends. Joshua, pupil 19

20 What happens to your application? All London boroughs and some councils bordering London are part of the pan-london school admissions scheme. This makes applying for school places in the capital fairer and simpler. How it works 1. Islington residents must apply using Islington Council s application form. You can apply online via and follow the link for London eadmissions. 2. A secure computer system is used to exchange information between councils when residents apply for schools outside the borough where they live. 3. Every school you apply for is considered at the same time and your order of preference is kept confidential. 4. It is very important that you list your schools in preference order, with your favourite school listed first. If your application meets the criteria for more than one school, you will be offered the highest preference possible and all lower preferences will be withdrawn. So make sure you put the school you really want first. 5. Each school has a set number of available places. You can see how many by looking at the individual school pages in this brochure. 8. If you are an Islington resident and we cannot offer your child a place at any school you have listed on your form, we will offer you a place at the nearest Islington community school to your home address that has a place available. 9. You can access your result online through the e-admissions website in the evening of 1 March Waiting lists Your child s name will be placed on the waiting list of any school listed as a higher preference on the application form than the school place offered. Your child will remain on the waiting list until the end of the autumn term (December 2016) unless we receive written confirmation that you wish to extend this further. Please note, withdrawing or accepting the school that you have been offered will not affect your position on other school waiting lists. Waiting list positions are considered strictly in accordance with the school s admission criteria. 6. Where a school receives more applications than there are places available (i.e it is oversubscribed), its published admission criteria will be used to decide which students will be offered the places. See p15 for community schools oversubscription criteria or the individual school pages for voluntary-aided schools and academies. A summary is provided in the table of school places on p If your child can be offered a school place, or in some cases offered more than one school place, we will offer the one listed highest on the application form. The schools you put as lower preferences on your application will be released to other children. 20

21 Section 3: What happens next School places, waiting lists and appeals Your child will be offered a secondary school place on 1 March National Offer Day On 1 March 2016 we will notify all Islington residents who have applied for a secondary school place of the outcome of their application. You can find out which school your child has been offered by logging in to your London eadmissions account in the evening of 1 March You can then accept your offer online. What happens if you have not been offered a place at the school you want? Option 1: Waiting list Your child s name will automatically be placed on the waiting list of any school listed as a higher preference on the application form than the school place offered. All lower preferences will be withdrawn under the coordinated admissions scheme. If you decide that you want to be considered for a lower preference school, put this request in writing to the School Admissions team. We can also add your child s name to a school s waiting list even if you did not list the school on your application form (although you can only be considered for a maximum of six schools at any time). If your higher preferences were for schools outside Islington, then we will ask the local authority where the school is located to add your child to their school s waiting list. Waiting lists for all Islington schools are ordered in accordance with the published admission criteria. Children will remain on the waiting list until the end of the autumn term (December 2016) unless parents contact the School Admissions team to extend this further. Please be aware that being on any waiting list will not guarantee a place at your preferred school and that your child s waiting list position can go down as well as up. For voluntary aided, foundation schools and academies, waiting lists are administered in accordance with their own admission criteria. You can find summary versions in the Islington s schools section of this booklet. Option 2: Appeal You can appeal if your child is not offered a place at your preferred school(s). 1. For Islington community schools: Download an appeal form from or contact the School Admissions team on Completed forms must be returned by 22 March For a voluntary-aided school or academy: Contact the school or academy directly to get an appeal form. The completed form should be returned to the school or academy by the date they give you. 21

22 How does it work? Your appeal will be heard by an Independent Appeals Panel during May 2016, provided you return your form by the given date. Whatever the appeal panel s decision, the local authority Islington Council in this case is required to accept it. Please note: accepting a place at another school will not affect your chances of a successful appeal. List of available places If you would like to apply for another school in Islington we can send you a list of schools with available places. You can then let us know if you would like to apply for one of these schools. You can accept your school place, ask to go on the waiting lists of up to six schools and lodge an appeal at the same time. If you decline the school offered, you could end up with no school at all or a school that is situated far from your home. If you need further advice, please call the School Admissions team who will discuss options and the possible consequences of your decision. 22

23 Section 3: What happens next Applications for University Technical Colleges and Studio Schools For students born between 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002 you can apply for a place at either a University Technical College (UTC) or a Studio School. You can apply online at admissions and click on the link to the London eadmissions system (see p12 in this brochure) or call the School Admissions team for a paper form. University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are technical academies for 14- to 19-year-olds. They have university and employer sponsors and combine practical and academic studies. UTCs specialise in subjects that need modern, technical, industry-standard equipment such as engineering and construction which are taught alongside business skills and the use of ICT. Studio Schools are innovative schools for 14- to 19-year-olds, backed by local businesses and employers. They often have a specialism, but focus on equipping young people with a wide range of employability skills and a core of academic qualifications, delivered in a practical and project-based way. Please note that the deadline for applying is the 31 October You will be notified of the result of your application in the evening of 1 March 2016 if you have applied on line. For paper applicants, you will be notified the next day. 23

24 Applying during the school year If you are an Islington resident applying for a secondary school place and your child is not due to start Year 7 in September 2016, you will need to complete Islington s In-Year School Admissions Application Form. You can apply online at As Islington schools will be responsible for making offers and holding waiting lists, an individual application must be made to each preferred school. If you live in another borough, you will need to apply for an Islington school using our online form at admissions Fair access All local authorities operate a Fair Access Protocol to ensure that children without a school place are found a suitable school as quickly as possible. If there are no vacancies in any Islington schools, we may ask schools to go over their published admission number. Schools are allocated on a fair share basis to ensure no individual school takes a disproportionate number of children under the protocol. Therefore, parental preference may not always be met. For further information, please contact the School Admissions team on or view the Fair Access Protocol on our website at: Waiting lists Please note that your child will remain on the waiting list until the end of the academic year in which the application is made unless you contact the school to extend this further. Children without education provision who also fall into one of the following categories may be eligible for admission under Islington s Fair Access Protocol: 1. children from the criminal justice system or Pupil Referral Units who need to be reintegrated into mainstream education; 2. children who have been out of education for two months or more; 3. children of Gypsies, Roma, Travellers, refugees and asylum seekers; 4. children who are homeless; 5. children with unsupportive family backgrounds for whom a place has not been sought; 6. children who are carers; and 7. children with special educational needs, disabilities or medical conditions (but without a statement or Education, Health and Care Plan). Applications for school places under Islington s Fair Access Protocol are considered by a multi-agency panel which decides whether students should be admitted under the protocol and which schools should be allocated. 24

25 Section 4: Islington s schools Section 4: Islington s schools Pages have been written by the schools themselves. Islington Council has made every effort to ensure accuracy but responsibility for the content in Section 4 remains with the individual schools. Photographs used throughout are illustrative only and may be stock photographs or copyright Islington Council. Some schools have extra pages solely to accommodate their admission criteria. We treat our students as individuals they are all unique and we want to celebrate that fact. Steven Clark, KS4 Pastoral Manager 25

26 Arts and Media School Islington 26

27 Section 4: Islington s schools Arts and Media School, Islington The Head teacher has successfully embedded a culture of high aspirations, underpinned by high levels of respect, equality of opportunity and good team work. Ofsted, 2013 By choosing Arts and Media School Islington, you are investing in a school that is committed to your child achieving, both academically and creatively. I am privileged to be the Head Teacher of this dynamic and successful school. Ofsted has acknowledged ours to be a learning environment where teachers have high expectations and build positive relationships with students, and where students are not only academically driven but also enriched by creative opportunities. Diana Osagie, Head Teacher Our vision Every Child a Scholar We provide a learning environment that develops young minds and talents through an academic core surrounded by an enriched experience of the wider creative curriculum. We are an exceptional school that offers a highly personalised education, leading your child from student to scholar. Our academic curriculum, enriched by the arts, establishes challenging academic goals that our students are expected to aspire towards and surpass. Staff guide and support every learner to think creatively, enquire relentlessly and contribute confidently to their world. During their time with us, students engage with successful businesses and entrepreneurs who provide unique learning experiences which focus on global citizenship how we treat each other for today and for our future. Through our partnership with the Music in Secondary Schools Trust, we are able to offer every child classical music tuition and an instrument for three years at no cost. We have also introduced Music and Sports Scholarships that are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment. Fact File Head Teacher: Diana Osagie Address: Turle Road, London N4 3LS Map reference: 6 Tel: Fax: contact@artsandmedia.islington.sch.uk Website: Published Admission Number for Year 7: 150 Type of school: Mixed Trust Age range: Number of students: 750 DFE code: Nearest stations: Finsbury Park Bus routes: 210, W3, 91 or any bus to Finsbury Park Station then 10 minutes walk Specialism: Arts and Media Sixth Form: City and Islington College School start and finish times: 8.50am pm Open Evenings: Tuesday 6 October, pm Open mornings: Every Wednesday am, from 9 September Accessibility: Fully accessible including lifts 27

28 Arts and Media School Islington continued Learning for the future Teachers provide high quality feedback to help students identify and carry out the next steps in order to improve which ensures students make good progress. Students have positive attitudes towards learning. Ofsted, 2013 A broad, balanced and challenging curriculum is offered to all our students. An academic core of subjects English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages and Computer Science is enhanced by the study of Music, Art, Design Technology and Physical Education. Our Sixth Form Partnership with City and Islington College ensures students progress to an outstanding centre of excellence that fully prepares them for further education and university. Additional activities Our doors are open from 8am to 5pm so that students can utilise the library, computer suites and sports facilities. We know that children who participate in out-of-school activities are more likely to succeed at school, which is why we run 40 activities a week from animation to chess and creative writing. Our PE Department runs competitive squads, which take part in pan-borough and London-wide sporting events. At Key Stage 4, students attend the AIM programme (Achievement, Inspiration, Mentoring), which extends their learning until 4.30pm to ensure that coursework and revision are on track. This also includes Aspirational Assemblies with guest speakers from the world of business and higher education. Supporting Students By knowing our students well, we are able to tailor the provision to best meet their needs. We have a dedicated team comprising Teaching Assistants, Support Leaders of Learning and a Gifted and Talented Coordinator, who liaise with external agencies and parents to ensure that everyone fulfils their potential. Our Careers Advice Officer works closely with colleges, universities and our business partner (Legal & General) to access exciting work experience opportunities. Student Leadership is encouraged throughout the school through our Student Parliament and Prefects, who represent the school as ambassadors and positively mediate between students and staff. Students feel safe and value the support they are given by adults. Ofsted, 2013 Partnerships Our partnership with parents and carers Children achieve their best when parents and staff work together to support learning. We will keep you well informed about academic progress through termly reports and Annual Parents Evenings. Attendance, behaviour and homework can be seen online through My Child at School. We host a Parent Engagement week in the autumn term and our Parent School Association meets half-termly to raise funds and organise social evenings and coffee mornings. First class facilities Set in the heart of Islington close to Finsbury Park station, our campus is a state-of-the-art learning environment with a theatre, floodlit AstroTurf pitches, fitness suite, recording studios and library. Admission arrangements Places are offered in line with Islington Council s admissions policy which you can see on p15 and also online at 28 The name of the school is being amended slightly from Islington Arts and Media School to Arts and Media School, Islington.

29 Central Foundation Boys School Section 4: Islington s schools 29

30 Central Foundation Boys School Rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted in Message from the Head Teacher At Central Foundation Boys School, our students receive the best educational opportunities. We prepare them to enter the world of higher education and work as confident, mature and intelligent young men. Ours is a community focused on excellence with an emphasis on academia, sporting, vocational and the creative. We are proud of the rich and varied opportunities we provide, supported by the strength of our unique partnerships with external organisations. Five reasons to apply to Central Foundation Outstanding academic results: In 2014, 84% of GCSE pupils achieved 5 A* - C grades including English and maths, and 40% of Key Stage 5 grades were at the level of A* or A. A highly effective and extensive transition programme from Year 6 to Year 7. A unique tutoring system that provides exemplary care and guidance. An inclusive school where diversity is celebrated. Located with excellent City of London and Silicon Roundabout business links. Curriculum Students follow a broad curriculum that seeks to challenge, motivate and inspire. As a school in the heart of the City and Silicon Roundabout, we are ideally placed to benefit from partnerships with large companies and creative organisations. We also offer an extensive range of activities to inspire and engage students beyond the curriculum with weekly clubs. To enhance learning experiences, we organise visits to theatres, galleries and visits abroad as part of language immersion courses. Fact File Head Teacher: Jamie Brownhill Address: Cowper Street, London EC2A 4SH Map reference: 1 Tel: Fax: info@cfbs.islington.sch.uk Website: Published Admission Number for Year 7: 150 Type of school: Boys Voluntary-aided Age range: Number of students: 930 DFE code: Nearest stations: Old Street, Liverpool Street, Moorgate Bus routes: 5, 43, 55, 76, 141, 214, 243, 505 Sixth Form: Islington Sixth Form Consortium (IC6) /Tel: School start and finish times: 8.55am to 3.15pm Open Evening: Thursday 24 September, 6-8pm Open Mornings: Thursday 1 October, am Friday 2 October, am Test dates: For test dates, please refer to the school s website Accessibility: Lift and wheelchair access (partial), accessible toilets The many activities outside the classroom are much appreciated by students. Music and sport are particularly strong. Ofsted