Starting Out 2009
Starting Out 2009
Admission to Primary School
Introduction
Starting school is a very exciting and important time for both children and parents; we hope this booklet will help by giving you the information you need and details of who to contact if you need more advice. We do hope you will take the time to read the booklet carefully, even if you have older children and have applied for a primary school place before.
In order to achieve a higher level of satisfaction, and to make the process fairer for all children, Tameside, like other local authorities, operates a co-ordinated admissions scheme. Parents will use just one form to apply for up to 3 schools in the Tameside area, and you will receive a single offer of a place. An equal preference system will be used to allocate school places.
There is some information about schools in the booklet; more detailed information about individual schools is available from Headteachers, and you may wish to visit the school and talk to the Headteacher before completing your application form.
Should you have further queries, staff in the Admissions Section, telephone 0161 342 3208/3204 - will be pleased to help you.
If you need assistance with English, call in at any of the Customer Service Offices throughout the borough, or contact your local library regarding the In Touch Centres.
Please accept our best wishes for your child’s happy and successful education in Tameside.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Gerald P Cooney
Cabinet Deputy - Lifelong Learning
Cllr Allison Gwynne
Cabinet Deputy – Services for Children Services and Young People
School Offers and Admissions
Applying for a Primary School Place in Tameside
You are legally required to educate your child from the start of the term immediately after his or her 5th birthday.
In Tameside, it is council policy to provide education from the September of the school year in which your child is 5 years old. This means that a school place is allocated for every child who will be 5 years old between 01/09/2009 and 31/08/2010. All of these children are eligible to start school in September 2009.
Tameside operates a coordinated admissions scheme for Tameside primary schools. This means that parents* only have to complete one application form to apply
for a school place in Tameside, or alternatively apply online. There is co-ordination between the council and the governing bodies of voluntary aided schools, and every parent who lives in Tameside and applies for a school place in the borough, will receive one offer of a school place from the council.
This booklet explains about the admission arrangements, tells you how to make your application and how the allocations process will operate. It gives you information about schools in Tameside and other aspects of Services for Children and Young People.
You can get further information about individual schools by reading the school’s annual prospectus (available from the Headteacher). You can also view OFSTED reports on the OFSTED website at www.ofsted.gov.uk 
and you can get information about public examination performance tables in schools, local libraries, the Tameside website at www.tameside.gov.uk or by contacting Tameside’s Services for Children and Young People on 0161 342 3253.
Headteachers will be happy for you to visit the school to find out more: it is very important that you make an appointment first.
*Throughout this guide the term ‘parent’ includes:
- All natural parents, whether they are married or not; and
- Any person who, although not a natural parent, has parental responsibility for a child or young person; and
- Any person who, although not a natural parent, has care of a child or young person.
How Offers Are Made
Tameside Council operates an equal preference system for school admissions.
Parents should indicate three preferred schools on the application form, listed in order of preference. The law says that parents are entitled to express a preference
for a school they wish their child to attend. Preference is not the same as choice. The law does not give parents the right to choose a particular school for their child and have their choice met.
Applications for all three preferred schools will be sent to and considered by the council or, for voluntary aided schools, the governing body of the school. If there are more applications than places available, all applications for each school will be ranked according to the oversubscription criteria, regardless of whether the school is a first, second or third preference. The full ranked lists for all schools will be processed by computer and places allocated.
If only one of your preferred schools can offer a place, that school will be offered. If more than one school can offer a place, the offer will be for whichever school is the highest preference on the application.
This may not be your first preference school.
If it is not possible to offer a place at any of your preferred schools, a place will be allocated at the nearest school to your address with places available. This may not be your nearest school.
Parents are not guaranteed a place at one of their preferred schools.
The Application Process - What you Need to do
- Decide which three Tameside schools you would most like your child to attend and decide your order of preference
- Check whether your preferred schools require you to provide additional information.
- Complete the application form in BLOCK CAPITALS using a black ball point pen or online application.
- You must include details of any special circumstances on the Special Circumstances Form at the back of this booklet and submit it together with any other supporting documents.
- Take your completed application form and other documents including proof of address to your preferred primary school.
On-line Applications
You can also apply online for a school place. The Tameside online application facility is open from October 21st, 2008 to the closing date of November 28th, 2008.
If you apply online, you must still provide proof of address, plus any additional evidence or information required by a voluntary aided school. Please take this to your preferred school clearly marked with your child’s name, address and date of birth.
To apply online follow this link.
When you have completed your application, you will get an email confirming that it has been received. If you make a note of your reference number you can make changes to your application and re-submit it up to the closing date. Each time you re-submit you will get an email to confirm.
You can use the online system to opt to receive your school allocation by email on March 30, 2009. If you have any difficulties in using the system, contact Paula Barnett in School Admissions on 0161 342 3208.
Timetable for Admissions into Tameside Schools
| October 13th, 2008 October 21st, 2008 |
Starting Out booklet and application forms distributed by primary schools. Web page made available for applications online. |
| November 28th, 2008 | Closing date for returning application forms. By this date you must have either:
|
| January 5th, 2009 | Final date by which changes to applications (due to exceptional circumstances) can be accepted. Proof must be provided. |
| March 30th, 2009 | Offer Day On this date, all offer letters will be posted first class to parents. |
| March 30th, 2009 | Waiting lists for individual schools open. |
| If you wish to appeal against the decision not to offer a place at your preferred school, you also need to be aware of the following dates: |
|
| May 8th, 2009 | Closing date for returning appeals forms. |
| From May 2009 | Appeals are heard by the Independent Appeal Panel. |
| August 31st, 2009 | Waiting lists for individual schools close. |
How to Return Your Completed Application Form
Take the form to your preferred primary school by the deadline of November 28, 2008. When you hand your form in to your preferred primary school, you will receive a receipt. Please keep your receipt safe as it may be needed in the future.
If you are unable to take the form to your preferred school, you can post your form to the School Admissions section by the deadline of November 28, 2008 A receipt will be posted to you. If you do not receive a receipt please telephone 0161 342 3208 / 3204.
How Late Changes of Preference Are Dealt With
Once parents have submitted their application, they cannot change preferences after the closing date except in exceptional circumstances, for example, a recent change of address for which proof will be required. No changes can be made to preferences or student details, including address, after January 5th, 2009, when the allocation process has started.
How Late Applications are Dealt With
Late applications will only be dealt with after all of those that have been received on time. This applies even if your child has special circumstances, or has a sibling at the school. If your application is late, you may not receive an offer of a school place on offer day.
Important Information
Each school application should be discussed with all those with parental responsibility for the child as only one application per child can be accepted.
It is very important that you consider the likelihood of your child being offered a place at your preferred schools. The information on School Allocation Statistics tells you how many applications were received by each school last year and the number of children the school can admit. The number of applications and furthest distance allocated varies year on year and can only serve as a guide for future years.
Please note that all distances are measured using a Geographical Information System based on Ordnance Survey. Other software packages may give a slightly different measurement – these will not be considered.
If you put down three schools that are over-subscribed, and your child does not meet the criteria for any of them, you may not be offered a place at any of your preferred schools. The Council will offer a place at the school nearest to your home with places available.
Only putting one preference on your application does not increase your chances of being offered a place at that school, and you may be allocated a school some distance away from your home if nearer schools receive more applications than there are places.
For the same reason, there is no advantage in listing fewer than three schools or including the same school more than once.
An intention to change address cannot be considered by the council until proof is available. A solicitor’s letter confirming an exchange of contract on a property, or tenancy agreement will be accepted up to January 5th, 2009.
Any fraudulent or misleading information on a school application form may result in the withdrawal of a school offer.
Many parents have complex childcare arrangements and these cannot be taken into account when allocating places.
An application form should be completed even if you wish your child to attend an independent school.
You will still need to apply for a Reception place even if your child currently attends the nursery. Having a place in the nursery class or foundation unit at any school does not guarantee a place in the Reception class.
You should not put your child’s name down at more than one Tameside school.
Putting your child’s name down at your preferred school does not guarantee a place.
Under the government’s class size initiative, no child in Key Stage 1 should be in a class of more than 30 pupils with one qualified teacher for a normal teaching session.
Calls to the Admissions Team
Please do not telephone the Admissions Team on March 30th, 2009 to enquire about your school offer. Your letter is posted on this day, so you will receive it a day or two later. Online applicants can select to have an email sent on March 30th.
The Admissions Team understand the anxiety of parents at the time of school allocations and will do what they can to help. In return we ask you to treat our staff with courtesy and respect.
Proof of Address
All applicants must provide two proofs of address from the following list:
- Mortgage Statement*
- Tenancy agreement or letter from landlord*
- Council Tax Statement*
- Council Tax benefit statement*
- TV licence*
- Home contents insurance certificate*
- Buildings insurance certificate*
- Recent utility bill (gas, electricity, water, land-line telephone bill but not a mobile phone bill)**
- Letter from a solicitor confirming exchange of contracts on a house**
*issued within the last 12 months
** issued within the last 3 months
You must send your proof of address with your application form. If you are applying online, you must take your proof of address to your preferred primary school by the closing date where they can be verified.
Distance Check
If you would like us to measure the straight line distance to your preferred schools, please telephone us on 0161 342 3214.
Primary Schools Allocation Statistics 2008
Primary school age ranges are as follows:
- Key Stage 1 (Infants) 4 to 7 years
- Key Stage 2 (Juniors) 7 to 11 years
There are three types of maintained primary schools in Tameside: community, voluntary controlled, and voluntary aided. They all work with and receive funding from the council. There are however some differences:
Community Schools - the council employs the school’s staff, owns the school’s land and buildings and is the admissions authority. The council has primary responsibility for deciding the arrangements for admitting pupils.
Voluntary Controlled (VC) Schools - the council is the employer and the admissions authority. The school’s land and buildings will normally be owned by a charitable foundation or a religious group (e.g. diocese, synagogue etc).
Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools - in voluntary aided schools the governing body is the employer and the admissions authority. The school’s land and buildings will normally be owned by a charitable or religious foundation. The governing body will contribute towards the capital costs of running the school. The governing body also decides the admission arrangements for the school. The council administers the admissions process for VA schools, through the coordinated admissions scheme.
Two lists of schools appear on the School Allocation Statistics. Those in List A are community and voluntary controlled schools, List B are voluntary aided schools.
Those schools with an (N) after the headteacher’s names have a Nursery section, and those with (VC) after the headteacher’s name are Voluntary Controlled.
If you are considering a voluntary aided school, you will need to check details of the school’s admission arrangements in the school’s prospectus.
List A - Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools
Ashton-under-Lyne
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Broadoak Primary Norman Road OL6 8QG |
Mrs F Goddard 330 3105 (N) |
45 | 235 | 71 | N/A |
| Holden Clough Community Primary Off St Alban’s Avenue OL6 8XN |
Ms B McGowan 330 5248 (N) |
30 | 248 | 83 | 0.803 |
| Hurst Knoll, St James CE Primary Ladbrooke Road OL6 8JS |
Mrs S Nelson 330 4049 (N) (VC) |
30 | 193 | 81 | N/A |
| Parochial CE Primary Keppel Street OL6 6NN |
Mrs M Gillespy 343 6070 (N) (VC) |
30 | 193 | 61 | 1.101 |
| Rosehill Methodist Community Primary Rosehill Road OL6 8YG |
Mrs G Simm 343 8485 (N) (VC) |
60 | 372 | 93 | N/A |
| St James CE Primary Romney Street OL6 9HU |
Mrs V Marsh 330 2008 (N) (VC) |
30 | 192 | 62 | N/A |
| The Heys Primary Whiteacre Road OL6 9NS |
Mrs S West 330 1847 (N) |
30 | 201 | 137 | 0.570 |
| Waterloo Primary Worthington Street OL7 9NA |
Mrs L Ironmonger 330 1280 (N) |
50 | 337 | 138 | 3.429 |
| Ashton West End Primary Early Years Centre and Visually Impaired Resource Base William Street, West End OL7 0BJ |
Mr M Cummings 330 4234 (N) |
45 | 266 | 93 | N/A |
Audenshaw
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Aldwyn Primary and Motor Impaired Resource Base Lumb Lane M34 5SF |
Mrs B Pickford 370 3626 (N) |
45 | 271 | 63 | N/A |
| Audenshaw Primary Ash Street M34 5NG |
Mr J Gray 370 2504 |
30 | 219 | 74 | N\A |
| Poplar Street Primary Ravenswood Drive M34 5EF |
Mr I Lindsell 336 4134 320 8006 (N) |
45 | 280 | 91 | 2.739 |
Denton
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Corrie Primary Cemetery Road M34 1FG |
Mrs S Marland 336 4265 (N) |
45 | 290 | 82 | N/A |
| Dane Bank Primary Thornley Lane South Reddish SK5 6QG |
Mr M Cruden 336 5896 (N) |
30 | 182 | 69 | 0.591 |
| Greswell Primary Percy Road M34 2DH |
Mrs M Mylchreest 336 6854 (N) |
51 | 328 | 95 | N/A |
| Linden Road Primary And Hearing Impaired Resource Base Linden Road M34 6EF |
Mrs A Chesters 320 0002 (N) |
30 | 199 | 71 | 1.517 |
| Manor Green Primary Mancunian Road M34 1NS |
Mrs J Lomas 336 5864 (N) |
60 | 389 | 100 | N/A |
| Russell Scott Primary Clare Street M34 3LQ |
Mr S Marsland 320 5186 (N) |
51 | 343 | 120 | 0.490 |
| St Anne’s Primary St Anne’s Road M34 3DY |
Ms G Dyer 336 2956 |
30 | 198 | 79 | 0.693 |
| Denton West End Primary Balmoral Drive M34 2JX |
Mrs L Pennington 336 3409 (N) |
60 | 421 | 103 | 0.437 |
Droylsden
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Fairfield Road Primary Fairfield Road M43 6AF |
Mrs C Dobson 370 3625 (N) |
30 | 254 | 46 | N/A |
| Greenside Primary And Early Years Centre Greenside Lane M43 7RA |
Mr J M Rogers 370 8496 (N) |
60 | 380 | 122 | 0.770 |
| Manchester Road Primary Manchester Road M43 6GD |
Mr R Wynn 370 3079 |
45 | 354 | 106 | N\A |
| Moorside Primary Market Street M43 7DA |
Mr P Coiffait 370 3614 (N) |
60 | 381 | 143 | N\A |
Dukinfield
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Broadbent Fold Primary Tennyson Avenue SK16 5DP |
Mrs D Pugh 303 9411 (N) |
30 | 169 | 80 | N/A |
| Lyndhurst Community Primary Hill Street SK16 4JS |
Mrs J Wolfenden 330 7220 (N) |
30 | 215 | 61 | N/A |
| Ravensfield Primary Globe Lane SK16 4UJ |
Mrs B Allford 344 2905 (N) |
60 | 296 | 68 | N/A |
| St John’s CE Primary Westmorland Avenue SK16 5JA |
Mrs V Hewitt-Lee 338 5821 (N) (VC) |
30 | 226 | 112 | 0.777 |
| Yew Tree Community Primary Acorn Nursery and Moderate Learning Difficulties Resource Base Yew Tree Lane SK16 5BJ |
Mrs A Short 338 3452 (N) |
60 | 416 | 136 | 0.880 |
Hattersley
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Arundale Primary Lowry Grove Mottram SK14 6PW |
Mrs J Connor 01457 762328 (N) |
30 | 139 | 47 | N/A |
| Pinfold Primary Hattersley Road East SK14 3NE |
Mr S Clark 368 3732/4346 (N) |
60 | 317 | 64 | N/A |
Hyde
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Bradley Green Primary Bradley Green Road SK14 4NA |
Mrs J Matthews 368 2166 (N) |
20 | 119 | 80 | 0.329 |
| Dowson Primary Marlborough Road SK14 5HU |
Mrs J Rathburn 366 0177 (N) |
60 | 420 | 168 | 0.674 |
| Flowery Field Primary Main Street, off Old Road SK14 4SN |
Mrs Y Daly 368 1466 (N) |
60 | 398 | 110 | N/A |
| Gee Cross Holy Trinity CE Primary Higham Lane SK14 5LX |
Mrs M Gormley 368 2911 (VC) (N) |
30 | 208 | 107 | 0.560 |
| Godley Primary St John’s Drive SK14 2QB |
Mrs L Johnson 368 3162 (N) |
30 | 202 | 108 | 0.321 |
| Greenfield Primary and Early Years Centre Queen Street SK14 1QD |
Mrs N Frost 368 1898 (N) |
40 | 245 | 77 | N/A |
| Leigh Primary Walker Lane SK14 5PL |
Mrs S Mott 368 3366 (N) |
45 | 272 | 102 | N/A |
| Oakfield Primary and Moderate Learning Difficulties Resource Base St Mary’s Road SK14 4EZ |
Mrs R Williams 368 3365 (N) |
30 | 203 | 83 | 0.554 |
Longdendale
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Broadbottom CE Primary Mottram Road Broadbottom SK14 6BB |
Mrs E Bland 01457 762382 (VC) |
15 | 98 | 43 | 0.903 |
| Hollingworth Primary Market Street, Hollingworth SK14 8LP |
Mr P Davies 01457 762136 (N) |
30 | 162 | 37 | N/A |
Mossley
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Livingstone Primary Valeside OL5 0AP |
Ms L Zrada 01457 832495 (N) |
20 | 109 | 73 | 0.457 |
| Micklehurst All Saints CE Primary The Rowans OL5 9DR |
Ms J L Kincey 01457 832499 01457 832128 (N) (VC) |
30 | 116 | 46 | N/A |
| Milton St John’s CE Primary Mill Lane OL5 0BN |
Mr A Card 01457 832572 (N) (VC) |
30 | 199 | 81 | 0.434 |
Stalybridge
| School Name | Headteacher | Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 | Furthest distance at initial allocation (miles) 2008 |
| Arlies Primary Broadhill Road SK15 1HQ |
Ms S Collins 338 4854 (N) |
30 | 177 | 77 | N/A |
| Buckton Vale Primary Swallow Lane Carrbrook SK15 3NU |
Mrs C May 01457 833102 |
40 | 257 | 70 | N/A |
| Gorse Hall Primary Forrester Drive SK15 2DP |
Mr D E Harrison 338 4262 (N) |
60 | 402 | 136 | N/A |
| Millbrook Primary Bank Road Off Huddersfield Road SK15 3JX |
Mrs S Gordon (Acting) 01457 834314 (N) |
25 | 140 | 71 | N/A |
| Ridge Hill Primary and Specific Learning Difficulties Resource Base School Crescent SK15 1EA |
Mrs C MacEachran 338 2475 (N) |
45 | 276 | 65 | N/A |
| Stalyhill Infant School Wheatfield SK15 2TR * Linked to Stalyhill Junior School |
Mrs S Nuttall 01457 763598 |
60 | 177 | 144 | 1.335 |
| Stalyhill Junior School Hereford Way Mottram Old Road SK15 2TD *Linked to Stalyhill Infant School |
Mr I R Johnson 338 4290 |
60 | 232 | 60 | N\A |
| St Paul’s CE Primary Huddersfield Road SK15 2PT |
Mrs J Hand 338 2060 (VC) |
45 | 272 | 111 | N/A |
| Wild Bank Primary and Early Years Centre Demesne Drive SK15 2PG |
Mr S Lees 303 7404 (N) |
20 | 85 | 24 | N/A |
List B - Voluntary Aided Primary Schools
Key
(N) - Nursery
(CE) - Church of England
(RC) - Roman Catholic
Ashton-under-Lyne
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| Canon Burrows CE Primary Oldham Road OL7 9ND |
Mrs E Horridge 330 4755 (N) |
CE | 60 | 420 | 151 |
| Canon Johnson CE Primary Elgin Street OL7 9DD |
Mrs S Warburton 330 3169 (N) |
CE | 30 | 201 | 105 |
| Holy Trinity CE Primary Kenyon Street OL6 7DU |
Mrs K Menmuir 330 1065 (N) |
CE | 30 | 202 | 51 |
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary Holden Street OL6 9JJ |
Mr A Brown 330 9521 (N) |
RC | 30 | 194 | 66 |
| St Christopher’s RC Primary St Christopher’s Road OL6 9DP |
Ms S Hudson 330 5880 (N) |
RC | 30 | 202 | 95 |
| St Peter’s CE Primary Oxford Street OL7 0NB |
Mrs L Bardsley 330 1691 |
CE | 30 | 193 | 52 |
Audenshaw
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St Anne’s RC Primary Clarendon Road M34 5QA |
Mrs E Gaffney 370 8698 (N) |
RC | 30 | 187 | 47 |
| St Stephen’s CE Primary Audenshaw Road M34 5HD |
Mr P Massey 330 3818 |
CE | 30 | 186 | 73 |
Denton
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St John Fisher RC Primary And Resource Base for Autistic Spectrum Disorder Manor Road Haughton Green M34 7SW |
Mr R M Ganley 336 5308 (N) |
RC | 26 | 166 | 61 |
| St Mary’s RC Primary Kynder Street M34 2AR |
Ms D Reeves 336 3322 (N) |
RC | 30 | 241 | 82 |
Droylsden
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St Mary’s CE Primary Church Street M43 7BR |
Mr I Spencer 370 3948 (N) |
CE | 30 | 213 | 123 |
| St Stephen’s RC Primary Chappell Road M43 7NA |
Mr R Morris 370 2071 (N) |
RC | 60 | 358 | 96 |
Dukinfield
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St Mary’s Catholic Primary Cheetham Hill Road SK16 5LD |
Mr J Murray 368 4824 |
RC | 30 | 199 | 103 |
Hattersley
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St James’ Catholic Primary Underwood Road SK14 3DQ |
Mrs J Walker 368 3455 (N) |
RC | 20 | 90 | 29 |
Hyde
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St George’s CE Primary Henry Street SK14 1JL |
Mrs P Walker 368 2848 (N) |
CE | 30 | 206 | 130 |
| St Paul’s Catholic Primary Turner Lane SK14 4AG |
Mr K Platt 368 2934 (N) |
RC | 30 | 191 | 75 |
Longdendale
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| Mottram CE Primary War Hill, Mottram SK14 6JL |
Mrs J A Chapman 01457 763368 |
CE | 20 | 134 | 62 |
Mossley
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St George’s CE Primary Stamford Street OL5 0HT |
Mrs C Divers 01457 832496 (N) |
CE | 25 | 147 | 76 |
| St Joseph’s RC Primary Curzon Street OL5 0HD |
Mrs S Partington 01457 832360 (N) |
RC | 20 | 128 | 52 |
Stalybridge
| School Name | Headteacher | Religious Affiliation |
Published Admission Number | Number on roll in January 2008 | Number of Requests 2008 |
| St Peter’s Catholic Primary Hough Hill Road SK15 2EQ |
Mrs E Summersgill 338 3303 (N) |
RC | 30 | 226 | 87 |
| St Raphael’s Catholic Primary Huddersfield Road SK15 3JL |
Mr B Marley 338 4095 (N) |
RC | 26 | 132 | 54 |
Over-subscription Criteria
List A - Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools Over-subscription Criteria
Children with statements of special educational needs where the school is named will be allocated places before the oversubscription criteria are applied. The criteria for over-subscription for community and voluntary controlled primary schools are
1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children)
2. Children and families with exceptional medical or social needs
Written evidence must be provided by a suitably qualified professional – e.g. a GP or consultant for medical needs, or a social worker for social needs – that he/she has exceptional needs, which means that admission to a particular school is essential. A panel of officers from Tameside MBC will make a decision as to whether to admit a child under this criterion, using the evidence provided. All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.
3. Sibling: this will apply where there are brothers or sisters attending the school or the linked junior school at the time of application, who will still be attending at the time of admission, i.e. in the September when a pupil is admitted to Reception. Preference will be given to pupils living nearest to the school.
The sibling criterion includes; natural sisters/brothers; half sisters/brothers; step sisters/brothers; adopted sisters/brothers; sisters/brothers of fostered children, and in each case living at the same address. This allows for the admittance of children whose siblings will still be attending the preferred school. In cases where twins, triplets or other multiple birth siblings are split when allocations take place, parents will be offered a choice of breaking the sibling link and being offered places at two or more schools or all siblings being offered a place at the same school which may not be a preference school named on the application form.
4. Distance: Preference will be given to pupils living nearest to the school taking into account ease of access to and distance from alternative schools.
Ease of access will be considered when parents provide details of particular reasons that mean their child could reach their nearest school but will have a disproportionately long journey to another school if denied admission to their nearest school. Details must be provided on the special circumstances form.
List B - Voluntary Aided Primary Schools Over-subscription Criteria
In voluntary aided schools (List B) the governing body is responsible for determining the admission arrangements and for allocating places at the school.
Many voluntary aided schools require applicants for a school place to provide additional information, for example, a Baptismal certificate for Roman Catholic schools or confirmation of church attendance for Church of England schools, if they wish to be considered under the faith based criteria. This may mean completing a supplementary form.
If you are considering a voluntary aided school as one or more of your preferences, you are strongly advised to contact the Headteacher for further information about the school and the admission arrangements and, where applicable, the supplementary form.
Stalyhill Junior School Over-subscription Criteria
Tameside has only one junior school and these criteria only apply to admission into Year 3 at Stalyhill Junior School. Where applications for admission to the school exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below to decide which children to admit. Children with statements of special educational needs where the school is named will be allocated places before the oversubscription criteria are applied. The criteria for over-subscription are:
1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children)
2. Children who attend Stalyhill Infant School at the time of application
3. Children and families with exceptional medical or social needs
Written evidence must be provided by a suitably qualified professional – e.g. a GP or consultant for medical needs, or a social worker for social needs – that he/she has exceptional needs, which means that admission to this school is essential. A panel of officers from Tameside MBC will make a decision as to whether to admit a child under this criterion, using the evidence provided. All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.
4. Sibling: this will apply where there are brothers or sisters attending the school at the time of application, who will still be attending at the time of admission, i.e. in the September when a pupil is admitted to Year 3. Preference will be given to pupils living nearest to the school.
The sibling criterion includes; natural sisters/brothers; half sisters/brothers; step sisters/brothers; adopted sisters/brothers; sisters/brothers of fostered children, and in each case living at the same address.
This allows for the admittance of children whose siblings will still be attending the preferred school. In cases where twins, triplets or other multiple birth siblings are split when allocations take place, parents will be offered a choice of breaking the sibling link and being offered places at two or more schools or all siblings being offered a place at the same school which may not be a preference school named on the application form.
5. Distance: Preference will be given to pupils living nearest to the school.
Definitions
Definitions for Admissions Arrangements
Unless stated otherwise in the admission arrangements for any voluntary aided school, the following definitions will apply.
Definition of distance
Distance for all applications will be measured as a straight line from the child’s home address to the main gate to the school property using the council’s school admissions data mapping software, which uses a Geographical Information System based on Ordnance Survey.
Definition of home address
The address from which distance will be measured will be the permanent residential address, at the time of application, of the parent with whom the child lives. Where a child lives with parents with shared responsibility, each for part of a week, the home address is the address from which the child travels to school for the majority of school days per week. If the number of days is exactly equal the home address will be that of the parent who receives the Child Benefit.
Tie-breaker
In the event of distances being the same for two or more applicants where this distance would be the last place/places to be allocated, a random lottery will be implemented between these applicants. The random lottery will be carried out in a public place. All the names will be entered into a hat and the required number of names will be drawn out.
Data Protection Act
The council maintains a register entry in respect of education which includes the administration relating to pupils.
Personal information provided on the application form is treated in confidence and complies with the requirements of the Act. This information may also be shared with other Local Authorities.
Verification of Information - the council may verify information you have provided on the application form, which could involve contacting other departments of the council or other councils who maintain appropriate records. In instances where the information provided is different from that held by them, they may use the information on the application form.
Allocations, Waiting Lists and Appeals
Waiting Lists for Tameside's Primary Schools
Waiting lists will be held for all Tameside primary schools in accordance with the over-subscription criteria for each school.
You will be sent details of how to place your child’s name on the waiting list for school if you are not allocated your first preference school.
The waiting lists will run until August 31, 2009. Places will only be offered according to the over-subscription criteria, should any become available, up to the school’s published admission number, to children on the waiting list or who have submitted an appeal.
If the appeals process leads to the admission of pupils beyond the published admission number any places which are given up later will not be offered to pupils on the waiting list until numbers fall below the published admission number.
The number of children on a waiting list for any particular school can vary from day to day. If new or late applications have a higher priority under the oversubscription criteria, they will be ranked higher than those who have been on the waiting list for some time. Waiting list positions will not be available for discussion until the last week in May 2009, approximately two weeks after the appeals closing date.
Should you put your child’s name on a waiting list(s), the Admissions Team will contact you if a place becomes available and your child can be offered a place. There is no need to telephone to find out your child’s position.
Notification of School Allocations
Allocation letters will be sent out on March 30, 2009. If you are not satisfied with your allocation, there are three options open to you. You can:
- Ask to be considered for a school(s), which has places available after allocations.
- Ask for your child’s name to be placed on the waiting list for any school(s).
- Submit an appeal.
You will retain the place you have been allocated until you are allocated an alternative school.
Appealing For a School Place
Parents who are unhappy with their child’s school allocation have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel.
To appeal for a place at any Tameside primary school, you should complete and return an appeal form to the Executive Director of Services for Children and Young People, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL, by 8th May 2009, stating your grounds for appeal. If you are appealing for a voluntary aided school, your appeal will be forwarded to the relevant school.
You can submit an appeal for any school(s), regardless of your original preferences. All appeals will be heard separately. Every effort will be made to hear appeals before the start of the Autumn Term, but no guarantee can be made that late appeals will be heard by September.
If you submit an appeal, your child’s name will automatically go on the waiting list for a place at that particular school.
You will be given 10 school days notice of your appeal hearing date, and you will be sent a copy of the school’s case. You can attend the hearing to present the case for your child. You may bring a friend or representative along. At the meeting, a representative from the school or the council will present the school’s case.
The Clerk to the Panel will inform you in writing of the Panel’s decision. The decision is binding and parents have no further right of appeal for the same school in the same school year, unless there has been a significant change in circumstances.
Please note that no places are ‘held back’ for appeals.
Parents of pupils with a statement of special educational needs have the right to appeal to the SEN Tribunal.
Whilst you are awaiting your appeal it is important that you consider alternative schools (including the one that has been allocated for your child) in case your appeal is unsuccessful.
Please note that the law places restrictions on the circumstances in which an appeal panel can uphold an appeal for the admission of a child to an infant class. In normal circumstances an Independent Appeal Panel cannot allow a place for your child if this means that a Reception class will have more than 30 pupils. Appeals against refusal to admit on the grounds of class size can be upheld only where an appeal panel are satisfied that one of the following conditions applies:
- That the decision was not one which a reasonable council/governing body (“the admission authority”)would make in the circumstances of the case; or
- That the child would have been offered a place if the admission arrangements had been properly implemented.
Applications by Non-Tameside Residents
If you do not live in Tameside and want your child to go to a Tameside school you should follow the instructions in this booklet. If we cannot offer a place at your preferred school(s), Tameside Council is under no obligation to offer a school place. You should contact your own local authority.
Applying For a School Outside Tameside
Parents can apply for a school place in another borough. You should contact the school and/or their local authority to find out more about their admission and appeal arrangements. Contact information is available by clicking here.
Independent Schools
If you want your child to attend an independent school it is not the policy of Tameside Council to pay the fees, or any other expenses. You will, therefore, need to make your own arrangements for your child to attend this type of school.
Home Education
It is a parental right to educate a child at home. The council would seek to assess and approve the provision being made by the parent. Please telephone 0161 342 3226 for more details about home education.
Special Educational Needs
All schools in Tameside have a positive outlook on the education of children with special needs and take account of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice in planning children’s education.
All Tameside schools share the philosophy of ‘inclusive education’. The majority of children with special needs are educated at their local mainstream school. If this is not possible, the council aims to place children as close to their local mainstream school as is practicable.
The SEN and Disability Act also means that all schools must make reasonable adjustments to enable children and young people with disabilities to attend the school of their parents’ preference.
Some pupils’ special educational needs may be such that the council may consider that some additional or special provision is needed in a local mainstream school or at a mainstream school with specialist provision to meet the specific needs of pupils with statements. This will be done in consultation with parents and professionals, and following a full formal assessment. In some exceptional cases the council may consider it necessary for placement to be determined at one of the schools listed below, or (very rarely) at specialist schools outside the borough.
If your child has a particular learning need or disability it is helpful to speak to the staff at the school allocated as soon as possible regarding any special arrangements or adjustments, which need to be made. If nursery records are handed to parents it is important that they are passed on to the school.
Specialist Provision Within Tameside
Dale Grove Primary Centre (Bankside) for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Hawthorns Community School for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Oakdale School and Acorn Nursery for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
St John Fisher RC Primary School a mainstream school with resourced provision for pupils with language and communication difficulties or autism.
Linden Road Primary School and Hearing Impaired Resource Base a mainstream school with resourced provision for pupils with hearing impairment.
Oakfield Primary School, The Heys Primary School, Buckton Vale Primary School and Russell Scott Primary School are all mainstream schools with resourced provision for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What to do if you think your child has SEN?
- If your child attends a nursery or other pre-school setting, speak to the Headteacher or the Officer-in-Charge and they will advise you.
- If your child does not attend a nursery or other preschool setting, contact Inclusive Services on 0161 342 2206/ 3750.
If you don’t live in Tameside you will need to contact the local authority for the area in which you live.
If your child’s special needs are being assessed, a suitable placement will be offered which gives the opportunity for the assessment to be completed. This assessment will involve advice being sought from an Educational Psychologist, a doctor, the nursery or school and from yourselves. You will be fully involved at all stages in the assessment and will have the opportunity to see all the reports which inform the council’s subsequent decision.
If your child has a statement of SEN, he/she will attend the school and receive the special educational provision indicated in the statement. The provision will be reviewed at least once a year. If you do not agree with the named school, you have the right of appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
Parents should express preferences for primary schools in the same way as parents of children without statements of SEN.
The Role of Parent Partnership Service
The service offers impartial information, guidance and support to parents of children/young people who have special/additional educational needs, aged from 0 to 19. It respects confidentiality and discussions with other professionals involved with your child only take place with parental permission. You can contact the service on 0161 342 3383.
Further Help and Advice
Should you have any questions or concerns about your child which may result from a special educational need, contact Inclusive Services on 0161 342 2206/3750.
Assistance For Parents and Pupils
Assistance with Travel
It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/carer(s) of a pupil to see that he/she attends school. However, the council may provide assistance with transport to school for some pupils who live within the Tameside area.
The following groups of primary pupils are eligible for a zero fare bus / train pass or cycle allowance:
Group 1
Pupils whose nearest qualifying school is outside ‘walking distance’. ‘Walking distance’ is more than:
- two miles for children of school age but under the age of 8
- three miles for children or young people aged 8-16
Group 2
Pupils from low income families at primary school
travelling to:
- one of the nearest three qualifying schools where they live more than two miles but less than six miles from that school
- the nearest school preferred by reason of a parent’s faith or belief, where the school is more than two miles but less than 15 miles from the child’s home
If you are unsure whether your child will be eligible for a zero fare bus pass, please check with the School Admissions Section on 0161 342 4068 or 3214.
Notes
- Low income is defined as pupils who are eligible for a school clothing grant.
- The distance between home and school is measured by the nearest available walking route by an officer of the council using the School Admissions software.
- The law defines a qualifying school as a school which is suitable for the child, taking account of their faith or belief (or the faith or belief of their parents) and that has places available.
- A cycle allowance of £30 per year is payable instead of a bus pass if requested.
- The criteria will be rigorously applied, regardless of conditions for previous applicants.
- Pupils not resident in Tameside will need to check with their home authority to see if they are eligible for a zero fare bus pass.
Assistance with the Cost of School Meals
Free school meals are offered to children of families who are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit.
They are also offered to children of families who are in receipt of Child Tax Credit only, but who are not entitled to Working Tax Credit, and whose annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) does not exceed £15,575.
If you are in receipt of Child Tax Credit, you will need to attend one of the council’s Customer Service Centres and present your Child Tax Credit award notice.
To apply for free school meals you can complete an online application form by clicking here, telephone the council’s call centre on 0161 342 8355 or call in to one of the council’s customer services offices.
Assistance with the Cost of Uniforms
A clothing grant is assistance toward the cost of school clothing and footwear. Parents who are eligible are families with children of compulsory school age who are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers, Guaranteed Element of State Pension Allowance or Child Tax Credit only, with an income less than £15,575.00. You will need to provide evidence of benefit entitlement.
Families who are in receipt of Working Tax Credit with an income less than £15,575.00 should qualify for a School Clothing Grant, provided you have a copy of the Tax Award Notice as issued by the Inland Revenue.
Self-employed persons should provide either an accountant’s letter stating the recent figures submitted to the Inland Revenue or, if you prepare your own accounts, a letter from the tax office.
To apply for assistance with uniform costs, complete an application form which can be downloaded by clicking here. Then take the completed form - with proof of benefit - to one of the council’s customer services offices.
Additional Information
School Transfers
Tameside council believes that it is detrimental to a child’s education to transfer schools other than going into Year 7 at a new secondary school.
It is generally in a child’s best interest to remain at the same school for the whole primary phase and it is the practice of Tameside Council to investigate all school transfer requests when there is no house move involved.
An Education Officer will usually contact all parents in this situation to discuss the issue further.
Studies show that many children experience difficulties settling into a new school and, in the majority of cases, attainment dips when a pupil transfers to another school. For example it can be difficult to join established friendship groups, the curriculum may be organised differently so they may find they are repeating some units of work and have missed others, and they will have to get used to new routines and timetables. In addition, it can often be the case that problems experienced in one school will recur in another.
If your child is experiencing difficulties, please try to work through these with the school staff. If you are still considering a move, please make an appointment with the headteacher to discuss any concerns you may have, and try to resolve them in conjunction with the school.
Often, issues can be resolved within the school. If this is not possible, you are advised to contact the Education Welfare Service who may be able to help. They can be contacted on 0161 342 2290/2294.
Speaking to a Welfare Officer may help you avoid transferring your child to another school.
A decision to move your child from one school to another should not be taken lightly and, in view of the upheaval it is likely to cause to your child’s education, should only be considered as a last resort.
We do realise that, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to transfer your child to another school, for example if you are moving house on a permanent basis and the distance would make it impossible to attend their current school. In these circumstances, however, we cannot guarantee a place will be available at a particular school.
Further Information About Individual Schools
You can get further information about individual schools by reading the school’s annual prospectus (available from the school’s headteacher).
You can also view OFSTED reports on the OFSTED website - www.ofsted.gov.uk , and you can get information about public examination performance tables in schools, local libraries, the Tameside website at www.tameside.gov.uk, or by contacting Tameside’s Services for Children and Young People on 0161 342 3253.
Second Language and Alternative Formats
If your first language is not English, and you need help in interpreting this booklet, or you need it in an alternative format such as large print or cassette, please contact Tameside’s Choice Advice Service on telephone 0161 342 4422.
Important Contacts
The School Admissions Team
If you need further information or have any questions regarding transfer to high school, please do not hesitate to contact us – we will be happy to help.
| Paula Barnett | Principal Admissions Officer | 342 3208 |
| Andrea Dyson | Senior Administrative Officer (Transfers) | 342 2286 |
| Pearl Outram | Administrative Officer (Exclusions) | 342 3226 |
| Pauline Duffy | Administrative Officer (Admissions) | 342 3204 |
| Cathy Miller | Clerical Officer | 342 4068 |
| Andrew Flint | Administrative Assistant | 342 3214 |
| Jane Barrett | School Organisation Officer | 342 2285 |
| Jill Shaw | School Organisation Officer | 342 3804 |
| Catherine Moseley | Senior Education Officer | 342 3302 |
| Admissions Team E-mail |  Send a Message to The Admissions Team |
| Fax | 342 4067 |
Education Welfare Service
| Free School Meals | 342 3257 |
| Uniform Grants | 342 3258 |
| Education Welfare Service (Attendance) | 342 2290/2294/2295 |
Neighbouring Local Authorities
For details of schools in other Local Authorities, please contact the relevant admissions team:
| Local Authority | Address | Phone Number | Appeals Number |
| Derbyshire | St Helena Centre Sheffield Rd Chesterfield Derbyshire S41 7LU |
01246 347472 | 01246 347472/3/4 |
| Manchester | Manchester Education Office Overseas House Quay Street Manchester M3 3BB |
0161 234 7151 | 0161 234 7150 |
| Oldham | Civic Centre West Street Oldham OL1 1XJ |
0161 770 4214 | 0161 770 4214 |
| Stockport | Education Division Town Hall Stockport SK1 3XE |
0161 218 1568 0161 218 1569 |
0161 474 3203 |
Special Circumstances
Download Special Circumstances Form
Click here to download the Special Circumstances Form 42.61 KB 
Checklist for Applicants
Have You Done All You Need to Do?
Please ensure that you have:
- Read the Starting Out booklet
- Listed your schools in preference order on your application form
- Included the name(s) of any siblings who will still be attending any of your preferred schools from September 2009.
- Included details of any special circumstances with any supporting documents
- Included your proof of address documents
- Submitted additional information required by any of your preferred schools
- Signed and dated the form
- Completed the form fully or submitted the Online Application Form by November 28th 2008.
- Received a receipt for your application from your child’s Tameside primary school/School Admissions Team
Information For Parents
Tameside Choice Advice Service
Starting Out at Primary School?
Information for Parents
Tameside Choice Advice Service
Council Offices Wellington Road
Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside
OL6 6DL
Tel: 0161 342 4422
Fax: 0161 342 3305
What is the Choice Advice Service?
The Choice Advice Service (CAS) is a new service for parents who are applying for a school place for their child/children. The service offers impartial guidance. support and information to any parent choosing a school for their child/children who live in Tameside. Parents may find the service particularly useful when their child/children are about to start primary school or are in year 5 and 6 and moving on to secondary school.
What Can A Choice Adviser Do For You?
A choice adviser will aim to make sure you have a full understanding of all the information available and that it is presented clearly to you. This could include:
- How the school transfer and admissions process works e.g. offering assistance in filling in forms both for Tameside and neighbouring boroughs.
- Provide impartial information about local schools
- Help you find out about schools that will best suit your child 's needs.
- Tell you about provision for children with special educational needs.
- Inform you about the various admissions polices for different types of schools in the area.
- Offer information on travel and uniform policies.
- Discuss options available to you if you are not offered your preferred school. This includes guidance through the appeals process and the equal preference scheme.