There are a number of Catholic primary schools within Calderdale which share common elements of their oversubscription criteria. The following information should be read in conjunction with the individual school's criteria where this has been highlighted as being applicable.
Tie break
Where the offer of places to all the applicants in any of the categories listed would still lead to oversubscription, the available places will be offered to those living nearest to the school. 'Straight Line Distance' will be used as the measure.
If two or more pupils live equidistant from the school, the distance each pupil lives by road from the preferred school will be measured and the place will be offered to the pupil who lives nearest by this means. In the event of this being equal, places will then be decided by random allocation (see notes).
Where there is more than one application from a postal address contained within a block of flats, places will be decided by random allocation.
Supplementary information form (SIF)
To be considered under a specific category (ie Baptised Catholic), a SIF and evidence will need to be completed and submitted to the administrator at the school by 15 January 2019. The SIF is available from the school. This is in addition to the online application. If an online application is not completed, the application is not valid.
Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care plan
Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care plan that names the school must be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available to applicants. This is not an oversubscription criterion.
The admission of pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health and Care plan is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. This procedure is set out in the Education Act 1996. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
Catholic
Catholic means a member of a Church in communion with the See of Rome. A certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church will normally evidence this. Alternatively, a letter from a parish priest confirming membership of a church in communion with the See of Rome. This includes the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Child looked after
Child looked after has the same meaning as in section 22 of the Children Act 1989, and means any child in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them (eg children with foster parents). This also applies to previously looked after children but who ceased to be so because they became adopted or subject to a residence or special guardianship order.
Children looked after from Catholic families
Children looked after from Catholic families has dual meaning. It could be the child themselves who is baptised Catholic, or the family who are caring for the child who are Catholic. Evidence of the child's baptism will be required where this is possible. Evidence of the carers baptism should be in the form of a letter from a priest.
Defined area
The defined area is a geographical area. Please see boundary maps available for inspection in school (boundaries are determined by the Diocese of Leeds).
Siblings (brothers and sisters)
Siblings include children with a brother or sister (including step siblings, adoptive siblings and foster siblings) of statutory school age, living at the same address, in attendance at the same school, on the date of admission.
Twins, triplets or multiple births
Where a family of twins or triplets request admission and if one sibling has been offered the thirtieth (30) or last place, the 'excepted pupil' rule comes in and the other twin / triplets are offered a place.
Live
In all categories, 'live' means the child's permanent home address. A child is normally regarded as living with a parent or guardian and we will use the parent or guardian's address for admission purposes. You cannot lodge a child with a friend or relation in order to gain a place at a school. For admission purposes, only one address can be used as a child's permanent address. When a child lives with more than one parent / carer, at different addresses, we will use the preference expressed by the parent at the address where the child lives the majority of the time during the week as the main place of residence.
Direct / straight line distance
Distance will be calculated using a straight line measurement from the pupil's home to the closest designated school gate.
Distances will be calculated using the Local Authority's GIS (Geographical Information System). To ensure consistency, all measurements will be carried out by the Local Authority's GIS and no other method of measuring distance will be considered. Each property has a coordinate taken from Ordnance Survey ADDRESS-POINT data. This is the point from which distance measurements will be taken.
Random allocation
This is only to be used when the last place to be offered is to children living in a block of flats, or children who live equidistant from the school using straight line distance criterion. An independent person will be used to make the random selection.
Appeals
An appeal application form can be obtained from the school. Once completed it should be sent to:
- Catholic primary schools Appeal Panel
- Clerk to the Appeal Panel
Diocese of Leeds
Hinsley Hall
62 Headingley Lane
Leeds
LS6 2BX - Telephone: 0113 261 8034