Which school catchment area is my home in?
The 'First Steps' and 'Next Steps' booklets provide information on all the schools maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council and can be found at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/admissions. At the back of the 'First Steps' booklet is a street by street listing of catchment areas within Cambridge City. If this does not answer your query then please contact the Admissions Team on 01223 699662 and we will check your catchment area using your postcode.
You can also view school catchment areas in My Cambridgeshire.
Which year group is my child in?
For the school year September 2011 to July 2012, children will be offered places in the following year groups, according to the dates of birth specified:
Year Group (2011) Dates of Birth
Reception 1.9.06 to 31.8.07
1 1.9.05 to 31.8.06
2 1.9.04 to 31.8.05
3 1.9.03 to 31.8.04
4 1.9.02 to 31.8.03
5 1.9.01 to 31.8.02
6 1.9.00 to 31.8.01
7 1.9.99 to 31.8.00
8 1.9.98 to 31.8.99
9 1.9.97 to 31.8.98
10 1.9.96 to 31.8.97
11 1.9.95 to 31.8.96
How do I apply for a school place in Cambridgeshire?
To apply for a school place (not independent) in Cambridgeshire you will need to do the following:
a) If you are requesting a place for your child to attend primary or secondary school for the very first time then you will need to fill in the form that accompanies the First Steps or Next Steps booklet or apply online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/admissions
b) If you are applying for any other year group or for placement throughout the school year you will need to complete the In-Year application form. This is available to print from the website at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/admissions or if you do not have access to a printer you may email us at admissions@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or call us on 01223 699662 and we will post one to you. Please allow up to ten working days for us to process these forms. We are able to offer places up to six teaching weeks before they are required.
We strongly advise you to apply to your catchment school. If you are unsure which your catchment school is please contact the Admissions Team and we will supply you with this information.
All forms should be returned to:
Admissions Team, Office of Children and Young People’s Services, BOX CC1206, Castle Court, Castle Hill, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0AP. Forms can be returned by post or scanned and emailed backed to us. However, the form must be signed by at least one adult who has parental responsibility for the child on whose behalf the application is being made.
Depending upon your circumstances we may ask you for additional information. If you have recently moved, or will shortly be moving we will need to see proof of this address. Suitable proof would be a copy of your signed tenancy agreement or exchange of contracts letter or utility bill. If your child is not a British citizen we will need to see a copy of their passport. Unfortunately we will be unable to process applications until all relevant documentation has been received.
Do I have to complete an application form if I have already registered my child’s name at a primary school?
Yes. Asking for your child’s name to be put on a list for a school place is considered to be an expression of interest, which may help gauge possible future numbers. Places can only be offered to children whose parents complete an application form. You must, therefore, complete and return the official application form. If you are requesting a place for your child to attend primary school for the very first time then you will need to either apply online or fill in the form in the ‘First Steps' booklet. Children moving from infant to junior schools should also complete this form or apply online. Deadlines are clearly set out in the booklet.
How do I apply for a school place outside Cambridgeshire?
If you live in Cambridgeshire but wish to attend a school outside Cambridgeshire, you must make your application through Cambridgeshire. For information on other authorities school, telephone numbers for neighbouring authorities are listed below:
Bedfordshire 01234 718120
Essex 0845 603 2200
Hertfordshire 0300 123 4043
Lincolnshire 01522 782030
Norfolk 0344 800 8001
Northamptonshire 01604 236236
Peterborough 01733 864007
Suffolk 0845 600 0981
How long will my application take to be processed?
If you have applied to start secondary school in September 2012 the offer date is 1 March 2012.
If you have applied to start primary, infant, junior or middle school for entry in September 2012 the offer date is 1 May 2012.
If you have submitted an In-Year application form we would normally be able to respond within ten teaching days.
What happens if I’m not offered the place I want?
1. Your child may be placed on a reserve list for the refused school for a specified amount of time, so that, if a place becomes available, it can be offered to the first child on the reserve list. Please check the admissions booklet and/or the school’s admissions policy for further details.
2. You will be offered an alternative school, which may be your second or third preference if we can meet it, depending upon demand for places and admission criteria.
3. You are entitled to appeal for any school that you have been refused. Where Infant Class Size was the reason for refusal it would be an Infant Class Size appeal.
If your case outweighs the local authority’s then you will be awarded a place.
You will receive a copy of a leaflet explaining appeals from the Admissions Team, along with your letter.
Appeals can take up to six teaching weeks to be heard.
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need and is unsuccessful in obtaining a place at your preferred school then their appeal would take place via a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. This can take up to three months to be heard. Further information is available from the Student Assessment Service on 01480 372600.
Can my child start school a year late or early?
Cambridgeshire’s policy is to admit children to the year group appropriate to their date of birth. In exceptional circumstances your child may be able to be taught in the year below that which would normally be the case.
If you are moving school and wish your child to continue to be taught in the year below the correct one for their age we would need to see a letter from the Headteacher of your child’s current school confirming the teaching arrangements for your child and that this arrangement has been in place for some time and is considered to be permanent.
If you are requesting this for the first time then you would need to fill in an admissions form and attach a note to this effect. We would also require a report from at least one education professional (e.g. educational psychologist, pre-school specialist support teacher). All such cases will go before an experienced education panel that will decide whether it is in the child’s best interests to be taught in this manner. Given the nature of such cases, decisions can take up to six teaching weeks. Parents should bear this in mind when considering when to apply.
Do the same procedures apply to a Looked After Child (in Public Care or fostered)?
Some priority is given to Looked After Children in all school admissions policies. Please check in the relevant admissions booklet for details about each school’s over subscription criteria. Support is available from the Education Support for Looked After Children (ESLAC) at Roger Ascham Site, Ascham Road, Cambridge, CB4 2BD. They can also be contacted on 01223 712904.
Do the same procedures apply to a Traveller child?
Yes. You will need to complete and return the relevant admissions form. The Admissions Team acknowledges that proof of address may be difficult but requests that proof of date of birth be shown. Every effort will be made to keep siblings together. Further support is available from Cambridgeshire Race Equality and Diversity Service -Traveller Team on 01223 508700 (East and South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdon) or 01354 661804 (Fenland area).
What happens if my child is a minority ethnic child or has English as an Additional Language (EAL)?
Cambridgeshire is committed to helping minority ethnic parents apply for school places and to ensuring that their children have equal access and opportunity to educational provision. If you would like to talk to someone about your child’s need please contact the Cambridgeshire Race and Equality Diversity Service (CREDS) on 01480 375584.
How do I apply for a place in a nursery or sixth form?
For nursery places you need to contact the individual nursery. General information on pre-school provision is available from the Childcare Information Service on 0345 0454014. A copy of Cambridgeshire County Council’s admissions policy for nursery schools and classes is available here.
For sixth form places you need to contact the individual sixth form centre or college.
How do I apply for a place in an independent school or language college?
Should you wish to obtain further information on, or apply to, independent schools you need to contact the Independent Schools Council (ISCIS). The local email address for ISCIS is: east@iscic.uk.net, the web address is www.iscic-east.co.uk and the telephone number is 01263 710223. Details of language schools can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Can I change my child’s school even though I have not moved house?
Yes. You will need an In-Year school application form, available from this website or from the Admissions Team. Part one of the form is completed by you and part two by the head of the current school. When completed it should be sent into the Admissions Team who will consider the application.
Please state clearly the reason for the change of school request. Before making any application for a change of school please consider carefully whether any problems your child may have will be resolved by a move and any transport implications of the change. The LA will not provide transport for attendance at a school of parental preference if there is a place available at a nearer school.
Your child should continue to attend their current school whilst your application is considered
How do I make a complaint about the Admissions Team?
You should put your complaint in writing and send it to Clare Buckingham, Assistant Education Officer, Admissions, Office of Children and Young People’s Services, Box CC1206, Castle Court, Castle Hill, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0AP.
How do I find out about free school meals or uniform grants?
To find out about free school meal or uniform grant entitlement please call the Education Welfare Benefits Service on 01480 372307.
What happens if my child has a Statement of Special Educational Need?
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need and is already in mainstream education within Cambridgeshire you should complete the appropriate admissions form. We will approach your chosen school to ascertain the availability of places. You should receive a letter from us within ten working days advising you whether or not we can meet your preference.
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need and is not in a Cambridgeshire school at present you will receive an acknowledgement that your application has been received and your child’s details forwarded to our Student Assessment Service who will confirm that a mainstream school place is appropriate for your child. As we have to seek specialist input it may take more than ten working days before a school offer is made.
Where can I find an OfSTED report?
You would need to go to the OfSTED website - www.ofsted.gov.uk. Click on report and enter the name of the school. Please ensure that you select the school in the correct authority as there may be several schools nationwide with the same name.
What are the advantages of online applications?
They are quick and easy to do.
Confirmation that the form has been received will be sent to you by email.
The system helps by checking for errors.
There is no risk that the application will get lost in the post.
Details on the application can be changed right up until the closing date.
The system has a series of security procedures which will prevent anyone seeing information they are not entitled to see.
Applications can be made at any time – 24 hours a day seven days a week, up until the stated closing dates.