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Home: Children and families: Parents and carers: School admissions: Secondary

Admission to secondary school - Other information

School Admissions - September 2011
schooladmissions@kirklees.gov.uk


Choice Advice Service
Choosing a secondary school can be a difficult and stressful time for families.

The Choice Advice Service provides free, impartial advice and support to help you through the admission process.
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Advisory Centre for Education
The Advisory Centre for Education provides free, independent advice on the admissions process and various education issues including bullying, exclusion, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and attendance.

For advice:
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Examination entries
All our high schools are centres where pupils can sit the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and some other public examinations. If a pupil has studied a subject in class and can complete the course, the school will normally enter that pupil for the examination and pay the fee. We discourage entering a pupil for two examinations in the same subject (double entry).

You may have to pay the fee when a pupil who is entered for an examination does not sit it without a good reason.
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Choices after school-leaving age
In Kirklees, students have a range of opportunities to continue their education after the age of 16. We have five schools with sixth forms and there are three colleges: Greenhead College, Huddersfield New College and Kirklees College, which has centres in Dewsbury and Huddersfield. All sixth forms and colleges offer 'A' levels and most now offer vocational courses. If students' needs cannot be met locally, there are other colleges outside Kirklees.
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Kirklees In-year Fair Access protocol
Kirklees has an In-year Fair Access Protocol, which exists to ensure that unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. The Fair Access Protocol also ensures that all schools in the authority admit their fair share of children with challenging behaviour. This includes admitting children above the published admission number to schools that are already full.

All Kirklees schools participate in the protocol, which provides a safety net for those children for whom the normal admission arrangements are not appropriate.
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School meals (including free school meals and packed meals)
All schools provide a 2 course hot midday meal for any pupil who wishes to use the service. Most schools offer a wide choice of menu and meet the current national nutritional guideline. The menus are designed to meet cultural and religious requirements. Modified diets can be provided if supported by an approved diet sheet and agreed with the headteacher. Primary pupils generally pay for meals at the start of the week, currently £1.85 a day for a 2 course meal.
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Home-to-school transport
Conditions for assistance with school transport, application and renewal forms and other information.
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Special educational needs
Some children may have special educational needs. Whether these arise because of a physical, emotional or intellectual need, they should be identified as early as possible.
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School governor service
Every Kirklees school has a governing body consisting of 9 to 20 governors.
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Attendance & Pupil Support Officers
Attendance & Pupil Support Officers (APSOs) provide advice and support for families of school-age children whose education is at risk and give advice to schools about the education welfare needs of young people. They work closely with schools, young people, parents and other services to promote regular school attendance. If your child is not attending school or is experiencing any difficulties, you should discuss your concerns with school staff who may suggest an APSO is able to help.
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Charges for school activities
Generally education is free. There are a few things that can be charged for, such as wasted examination fees or overnight accommodation charges. The local authority has a policy on charges and the governors of each school decide whether they accept it or have a policy of their own.
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Support for students over 16
From 1 January 2011, the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme closed to new applicants. The 16-19 Bursary Fund has been put in place for those between 16 and 19 year old who might stuggle with the cost of full-time education or trianing.

If you're aged between 16 and 19 and think you might struggle with the costs for full-tim education or training you may receive a bursary.

Students most in need will be eligible to receive a bursary of £1,200 a year. This group includes
  • people in care
  • care leavers
  • people claiming income support
  • disabled young people who receive Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Other students facing genuine financial difficulties may be awarded a bursary at the discretion of their school, college or training provider.

Unlike the EMA, schools, colleges and training providers will be responsible for awarding bursaries to students. With the exception of the £1,200 bursaries for students most in need, they decide the amount. They will also decide when bursaries are paid, and will set conditions that students should meet to receive a bursary, for example, linked to behaviour or attendance.

For further details visit:
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Employment of school children and entertainment licences
We have a Child Employment Officer who advises parents, young people, schools and employers on issues about employing schoolchildren. Children under the age of 13 should not be employed and any child aged between 13 and 16 who has a job must be registered with the local authority and have a work permit.

Young people who take part in any type of performance, fashion show, television work, and so on, must also be licensed by the local authority in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act of 1963.
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Insurance
Kirklees Council has public liability insurance which provides compensation for pupils and other people if it can be shown that an accident was the fault of the council or of people working for it. Otherwise, pupils are not insured for accidental injury.

Personal accident cover for pupils while at school is at the discretion of the head teacher, and governors of an individual school. Some schools take out cover limited to off-site activities, while others cover both off-site and on-site activities. Other schools take out no cover. The local authority is not obliged to provide this cover, and generally speaking the position is that pupils are not insured for accidental injury. Parents should enquire at individual schools for confirmation of the position.

An insurance broker will advise you if you wish to take out private insurance for injury or loss of possessions.
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Personal belongings
Kirklees Council cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to a pupil's belongings unless the school has clearly accepted possession of them. Pupils should not bring anything expensive to school unless it is necessary. Things like mobile phones, musical instruments and computers or games should be privately insured.
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How to complain
You can get details of each school's curriculum complaints procedures from the school. If you wish to discuss other concerns with the school you should make an appointment with the head teacher. Most problems can be resolved in this way. If you are still not satisfied, you should write to the head teacher, explaining why you are dissatisfied and request a reply in writing. If you are still not satisfied, you can write to the chair of governors (care of the school), explaining your concern, asking for an investigation by the governors' Complaints Committee.

In the unlikely event the governors Complaints' Committee cannot resolve the problem, the chair of governors will request the local authority to carry out an investigation of your complaint.
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