Mid-year Secondary admissions
Application for a change of school
Moving your child to another secondary school is a very serious step to take. It is important that you consider whether a transfer is really the best option.
Many year groups in Walsall secondary schools are full and you are advised to contact the Choice Adviser or the Secondary School Admissions Team regarding possible vacancies. If you are not offered a place at your preferred school you will have the right to appeal, but this process can take in excess of six weeks.
Choice advisor
If you have any questions about the secondary school transfer process and would like independent advice, please contact the Choice Adviser.
Choice Advisor
Walsall Children's Services
Education Development Centre
Pelsall Lane
Rushall
Walsall
WS4 1NG
Telephone 01922 686477
Fax: 01922 686374
Email choice-advice@walsallcs.serco.com
What is the procedure if I am moving house?
If your move involves the purchase of a property then you will need to provide appropriate written evidence in the form of a letter from your solicitor stating that contracts have been exchanged and giving the completion date. A letter of intention to purchase is not sufficient.
If your move involves the renting of a property, you will need to provide appropriate independent written evidence (e.g. from an estate agent or a solicitor) or the signed tenancy agreement or lease including the start and end date. You will also need to provide appropriate written evidence (in the form of a letter from your solicitor or estate agent) confirming the sale of your existing property, or a letter confirming that your previous tenancy agreement has come to an end.
If your move involves you returning to live in a property that you already own, you will need to provide appropriate written evidence of the date that you will resume living in the property and that you intend living there for the foreseeable future. If you have rented this property out, please provide evidence that you have given your tenants notice to leave.
If your move involves any other circumstances, you will need to provide appropriate written independent evidence of the date you started living there and the length of time you envisage staying there. We may also need to see your Child Benefit or Working Family Tax Credit record to confirm that the child is resident at the relevant address.
Please note that unless the written evidence you provide proves, to the satisfaction of the Secondary School Admissions Team, that you have moved to the address indicated, we will not be able to consider your application from your new address. In certain circumstances we may ask an Education Welfare Officer to visit you to verify that you are resident at the address you state on your application form.
What to do if your child is experiencing difficulties at school
Before making a change of school application you must contact your child’s current school to arrange an appointment with the Head Teacher, Head of Year or your child’s form tutor/class teacher to discuss a possible course of action. You may ask to see the school’s ‘Anti-Bullying Policy’. If you have already removed your child from their current school, you must contact your Education Welfare Team to seek assistance and support. If, after all of the above, the matter has not been resolved, you can complete a change of school application form. You will need to take the form to your child’s current or most recent school in order for them to complete Section 2. If the circumstances are complex it will take longer to process the application.
Applications for pupils in Year 10 and 11
Moving children after they have started in Year 10 puts them at a disadvantage. It is unlikely that the same GCSE options will be available and schools often follow different courses. Unless a house move means that travel to the current school is impossible, it will be very difficult to process a transfer request in these year groups. We will need to know the subjects being studied, the examination boards and predicted grades.
My child has a statement of special educational needs
You should not fill in a change of school application form. Please ring the Special Educational Needs Assessment, Policy and Planning Service on 01922 686385 for further advice.
My child is not a citizen of the United Kingdom or the European Union
If you are a citizen of the UK or European Union your child will be entitled to an education in this country. If not, we will need to see a copy of your passport and visa proving your right to remain and that your child is entitled to an education.
I am not the child’s legal guardian
If you have parental rights to the child but not parental responsibility, you must get the person who has parental responsibility to make the application. If this is not possible you must provide independent written evidence to verify this. If the child is in public care please provide written evidence from Social Services.
Preferences
You may name up to two Walsall community schools or voluntary controlled schools on your form and you should rank them in order of preference. If you wish to research any school further you will find recent Ofsted reports at www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports and government school performance tables at www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables.
The application process
When we have received all the necessary information and documents, we will liaise with the school/s named on your form. If a school place can be offered, a letter will be sent to you, advising you to contact the school and who to contact.
What happens if a place is not available
If a place is not available at any of your preferred schools, a letter will be sent to you advising you of this and of your right of appeal. Appeals are held within approximately 6 weeks, but not during school holiday periods. If you are offered the right of appeal during the second half of the summer term, an appeal may not be held until the new term in September.
Voluntary aided schools
Voluntary aided schools administer their own mid-year admissions. Information is enclosed, explaining the status of all Walsall secondary schools, giving contact details for the schools that process their own admissions.
Contact us
Secondary School Admissions
Planning, Admissions and Transport Unit
Education Development Centre
Pelsall Lane
Rushall
Walsall
WS4 1NG
Telephone 01922 686355 or 01922 686357
Fax 01922 686374 FAO Planning, Admissions and Transport Unit
Email secondary.admissions@walsallcs.serco.com