School places for September 2012
Children of statutory school age (born 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008) are eligible to a place at primary school for the school year starting September 2012.
How to apply for a place
From September 2011, you can apply online for a primary school place via our Online Admissions site or by completing the Primary Application Form (1P) and returning it to the headteacher of your first preference school by the deadline of 16 January 2012 (see advice below if applying for a place after the deadline). Please refer to information in the booklet: Admission to School - Academic Year 2012-13 - Advice to Parents.
Barnsley residents
You can include up to three schools on your common application form. These can be any community, voluntary controlled or voluntary aided schools in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield or Kirklees. If you are applying to a voluntary aided school, you must also ask the school for their supplenentary information form and complete and return it to the voluntary aided school. You must ensure that the school completes and gives you the receipt for your common application form, which must be retained. To apply for a primary school in another authority you must contact that authority for details of their admission policies and procedures.
You must rank the schools, stating your first, second and third preference.
The completed form must be handed in at your first preference school or sent to the Directorate for Children, Young People and Families by the closing date: 16 January 2012 for a place from September 2012.
Non-Barnsley residents
Contact your local admissions section for a copy of its advice booklet and complete the form in this booklet. Do not use the form issued by Barnsley.
To apply for a place in any authority other than Barnsley you must contact that authority for details of their admission policies and procedures.
Applying for a place after the January 2012 deadline
If you missed the deadline for applying for a place you should complete a common application form and send it to the Admissions Officer at the Directorate for Children, Young People and Families. Your application will be dealt with once the initial allocation of places is complete.
Transferring during the school year
Transferring schools can be disruptive to learning so parents are asked to avoid in-year transfers wherever possible. If you want to transfer because of difficulties at your child's current school, please contact the school first to see if the problem can be tackled another way. If you want to continue, please complete the Common Transfer Form : Primary and return it to the Admissions Officer, PO Box 634, Barnsley S70 9GG.
The authority can refuse an application if admission would impact on efficient education and efficient use of resources, for example, if the admission number of pupils had been reached for a year group and admitting more pupils to a class would have a detrimental effect.
You will normally receive a letter within three school weeks, informing you whether or not your transfer request has been successful.
If you do not wish to accept an offered place you must write and tell the Admissions Section within 10 working days.
What happens next
The Admissions Section will process your common application form in accordance with over subscription criteria and identify whether there are places at your preferred schools. If places are available at more than one school on your form, you will be offered a place at the school ranked highest on the common application form. You will be sent a letter offering a place on 11 April 2012.
Your child's name will also be placed on the waiting list of any school you ranked higher than the school offered but where a place is not immediately available. You must also inform the Admissions Section if you wish your child's name to be placed on the waiting list of any schools ranked lower than the offered school.
If a place is not available at any of the three schools you listed and your child lives in Barnsley, you will be allocated a place at the community or voluntary controlled school with places available, nearest to your child's regular address. Your child's name will also be placed on the waiting list for your preferred schools.
If you do not wish to accept an offered place you must write and tell the Admissions Section within 10 working days.
Appeals
If you are not offered a place at any of your preferred schools, you can appeal to an independent appeal panel. To do this you have to complete a Notice of Appeal form, which can be obtained from, and returned to, the Admissions Officer. You must ask for the form by 25 April 2012 and return it by 11 May 2012. Appeals will be held in May and June 2012. The authority must comply with infant class size legislation, and this may determine the type of appeal.
How to contact us
Admissions Officer
Directorate for Children, Young People and Families
Postal address: PO Box 634, Barnsley S70 9GG
Telephone: 01226 773689 / 773588 / 773677 / 773506 Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm
Fax: 01226 773682
Email: admissions@barnsley.gov.uk
Independent appeal process: 01226 773451
For queries relating to:
| Doncaster schools | Admissions and Pupil Services PO Box 266, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster DN1 3AD Telephone: 01302 737204 / 737234 |
| Kirklees schools | School Admissions Second Floor, Hight Street Buildings, High Street Huddersfield HD1 2NF Telephone: 0148 225007 / 225008 / 225009 |
| Rotherham schools | Admissions and Appeals Section Children and Young People's Services, Norfolk House, Walker Place, Rotherham S65 1AS Telephone: 01709 254826/822647 |
| Sheffield schools | Admissions Team Floor 3, Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2SH Telephone: 0114 2735790 |
| Wakefield schools | School Admissions City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Family Services, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QL Telephone: 01924 305616 / 305617 / 305619 /305789 / 306766 |
Application form references
- Primary Application Form (1P).
- Common Transfer Form : Primary
- Additional information form also to be completed if applying for a voluntary aided school. This form is obtained from and returned to the school.
Equalities impact assessment
Leaflets
- Admission to School - Academic Year 2012-13 - Advice to Parents
- Admission to Junior School - Academic Year 1012-13 - Advice to Parents
- Appeals Procedure for Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools
- Appeals Procedure for Voluntary Aided Primary Schools
- List of Barnsley Schools
- Admission Arrangements for Community/Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools 2011-12
- Admission Arrangements for Community/Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools 2012-13
- Co-ordinated Scheme for Admission to Primary Schools 2011-12
- Co-ordinated Scheme for Admission to Primary Schools 2012-13
Consultation
- Draft Admission Arrangements 2013-2014 for consulation
- Draft Co-ordinated Scheme 2013-2014 for consulation
- Draft Admission Arrangements for Carlton and Royston Learning Co-operative Schools 2013-14
Admission arrangements for voluntary aided schools 2011-12
|
School |
Admission |
Admission |
| Dodworth St John the Baptist Primary | ||
| Elsecar Holy Trinity Primary | ||
| Holy Cross Deanery Primary | ||
| Holy Rood Catholic Primary | ||
| Holy Trinity | ||
| Penistone St John the Baptist CE Primary | ||
| Royston St John Baptist Primary | ||
| Sacred Heart Catholic Primary | ||
| St Dominic's Catholic Primary | ||
| St Helen's Catholic Primary | ||
| St Mary's Primary | ||
| St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary | ||
| Tankersley St Peter's Primary | ||
| The Ellis |
Legislation
- School Standards and Framework Act 1998
- Education Act 2002
- School Admissions Code of Practice
- School Admissions Appeals Code of Practice
Websites
How you can help
- You can help by supplying accurate information and completing all sections of the common application form.
- Forms and letters should be signed by parent/guardian. Proof of guardianship may be required.
- You may be asked to provide proof that you have changed your address.
Documents may include:
- a tenancy agreement;
- a solicitor's letter confirming exchange of contract.
You may be asked to provide copies of at least two documents confirming that your child is registered at your address.
Documents may include:
- child benefit book;
- information relating to Working Tax Credit/Childcare Tax Credit;
- letter from a local doctor;
- hospital appointment letter;
- letter from dentist;
- child's bank statement;
- medical card.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the more frequently asked questions with a brief answer. A more detailed answer can be found within the different sections of the Advice to Parents booklet.
I live in Barnsley, how do I apply for a primary school place?
To apply for a school in Barnsley and/or any other authority complete the common application form. If your child currently attends a Barnsley primary school, you should return the common application form to the headteacher of your child's current school. If your child attends a school outside Barnsley, you should return the common application form to the Admissions Officer.
I do not live in Barnsley, how do I apply for a primary school place?
To apply for a Barnsley school, complete the common application form in your own local education authority's Admission Booklet.
How many schools can I apply for?
You can apply for three schools within Barnsley and/or schools in any other authority on the common application form.
How do I complete the common application form?
Once you've decided on your three schools, you then need to decide which is your preferred school, and write it in the 1st preference box, write your second preference school in the 2nd preference box, and your third preference school in the 3rd preference box.
How do I complete the common application form?
Once you've decided on your three schools, you then need to decide which is your preferred school and write it in the 1st preference box, write your second preference school in the 2nd preference box, and your third preference school in the 3rd preference box.
When can I hand in my common application form?
You can hand it in anytime after receiving this booklet, but no later than the closing date of 16 January 2012.
Can I apply for just one school?
Yes you can, BUT it is strongly recommended by the authority that you apply for three schools. Naming only one school or writing the same school three times will not increase your chances of being offered a place at that school.
When will my child start school?
Your child will be offered a full time school place to start in September 2012. If you do not want your child to start full time in September 2012, a range of other options are available. Contact the School Admissions Section for details.
What if I want to apply for a voluntary aided (VA) school in Barnsley or Wakefield/Sheffield/Doncaster/Kirklees?
Complete the common application form with your three preferences including the VA school and return it to the headteacher of your first preference school. You must also obtain a supplementary information form from the individual Voluntary Aided school, complete the form, and return it to them by the closing date.
What if I miss the closing date for handing in my common application form?
You must return your common application form to the Admissions Officer. It will be dealt with after all applications received by the closing date.
What happens if I don't complete the Barnsley common application form?
You will not be offered a school place in Barnsley
Can I change my mind after I have sent my common application form in?
Yes, but what you need to do depends on whether you change your mind before or after the closing date. Contact the Admissions Team.
When do you apply the oversubscription criteria?
The oversubscription criteria are applied when the number of applications exceed the admission number for the school.
How is it decided that the year group is full?
When the number of offers reaches the admission number. A full list of admission numbers can be found in the Advice to Parents booklet.
How will you decide at which school I am offered a place?
You will be offered a place at the highest ranked school where your child is eligible for admission.
What are the oversubscription criteria for Barnsley schools?
Children who have a statement of special educational needs which names the school are required to be admitted. For community and voluntary controlled schools, priority will be given in the following order:
- children in public care
- children who will have brothers or sisters in school at the time of admission
- children living nearest to school (distance measured in a straight line).
Voluntary aided schools and schools in neighbouring authorities will have different admissions criteria - see the Advice to Parents Booklet.
What happens if you cannot offer a place at any of my preferred schools?
If your child lives in Barnsley, a place will be offered at the nearest community or voluntary controlled school to your ordinary place of residence with places available.
Can I go on a waiting list for the schools where I wasn't offered a place?
Children will automatically be placed on a waiting list for any school which is ranked higher than the school for which an offer has been made. No child will be placed on the waiting list of any school ranked lower than the school at which they were offered a place unless a written request is made to the Admissions Officer.
Is there anything I can do if I am not offered a place any of my preferred schools?
You can appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel.
How do I make an appeal?
You need to request, complete and return a Notice of Appeal. Once you've informed us of your intention to appeal we will send you a separate booklet - 'Procedure for Admissions to School Appeals', Information to Parents' - giving you all the information you need.
What if my appeal fails?
You have no further right of appeal for your child's admission during the academic year 2012/2013. If you are unhappy with the school that you have been offered you can contact the School Admissions Section for details of other schools with vacancies.
Reference: PID13
