Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question to reveal the answer.

Q. Can I apply for a school place and view my child's allocated school on-line?

A. Yes. You will be sent details of how to apply on-line with your child's application form, including unique log-on details. If you retain your log-on details, you will then be able to access the website and view your child's allocated school on the day the notification letters are sent.

Q. What happens if I do not apply for a school place for my child?

A. You are strongly advised to apply. If you do not apply for a place then your child will be offered a place at the nearest appropriate school that has places left after all the other applications have been dealt with.

Q. I only wish to apply for one school, is this OK?

A. You are strongly advised to submit 3 different preferences. If a place cannot be offered at your first preference school and you have not stated any other schools, your child will be offered a place in the nearest appropriate school that has places left after all the other applications have been dealt with.

Q. My child has a brother or sister already in my preferred school, will I automatically be offered a place?

A. No. You must fill in an application form. If you do not apply for the school, it may fill up with other children who have applied and you will not get a place at that school.

Q. I live in the admission zone of my preferred school, will I automatically be offered a place?

A. The LA will operate an equal preference system. Each school has a published admissions number, i.e. number of places available, and an admissions criteria. If there are less applications than the admission number, than all applications will be accepted and offered a place at that school. If there are more applications than places for a school, then the applications will be treated in the following manner:

    All preferences for a school, whether they are 1st, 2nd or 3rd preference, will be considered equally.
    The published admissions criteria for the school is applied to all preferences to rank, or sort, the applications in order.
    This ranked list of applications is then used to allocate places at the school up to the admission number.
    Parents are then offered a place at the school with the highest preference that can be met.

 

Q. Is the school admission appeal decision binding?

A. Yes it is, on both the admission authority and the parent. Parents only recourse is to the Local Government Ombudsman and would need to prove maladministration.

Q. What is a school admission appeal?

A. Every parent/guardian has the right to appeal against a decision not to offer a place. Appeals are heard by independent appeals panels. Panel makes a decision based on the case presented by the admissions authority and the parent/guardian.

Q. What happens if I am not offered my first preferred secondary school for my child?

A. A place will be offered at your highest ranked preference at which there are places. You will also be offered the right of appeal. If it is not possible to comply with any preferences submitted, a place will be offered at the nearest appropriate school with places.

Q. What happens if I submit a secondary school preference after the closing date?

A. All preferences submitted late will be considered after those received by the due date.

Q. What are the admission criteria?

A. Admissions criteria are the criteria by which places are allocated, at schools that are over-subscribed. Admissions criteria can and do vary from authority to authority.

Q. Who is the admissions authority?

A. For community Schools, it is Middlesbrough Council. For City Academies and Voluntary Aided (VA) schools it is the governing body or trustee board.

Q. What does consider preference mean?

A. Each school has an admission number which an admission authority has a duty to admit up to. If the number of preferences exceeds the admission number, the admission authority will consider these preferences against the school's published admissions criteria.

Q. Which school catchment zone do I live in?

A. To find out which school catchment zone your home address is in, please telephone Secondary Admissions on 01642 728094.