In September 2022, the school will have 270 places for our new intake of students. Eckington School observes the Local Authority (L.A.) scheme of Admissions. Outlined below is a summary of the Local Authority policy on admissions.

A complete version of the policy can be obtained from the Admissions Department in Derbyshire (tel: 01629 537479). Parents have the right under law to express a preference for a particular secondary school for their child. Information about each school is available in each school’s prospectus which is published annually.

You will receive a booklet from the L.A. about transfer to secondary education. It is vital that you use the form in that document to indicate your preferred secondary school. This applies equally for your catchment area school or some other secondary school. Ensure your choice is sent back to the L.A. by the date indicated on the document.

An online application is available from the Derbyshire County Council website as well as downloadable supporting documents.

If your child is attending secondary school and you are looking to move them to Eckington School, please contact us to discuss the possibility of a place and arrange a tour of the school.

Please contact Rebecca Price, Senior Leadership Team link for admissions on 01246 432849 or rebecca.priceaziz @eck.leap-mat.org.uk

 

Admissions Criteria for Eckington school

 

The planned admission number for the school is published annually. Currently the planned admission number for Eckington School is 270.

 

Places will be allocated up to the admission number in the following order of priority:

 

1. i) Individual pupils who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or/and Education, Health and Care Plan which names the school will be admitted.

 

1. ii) Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order).(see note b below for full definition of a looked after child)

 

• iii) Children attending the school’s main contributory primary schools that is Eckington Junior, Camm’s Endowed Primary, Renishaw Primary, Ridgeway Primary, Marsh Lane Primary, Killamarsh Junior, Killamarsh St Giles CE Primary and Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary (those pupils not proceeding to St Mary’s Catholic High School in Chesterfield) and who have older brothers or sisters (see Note**) already attending Eckington School at the time of application and admission.

 

1. iv) Children attending the school’s main contributory schools (as listed) at the time of application.

 

6. Children who have brothers or sisters (see Note**) already attending Eckington School at the time of application and admission. Children with an older brother or sister on the roll of the Academy will be considered as having a sibling if the older child is in Y11 or Y12 on the 30 November of Year 6.

 

1. v) Other children whose parents have requested a place.

 

 

If choices have to be made between children in categories (iii), (ii), (v) and (vi), children who live nearest to the Academy – measured by the standard straight line – will be given preference.

 

Any questions can be answered by Derbyshire County Council (DCC) Education Department (tel: 01629 537479).  On-line application is available from the DCC website as well as downloadable supporting documents.

 

Note**

 

1. a) The term brother or sister includes:-

• A half-brother and/or a half-sister
• A legally adopted child being regarded as a brother or sister
• A step-brother and/or step-sister residing in the same family unit

 

1. b) Looked after child – A ‘looked after child’ is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989)                at the time of making an application to a school. All previously looked after children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.  (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order).

 

In March, following notification of a secondary school place,  If you wish to appeal a decision on the allocated secondary school you should follow the advice offered in the notification letter.

The link below provides information on how to appeal and timescales.

 

Secondary school appeals guidance – Derbyshire County Council

 

 

In Year Transfers to Eckington School

 

You should read the following information before submitting a request for a transfer of         School/Academy.

1. a) What is an in-year application?

An in-year application is for children requiring a school place during the academic year,   rather than at the usual transfer time to school.

You are advised to contact your child’s current Head Teacher to discuss your intention to                apply for another School/Academy place before applying for a school transfer.

Please do not apply directly to Eckington School. Completed application forms for a place should be returned to Derbyshire County Council – School Admissions who will liaise with Eckington School.  However, we do suggest you contact Rebecca Price at Eckington School to discuss an application and make an appointment to look around the school before applying.

If there is more than one child on your application form each child will be considered on an individual basis. If a child is offered a place in a school, it does not guarantee a place at that school for any other child in the family.

If you are not moving to a new house but wish your child to transfer school, please             complete the in-year school transfer form.  We may contact your child’s current school       on receipt of your application for up-to date information on your child’s academic record, attendance and any special needs they may have to assist with the transfer.

Until the transfer arrangements have been approved it is expected that your child will continue to attend their present school.

1. b) Consideration of in-year transfers

Admissions will normally be agreed up to the published admission number (PAN) which applied for the normal year (Year 7) of intake or the current admission number (CAN). The current admission number is the maximum number of pupil we can accommodate in each year group based on the class organisation and size within the school for each academic year.

Note The Admissions Code 2021 allows, under Section 3.10, an admission authority to refuse admission for a pupil with challenging behaviour and to refer the child to the Local Authority Fair Access Panel. This provision can only be used where the school has a high proportion of either other children with challenging behaviour or previously excluded pupils and it considers admitting the pupil would prejudice the provision of efficient education or efficient use of resources.

1. b) Applying for a place in year 10 or year 11

Performance and level of achievement/attainment are adversely affected each time a child experiences a transfer to a new school.  Avoidable and unnecessary changes should be carefully considered and parents need to be aware of the consequence of moving schools in key groups such as year 10 and year 11.

It may be difficult to offer courses compatible with your previous school. However,            schools/academies are not able to refuse to admit children because they followed a     different curriculum at their previous school.

1. c) Application Forms

You can submit your application by making an on-line application on the Derbyshire School Website – Changing Schools           . (see website information below).  You can make    a telephone application through Call Derbyshire. Tel: 01629 533190. Or request a paper application form (form AF5) tel: 01629 537499.

1. d) Moving to a new address

If you are moving, please apply in advance of your move to reduce the risk of your child   being out of school while your application is processed. You will need to provide details of your new address and when you intend to move. You will be asked for proof of your new address.

1. e) Timescales

The Derbyshire School Admissions Team will record all in-year transfer applications and   will forward your application via secure email to your preferred school for consideration.

We aim to respond within 10 school days to your request to transfer school. We are          however, required to respond to all in-year transfer requests within a maximum of 15 school days from date of receipt of the application.

Parents will receive a letter in writing confirm the outcome of their application. Where it is not possible to offer a school/academy place parents will be informed of their ‘Right of     Appeal’ and advised how to make an appeal. Derbyshire County Council has established an independent Appeals Panel to hear such appeals. If you wish to appeal you must do so within 20 school days of receipt of your refusal letter. Appeal forms and guidance notes are available from the Derbyshire School Admissions Team.

The link below provides further information on Derbyshire County Council’s appeal process and time scales.

Secondary school appeals guidance – Derbyshire County Council

It is not possible to process any applications during school holidays and your application will be considered as soon as Eckington School re-opens.

You can apply up to one term in advance of the date when you would like your child to start at the preferred school.  Parents seeking a transfer of school in the following September can apply from the 1st May onwards. Any application for admission in the following September which is received prior to this date will be put on hold and considered as having been received on 1st May.

Useful links

The Derbyshire County Council website for in-year transfers can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/school-places/changing-schools