Admissions Policy for September 2007

TOLLBAR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE and HUMANITIES COLLEGE

Admissions Policy for September 2007

Tollbar BEC is a comprehensive college. The Governing Body is the admissions authority with responsibility for admissions and administering appeals.

The Governing Body welcomes children regardless of aptitude or ability.

1.	We will always give priority to those who have actually applied for a place over those who fulfil any of the criteria but have not actually applied.
2.	If the number of applications for places at the College is higher than the admission number set for that year group, we will use the following factors, priority order, to decide which students will be given places.
	(i)	Looked after children (children in public care).
	(ii)	Children who have a statement of special educational needs where the College is named in part IV of the statement.
	(iii)	Having brothers or sisters who are already at the College when your child is due to start there.
	(iv)	Living in the catchment area.
	(v)	Geographical. We will give priority to those living nearer to the College unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Criteria (v) is also used as a tie-breaker. Whenever two people have the same priority based on criteria (iii) or (iv) then the child who lives closest to the College will be given the higher priority.

B - Notes

1.  Looked after children

The definition of a ‘looked after child’ is a person under the age of 18 who is provided with accommodation by a local authority, acting in its social services capacity, for a continuous period of more than 24 hours, by agreement with the parents or is the subject of a relevant court order under part IV of the Childrens Act 1989. Children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements (respite care) are excluded.

2.  Children who have a statement of special education needs where the school is named in part IV of the statement

Those children will have undergone a statutory assessment of their special educational needs. Where a school is named in the statement the school must admit the child.

3.  Rules for sibling

Included in this factor are stepbrothers and sisters and half-brothers and sisters living at the same address and who will be attending the school at the expected time of admission.

The special cases of twins and triplets will be referred to the allocation panel if one is eligible for a place and other(s) is/are not. Generally the eldest will be given the place if a choice has to be made.

4.  Rules for residence

We have the right to investigate whether you live at the address you say you do and we may change any offer if incorrect information has been given.