Receiving you allocation letter - What happens next?

Secondary Transfer FAQs

When will I get my email?

If you have applied online and requested an email confirmation, the emails will be sent to your original email address from 9am on Tuesday 1^st March. Due to volume of emails, it may be a few hours until you receive it. You will still receive a paper copy of your allocation letter and reply form posted to your home address.

How can I check the allocated school online?

If you have applied online, you can login to your account and view your allocated school from 00:01am on Monday 1^st March. If you have forgotten your password, we are unable to resend your private password to you. You will still receive a paper copy of your allocation letter and reply form posted to your home address.

I didn't apply online but can you email me a copy of my letter?

We are unable to send a copy of the allocation letter to an email address. You will still receive a paper copy of the allocation letter and reply form posted to your home address.

Can you tell me my allocated school over the telephone?

No, we can not tell you the allocated school over the telephone.

What if I am not happy with what I have been offered?

If you are unhappy with the offer made, you can ask to be reconsidered for one of your original preferences. We will then add your child's name onto a waiting list and if places become available, further offers will be made following the admissions criteria of the school. At this stage we cannot take individual circumstances into account. If you do add more schools to your reply form, please ensure you clearly state your new order of preferred schools.

Should I decline my offered school place?

Please do not decline the offered school place without careful consideration – as once you have refused this place, it may be offered to another pupil.

How come I have been offered a school I didn't apply for?

We ensure that every pupil is offered a place at a school. If we are unable to offer one of your preferred school(s) we will offer you a place at the nearest school to your home address with a space available.

Do I have to accept the place offered?

We strongly encourage you to accept the school place offered, even if you go on another school's waiting list, to be sure your child has a school place in September 2011.

Where am I on the waiting list?

We will draw up the waiting lists as we receive the reply forms back. We will not be in a position to let you know the waiting list positions until after 31^st March 2011.

How do I accept the place or ask for reconsideration?

If you are happy with your offered school, please complete your reply form accepting the place and return to us no later than 14th March.

You may accept your offered school place, and still ask for reconsideration for a higher preferred school on your list. Please show this on your reply form, and return the form to us no later than 14th March.

When will you reconsider my request for a school place?

You should return your reply form on time, by 14^th March. You will be informed of the outcome of the reconsideration after 31^st March.

If you offer me my preferred school, what next?

If you have your application reconsidered for a preferred school and a place can be offered, your original offer will be withdrawn and given to another child immediately. This place then cannot be offered back to you. If you require the original offer back, you may have to go onto a waiting list which will be in accordance with the school's admission criteria.

If you do not offer me my preferred school, what next?

If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place at the reconsideration stage, you have a legal right to appeal if you think you have exceptional circumstances supporting why your child should have a place at your preferred school. Your letter detailing the outcome of the reconsideration will advise you who to contact to begin the appeals process. The appeals procedure involves completing and returning an appeal form. The appeals will usually be held between May - July.

We strongly recommend that you accept the school place offered, even if you are intending to appeal for another school. This ensures that your child has a school place in September 2011 if your appeal is unsuccessful.