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• Secondary school admissions policy

Secondary school admissions

Deciding which secondary school to choose is one of the most important decisions carers / parents and young people have to make. We want to make sure that the move from primary to secondary is as smooth as possible.  It is important to have all of the information available to enable you, with your child, to take an informed decision about the school you would prefer them to attend. Coventry also has a Choice Adviser, who is able to work with parents/carers and young people to assist them with this process.

• Starting Secondary in 2011
• In-Year (Mid-term) Transfers

Latest News

Open evenings - If your child is starting Secondary school in September 2011, schools will be opening their doors in the coming months for you to visit them. You can find all the dates and times for open days/evenings here. Do take the opportunity to visit schools, as it will help you make your preferences for your child in September, when the application process starts.

Starting Secondary in September 2010?

Applications have now closed for entry to Secondary school in September 2010. If you haven't submitted an application form, please do so ASAP - if you need a form, contact the admissions team (02476 831577)

Anybody who has made a preference for a school has been allocated a place now. If you still are unsure about where your child will be going in September, contact the above number.

Starting Secondary in September 2011?

Applications for Secondary school places will be accepted from the start of September 2010. You will receive information from your primary school in the Autumn Term in form of a leaflet to take you through how to apply. Applying online will be available from September 1 - 31 October 2010. Application forms and information booklets will be available from the Admissions & Benefits team from 13 September, and a small number will be available from your Primary school.

If you are a Coventry resident but your child is attending a school outside of the city, you will still need to complete a Coventry form either online or by requesting a form form the admissions and benefits team.  

We aim to make sure that you have the best chance of securing a place at the school of your choice. In 2010, we managed to offer 87.4% of children their first preference. Many schools, however, receive more applications than there are places available. Each school  has developed a set of criteria (see admission policies for entry to Secondary school in 2011/12) which help determine how the available places are allocated. These arrangements must be fair and unbiased and follow the requirements of the Government's Code of Practice for Admissions. 

Please Note:

Coventry operates a co-ordinated scheme for secondary admission arrangements. This means that we administer applications for all maintained schools in Coventry, as well as exchanging applications with other local authorities e.g. Solihull and Warwickshire.

How do I make an application?

From September 1 2010, parents and children can start applying for a Secondary school school place at a Local Authority Community, Academy, Trust, Catholic or Church of England Secondary School within Coventry, for entry in September 2011.  The booklet "Secondary Education in Coventry 2011"  has details about how to make an application, and will be available online from September 1st 2010. Some paper copies will also be available on request from the Admissions and Benefits team.

Applying online is even easier this year, so just follow the simple instructions on screen and find out your allocated school before those who apply by paper copy! If you do encounter any issues, there is a User Guide designed to take you through each step of the process.

Please remember to do this by 31 October 2010. Any applications received after this date will be considered late and won't be considered for a place until all on time application shave been processed.

In order to help you decide which schools you apply for, it is highly recommended that you visit the schools. Each school will be holding an Open day/evening, the dates of which you can find here. For more information/questions about individual schools, you could use the Choice Adviser,  have a look at some of the frequently asked questions, which also cover any queries you may have about the application process and/or the "myth busting" section which looks to challenge popular myths that surround applying for schools.

How do I make an appeal?

If your application for a school is unsuccessful, you have the right to have your case heard by an Independent Appeals Panel. Follow this link for more information about the appeals process.

Application Timetable

Further advice

If you are in need of more advice or guidance at any time during the process, you can:

• contact the headteacher of your current school
• call into the Children, Learning and Young People's directorate, which is located in Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RS.  The staff who can help you are available from 8.30am to 5.00pm (except on Fridays when the offices close at 4.30pm).
• Speak to the Choice Adviser

In-Year (Mid-Term) Transfers

The City Council sets the rules for admission for community and voluntary controlled schools and the governors of voluntary aided schools set the rules for their schools. Our booklet Secondary Education in Coventry 2010 gives you information about applying for a school place and gives details about schools that are available in the city. Further information about each school can be found in its prospectus, which can be obtained either direct from the school or from the Children, Learning and Young People's directorate. Arrangements can be made to visit individual schools by contacting the headteacher.

If you are looking to transfer to another Coventry school outside of the usual admission round (i.e. Year 6 to Year 7), you will need to contact the Admissions team on 024 7683 1573. The decision to transfer schools should not be taken lightly, and may not be in your child's best interests. Please look here for things to think about. Arrangements for in-year transfers will be co-ordinated by the Local Authority from September 2010. Admission policies for 2010/11 will be used in allocating places for any schools requested.

• View the in-year transfer policy (Word document)

If you are currently living in the UK and would like to apply for a place at a Coventry school, please contact the number above or complete the In-Year Secondary application form and return.

If you are currently living abroad but are intending to come to Coventry and need a Secondary school place, you will only be able to apply once you have arrived in the country and have a residential address. Once you have arrived contact the Admissions and Benefits Team on 024 7683 1573.

Contact details

Downloadable documents

About PDFs and Accessibility

•  Blue Coat In-Year Application Form Church Place (Christian) (78 kb)
•  Blue Coat In-year Application Form Open Place (Non Christian)  (67 kb)
•  Blue Coat Church Place Forms 2011 (Christian)  (77 kb)
•  Blue Coat Open Place Form 2011 (non-Christian Faith)  (60 kb)
•  Secondary Booklet 2010 (2010 kb)