Reasons and Appeals Secondary Transfer 2021

If you have made an application online and have received offer information telling you that you have been unsuccessful in gaining a place at one of your preferred schools please read the information on this page.

The information is for those applicants who received their offer information online. When you have read this information please log in to your online form to respond to your offer.

If you accept the place at your allocated school you can still opt to remain on the waiting list and appeal for your preferred school(s). You should not wait for the outcome of any appeal submitted before accepting the place offered at your allocated school.

This application process follows the requirements of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This is in relation to the Local Authority’s obligations to meet parental preferences where possible, without compromising the provision of efficient education and the use of resources.

Find details of the criteria of the last place allocated in oversubscribed schools.

In this section you will find information on waiting list and appeals in relation to any application(s) which have been unsuccessful for a Portsmouth school.

1. You must respond to your offer by Thursday 11 March. If you wish your child to remain on any waiting lists after this date you must indicate this in your response – otherwise your child’s name will be removed.
If you indicate you wish to remain on the waiting list your child’s name will be held on the waiting list until August 2022.
If you have any change of circumstance, such as a change of address, or a change of school through the in-year application process for your child or a sibling, please contact the Admissions Team immediately as this could impact on the position your child holds on a school’s waiting list.

2. In addition, you now have the right to make an appeal to an independent panel against the decision not to allocate a place to your child at your preferred school(s).

If you wish to appeal, please contact the Admissions Team on receipt of this letter to request an appeal form.

Please note you will need to return your appeal form by Wednesday 31 March to be included in appeals being held during the summer term.

Please refer to pages 19-20, and 80 of the Information for Parents 2021-2022 booklet.

You can also access further information and download an appeal form from the council website.

Unsuccessful for a school outside of Portsmouth

We do not operate waiting lists for schools in Hampshire or other schools outside of Portsmouth. Please contact the relevant Local Authority directly for details on waiting lists and how to appeal.

If you require further information or guidance for this process, please contact the Admissions Service:

Email: admissions@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Tel: 023 9268 8008 (Initial contact will be the City Helpdesk)

Address:
Education – Inclusion Service
Admissions Team
Core 5, Floor 2
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
Hants
PO1 2EA

• St Edmund’s Catholic School – start date Monday 10 May – Friday 14 May
• Admiral Lord Nelson School Monday – Tuesday 4 May & Wednesday 5 May

Please note that all secondary appeals for appeals lodged by 31/3/21 will be held during May.

On-time applications – 1 March 2021

You will only be eligible for assistance with travelling expenses to get your child to school if:

• you meet the distance criteria as set out in the Portsmouth City Council Home to School Transport Policy and
• your child has been offered a place at their catchment school or have been allocated an alternative place at the next nearest school to your home.

Please note that it is a requirement of the policy that you have included your catchment school(s) in your application.

Families on Low Income

Parents/carers (with whom child resides) are in receipt of a qualifying benefit which meets the criteria for low income and:

• the child is allocated a place at one of the three nearest secondary schools to the home address and the distance between home and school is between 2 and 6 miles
  or
• the child is allocated a place at a secondary school on grounds of religious belief and the distance between the home and school is between 2 and 6 miles. Evidence of baptism, or a letter from your religious leader will be required before transport can be awarded on grounds of religious belief.

To apply for travelling assistance please collect a form from your child’s current school (forms will be available in May 2021) or forms can be downloaded from the Portsmouth City Council website.

Please note we will be unable to advise you over the telephone if you are eligible for travel assistance, you will need to complete the application form and return it to the Civic Offices.