Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
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Secondary School Admissions

Information and guidance about applying for secondary school places in the Vale of Glamorgan

 

If your child is attending Year 6 of a Vale Primary or Junior School and is due to transfer to a Secondary school  in September, you will receive a letter from the relevant admission authority advising you of the process.

 

Admissions to secondary schools will normally be granted provided a schools admission number is not exceeded. Where the number of applications for admission to a school exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated by applying the published Admission Criteria. 

 

It is a legal requirement for all parents to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend/transfer to. You can express three preferences and it is recommended that one of these should be your catchment school. You are required to use all the preferences available to you in order to secure a secondary school place for your child for September 2024 as places were very limited last year. For Welsh Medium education, please note that you are not required to submit three preferences of school. If you wish for your child to attend Welsh Medium Secondary school, please select the only welsh medium secondary school, Ysgol Bro Morgannwg as the school of preference.

 

Key Dates

Transfer to Secondary School September 2024

 

Opening Date: 22 September 2023

Closing Date: 24 November 2023

Offer Date: 01 March 2024

 

Secondary 2024 Application Letter

 

Parental Guide to School Admissions 2024/25

 

 Login 

 

You can apply for a secondary school place online when admissions are open.

 

Use the online school applications system to:

  • Create an account if you do not have one already
  • Make a new application
  • Continue with an application you have saved
  • View your application​
  • View your school place offers 

Please apply on time. You can view important dates during the application process for a school place​ below. If you miss the closing date you cannot make a late application online. You will need to complete a late application form on paper. Missing the application deadline could significantly affect your chance of getting the place you want.

 

Late applications will not be considered during the initial round of allocations on the publicised offer date. Many schools will be fully subscribed after the first round, so it is important to submit your application on time to have the best chance of securing a place at your preferred school. Following the first round of allocations, all late applications received will be considered along with any children on the waiting list.

 

School Transport


Local Education Authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school transport for pupils of statutory school age who reside beyond walking distance to the nearest suitable school.


If your child qualifies for free school transport, permission will normally be given to travel on a contract vehicle if there is one serving your area. In other cases a bus pass will be provided to travel on the service network. 

 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council provides free school transport for:

• Primary age pupils residing two miles or further  from their nearest designated catchment area school of type

• Secondary age pupils residing three miles or further from their nearest designated catchment area school of type

• Distances are measured by the shortest available walking route and pupils will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult if necessary

 

 

Application Process Timeline - Key dates for Secondary Admissions

 

Date

Step in the application process

22 September 2023

Application process for starting Year 7 in September 2024 begins.

 

24 November 2023

Closing date for online applications. Any applications completed following this date will need to be submitted via paper or emailed application form and will be considered as late applications

 

November 2023 – March 2024

All applications are processed and assessed against the secondary school admissions oversubscription criteria. We will check and verify your address details and any supporting information provided to us.

 

1 March 2024

Offer Date. We will send notification via email or a letter if you have requested it to be sent by post.

 

March 2024

Waiting lists are established

 

15 March 2024

Closing date for parent response to place offered, please ensure you accept or decline the placed offered to your child.

 

April 2024

Second Round (Late & 2nd Preference applications are processed and assessed.

 

April/May 2024

Second round results out via post. All following rounds are processed on a monthly basis from now on.

 

September 2024

Children start secondary  school.

 

St Richard Gwyn Admissions Arrangements Pilot Scheme

Following the introduction of a pilot scheme for co-ordinated admission arrangements for the transfer from primary to Secondary education September 2021, the governing body of St Richard Gwyn R.C High School have agreed to participate in the scheme for a fourth year for the 2024 application process.

 

In addition to Vale of Glamorgan Community Schools you can now also apply for a place in St Richard Gwyn R.C High School by using the online application service as detailed above. Please ensure that you have read and clearly understood the admission criteria for the school that you are applying for.

 

 

Stanwell School

At Stanwell, the appropriate Admissions Authority is the Governing Body. Parents are advised to contact the school direct for details and an application form.

 

 

Check Catchment Area

You can check your catchment area by entering your postcode:

  

 

In line with current legislation, parents are required to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend, even if it is their catchment school. Pupils who reside within a defined catchment area will therefore have no automatic right to attend that school. A formal application must be made.

 

Failure to apply could lead to some parents/carers being denied a place for their child at their local/chosen school,  if demand exceeds the number of places available. It must be noted that catchment children will always take priority over applications from outside the catchment area.

  

Please Note: Where parents knowingly give false information in order to obtain the advantage of a particular school for their child to which they would not otherwise be entitled, the council reserves the right to withdraw the offer of a place. Parents may render themselves guilty of an offence under Section 5(b) of the Perjury Act 1911.