We are opening a consultation to seek views on expanding the Priority 2 catchment area for Ilkley Grammar School and for amending the over-subscription criteria for admissions for Post-16. Please see further details below.
The consultation will run from Monday 16th December until Friday 31st January 2020.
10 December 2019
Consultation on:
1) expanding the Priority 2 catchment area for Ilkley Grammar School
2) amending the over-subscription criteria for admissions for Post-16
Expansion of the Priority 2 Catchment Area:
We are opening a consultation to seek your views on a proposed slight expansion of the Priority 2 catchment area for Ilkley Grammar School for admissions from September 2021. The proposed change involves extending the Priority 2 boundary to encompass the
High Royds Estate in Menston; there are no changes to the defined Priority 1 catchment area.
High Royds Estate in Menston is currently excluded from our Priority 2 catchment area by virtue of the Priority 2 catchment southern boundary which closely follows Bingley Road until it cuts across Hawksworth Moor to Burley Moor. Since the High Royds estate
has been built, families living in this area have increasingly struggled to get a place at Ilkley Grammar School as other students who also live outside of the main priority areas and out of district, have been given preference based on straight-line distance.
Given that most children on the High Royds Estate attend Menston Primary, a Bradford school and a main ‘feeder’ primary for Ilkley Grammar School, the governors would now like to extend the boundary for the Priority 2 catchment to include this residential
area. Under the proposal, this would mean that children living on the High Royds Estate would have an increased chance of securing a place at Ilkley Grammar School under the same criteria as their Menston friends, as they would live within the school’s defined
Priority 2 catchment area, rather than, as is currently the case, be dealt with as out-of-area applicants.
Following a £4.7 million capital investment from Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Ilkley Grammar School increased its Published Admissions Number (PAN) permanently to 300 from September 2018. This has enabled the school to increase the number of places
available for students living in its two catchment areas. Please note, extension of the Priority 2 catchment will not impact on allocation under Priority 1 and will not disadvantaged those living in the residential estates in Menston which fall within
the current Priority 2 area. In addition, the current admissions policy for Ilkley Grammar School for years 7-11 will remain unchanged.
Amendment to the over-subscription criteria at Post-16:
We are also consulting to amend the over-subscription criteria at Post-16
to include students from The Skipton Academy, as a school within our Trust, before other out of area students.
Proposed Oversubscription Criteria:
Where there are more applications than places, students will be offered places (subject to meeting the entry requirements) in the order of priority listed below. It is anticipated that the
total number of external applicants the school can admit each year is 45:
1. Looked after children or children who were previously looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a residence or special guardianship order on roll in Year 11 at any school.
2. Students on roll in year 11 at IGS.
3. Students on roll in year 11 at other schools who live within the school’s priority admission area* and who have siblings who reside at the same address, who are at present in year 7-10 at IGS and who will still be attending IGS at the time of admission.
(in-area siblings)
4. Other Year 11 students who are on roll at other schools who live in the school’s priority admission area*
5. Students on roll in Year 11 at The Skipton Academy
6. Students in Year 11 at other schools, living outside the priority admission area* with siblings residing at the same address, who are at present in Year 7-10 at IGS and who will still be attending the school at the time of admission. (out of area siblings)
7. Students in Year 11 at other schools, living outside the priority admission area* who live closest to the school as measured by a straight-line distance.
*As the school has more than one school priority admission area, criteria 3 and 4 above will apply for the whole of priority one and then for the whole of priority two; if there are remaining unallocated places, criterion 6 will then be considered before
criterion 7.
This proposal formally recognises the close links between Ilkley Grammar School and The Skipton Academy as partner schools within Moorlands Learning Trust.
NB: In the event of the over-subscription criteria needing to be applied at Post-16, Ilkley Grammar School students who meet the entry requirements will continue to be prioritised.
Consultation begins on Monday 16th December 2019 and closes on 31st January 2020. Following an analysis of the responses, a report will then be presented to the governors of the academy for a decision to be made to proceed or not.
Any comments or suggestions can be made to the following e mail address: consultation@ilkleygs.co.uk If you wish to send a response by post, please send it to Ilkley Grammar School directly.
Yours sincerely
Ms Helen Williams
PROPOSED AMENDED ADMISSIONS POLICY FOR POST 16: ILKLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS: POST 16 GUIDELINES
Introduction
Students are at the heart of all we do and we are committed to helping our young people find appropriate courses of study post16. The Post-16 provision at Ilkley Grammar School forms part of a wider authority 16-19 provision and we are continually improving
our links with other schools and providers to enable this. Whilst we recognise that A levels do not suit all students, on our current site we are not in a position to offer a wider vocational curriculum. We can accommodate 460 students in total in Years 12
and 13.
Ilkley Grammar school has a largely academic post 16; we currently offer 31 level 3 programmes of study including 26 AS / A level courses alongside limited BTEC provision.
We expect all of our students to study at least 3 A levels or equivalent from the curriculum available, supplemented by a programme of enrichment or study of an additional qualification such as EPQ or Core Maths. Many of our students select to study 4 AS/A
levels.
Entry Requirements to Sixth Form
The minimum entry requirement for admission to Post-16 is a minimum of 5 grade 4s or equivalent and above at GCSE, including English Language and /or mathematics, at grade 4 as well as meeting any subject specific entry requirements outlined in the prospectus.
Other qualifications may be accepted but are treated on an individual basis and if they allow access to appropriate courses.
We are aware that exceptional circumstances do sometimes affect students’ grades. As such it may be that we make an offer to a student who does not achieve or is not expected to achieve the entry requirement if it is clear that they are capable of A-Level
study. These exceptional circumstances are dealt with on an individual basis and only in consultation with our Post 16 Team. Examples of exceptional circumstances include long term illness, close family bereavement in the examination season etc.
Application Procedure
a) An open evening is held in November each year for prospective students and parents.
b) All interested students will then be invited to a "Taster Day" where students can experience lessons at AS.
c) Students are then asked to apply formally on the school’s application form, which can be downloaded from the school website or obtained from the school. Students should attach evidence of their predicted grades at GCSE
d) All applicants will be invited to a meeting which will provide guidance on particular courses; guidance will be personalised in line with the student’s predicted grades and Year 11 mock examination scores.
e) All applications must be submitted before the relevant year’s closing date. The closing date for receipt of applications for the academic year will be published in advance each year and students notified.
Oversubscription Criteria
Where there are more applications than places, students will be offered places (subject to meeting the entry requirements) in the order of priority listed below. It is anticipated that the
total number of external applicants the school can admit each year is 45: Page 2
1. Looked after children or children who were previously looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a residence or special guardianship order on roll in Year 11 at any school.
2. Students on roll in year 11 at IGS.
3. Students on roll in year 11 at other schools who live within the school’s priority admission area* and who have siblings who reside at the same address, who are at present in year 7-10 at IGS and who will still be attending IGS at the time of admission.
(in-area siblings)
4. Other Year 11 students who are on roll at other schools who live in the school’s priority admission area*
5. Students on roll in Year 11 at The Skipton Academy
6. Students in Year 11 at other schools, living outside the priority admission area* with siblings residing at the same address, who are at present in Year 7-10 at IGS and who will still be attending the school at the time of admission. (out of area siblings)
7. Students in Year 11 at other schools, living outside the priority admission area* who live closest to the school as measured by a straight-line distance.
*As the school has more than one school priority admission area, criteria 3 and 4 above will apply for the whole of priority one and then for the whole of priority two; if there are remaining unallocated places, criterion 6 will then be considered before
criterion 7.
Late Applications
Applications received after the closing date will be placed on a waiting list and will be considered after those received on time.
Offer of Places
Students will receive a conditional offer in April. Applicants will be required to formally accept their place on GCSE results day in August. Any applicant who cannot be offered a place will also be notified.
Allocation to Courses
This will be done on the basis of GCSE results achieved and subject specific criteria. Class sizes will be set appropriately for the nature of the subject.
Waiting Lists
If there are more applicants than places, those applicants who have been unsuccessful may request to be placed on a waiting list which will be kept until December of that year. Places may become available, for example if students do not achieve the results
they need or applicants decide to take up an offer of a place elsewhere. Any available places will be offered in accordance with the oversubscription criteria above.
Appeals
Any unsuccessful applicant may appeal to an independent appeals panel. Parents or students wishing to do so should contact the school.
Helen Williams
Headteacher