Education
The Bridge is the monthly newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark.
Printed copies are available from all Southwark parish churches or from Communications & Resources at the Diocesan Office.
Governors
Admission to Church Schools
Admission
The Board provides advice to church schools on their admission policy and will assist governors in reviewing their admission arrangements through written advice or attendance at governors' meetings, or committees. The Board believes that Church of England schools have a dual purpose: offering a Christian education to the children of Christian parents and yet still fulfilling its historic mission in the practical expression of its pastoral responsibility to all children, irrespective of faith, in the local community.
Our guidance on admission and appeals in Church of England schools is available from the Board, but at the present time is under review. Schools must comply with the statutory requirements in the DCSF Admission Code. Click the link below to download the Board's checklist for reviewing the admission policy.
Appeals
Governors of voluntary aided and foundation schools are responsible for making arrangements for parents to appeal when they are not offered a place. Governors should have in place an independent appeal panel and the services of an appeal clerk. See Chapter 3 of the Board's guidance for more detailed information. Schools must follow the mandatory guidance in the DCSF appeals code.
Consultation process
VA and foundation schools are required to consult on their admission arrangements: click here for a flow chart of the consultation process. Church of England schools must consult the Diocesan Board before consulting others.
Co-ordinated arrangements
All maintained schools and academies must take part in local authority co-ordinated arrangements for admission to both primary and secondary schools. In London, secondary transfer is co-ordinated across all London boroughs and parents may list preferences for six maintained schools or academies. In primary schools, the co-ordination operates within-borough. Local authorities are required to consult schools on the co-ordination scheme each spring term. Further information is available through local authority websites.
Model Policies
The Board provides two model policies for schools to consider, in recognition of the fact that church schools across the Diocese are serving very different communities. The Board encourages schools to consider the foundation and open place policy which ensures that local children who are not connected with the church are able to gain places. The traditional model may suit schools which are undersubscribed, or those parishes where there are fewer church families seeking places in church schools. Both models are currently under review but advice may be obtained from the Diocesan Board.
SDBE Guidance
Click here to order a copy of the Board's guidance - Admission and Appeals in C of E Schools - Guidelines for Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools