Admissions September 2011
The following arrangements, determined by the govenors, have now been approved by the Schools' Adjudicator.
Determined Admission arrangements for Fortismere School for September 2011
1. Background
As a mixed, 11-18 Foundation School, Fortismere is its own Admissions Authority. Applications for places should be made via Haringey Local Authority, as described in their prospectus, as part of the pan-London coordinated admissions scheme. This should be done using Haringey Local Authority's form. The school is heavily over-subscribed and determinations about the priority order in which places will be offered will be made by the Admissions Authority according to the criteria outlined below.
Admission into Year 7
2. Numbers
The admission number is 243. If there are 243 or fewer applications, all applicants will be offered a place.
3. Special educational needs
Pupils with a statement of special educational needs which names the school will automatically be offered a place.
4. Over-subscription criteria
For all other applicants, where there are more applicants than places available, priority will be given in the following order:
a. Children who are looked after by a local authority.
b. Young people whom the Governors and Head accept have an exceptional need for a place at Fortismere. Applications will only be considered under this category if they are supported by a written statement from a doctor, social worker or other appropriate professional. In each case, it must be shown that the child's need can particularly well be met at Fortismere school.
c. Children where, at the time of application, an older sibling is expected to be on roll (including in the Sixth Form) when a younger child starts at the school. This category includes foster brothers or sisters, half brothers or sisters, and stepbrothers or stepsisters. In all of these cases the brother or sister must be living at the same address as the child for whom the application is being made.
d. Up to 10% of places (24 children in each year group) will be allocated on the basis of aptitude in Music, to be determined by prescribed tests. There will be two stages to the process. In the first stage, all applicants for places under this criterion must sit a written test of musical aptitude. The test is of approximately 40 minutes' duration and does not require any previous knowledge of music or music theory. There will be 60 questions in total in four sections: pitch, rhythm, texture and melody. There will be one test session on a specified date in September. Applicants will be notified in advance of the test venue. Those unable to attend on this date due to compelling religious, medical or other reasons will be offered one alternative date. Applicants who achieve the qualifying mark in the first stage test will be invited to the second stage, and given an individual appointment during the school day near the start of October. Here they will be given further aural/oral tests based on rhythm and melody. All candidates will be ranked according to their test scores. If 24 or more reach the required standard the places will be filled by the 24 of the highest ranking. If fewer than 24 reach the required standard then the remaining places will be offered under criterion e. Where there is a tie between applicants' scores, proximity of the home address to the School will be the deciding factor.
Candidates applying under this criterion should complete a supplementary application form available from the school or Haringey Local Authority. This should be submitted directly to the school by Friday 9th July 2010 for children who are transferring from Primary to Secondary in September 2011.
e. Children living closest to the school as measured in a straight line from the front door of the home address where the child normally lives, to the school address point, which is the Head-teacher's office, in South Wing. This criterion will also be used as a tie-breaker for all the over-subscription criteria a. to d.
5. Notification of offer of places
Parents will be informed by Haringey Local Authority (or their home authority if they do not live in Haringey) which school they have been allocated on 1st March 2011. Parents are asked to confirm their acceptance of the offer, to Haringey, by **** March 2011. Fortismere will then write to parents confirming the place.
Once a place has been offered, you will be asked to provide the school with a current Child Benefit letter and a signed letter from a professional person, who is not a relative (eg a doctor, Head-teacher, solicitor) confirming that the address given on the application form is the address where the child normally lives.
Parents and students will then be given more information about the induction process, including further visits to the school, in order to enable a smooth transfer to Fortismere.
6. Appeals
Unsuccessful applicants may appeal for a place in the school by writing and stating the reasons for the appeal. The letter should be addressed to The Admissions' Clerk, Fortismere School, Tetherdown, Muswell Hill, London, N10 1NE. Appeals will be heard by a panel which is independent of the Governors. Letters of appeal should be submitted by 30th April. If your appeal is received after this date, the school cannot guarantee that your case will be heard before the end of the Summer term 2011, and may have to be carried over to the Autumn term 2011.
7. Waiting lists
In addition to their right of appeal, unsuccessful applicants can ask to be placed on the Fortismere waiting list. Any places that become available will be allocated in line with the over-subscription criteria set out in paragraph 4 above.
8. Casual Admissions
If you are applying for a place at any stage other than at secondary transfer, or are applying for your child to transfer from his or her current secondary school, you should contact Haringey local authority, who will be co-ordinating in-year admissions from September 2011.
Evidence of a child's date of birth and home address will be required and a place will not be allocated on the basis that a move in address is expected.
9. Application date and late applications
The closing date for applications will be **** October 2010. Applications received after this date will be deemed late and will only be considered after all other applications that were received on time, unless there is written evidence of exceptional circumstances that prevented the application from being submitted on time. Haringey Local Authority will discuss any late applications with Fortismere Admissions Authority. Parents should note that a late application will prejudice your child's chance of a place at Fortismere.
Candidates applying under criterion 4(d) should complete a supplementary application form available from the school or Haringey Local Authority. This should be submitted directly to the school by Friday 9th July 2010 for children who are transferring from Primary to Secondary in September 2011.
10. In-Year Fair Access Protocol
This scheme exists to ensure that access to education is secured quickly for children who have no school place, and to ensure that all schools in an area admit their fair share of children with challenging behaviour. Fortismere will participate in any Local Authority scheme agreed by the Governors.
Admissions into Fortismere 6th Form
11. Routes to Success
Fortismere 6th Form provides for a comprehensive intake within the context of a high performing specialist school. The aim is to provide a 'route to success' for each individual student, tailored to suit particular strengths and talents. Different courses of study will cater for students of differing abilities and interests. Students should enjoy success within an holistic experience through well-targeted, challenging education combined with a wide range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities so that they emerge as well-rounded individuals, ready to play their part in society and to progress on to university, college or employment. Guidance regarding choice of course and suitability is essential and will be given at the highest level, ensuring that all students can be successful. Students should be committed to working hard and participating fully in the life of the school. Applications should be submitted to the governing body at the School.
The total number of students to be admitted into Year 12 in September 2011 is 300. The proposed intake of students from other schools, to Fortismere 6th Form, should not exceed 100.
The minimum entry requirement for admission to Fortismere 6th Form will be C grades in 5 different GCSE subjects, including English and Maths.
Students wishing to follow an academic A level pathway must demonstrate appropriate ability through their GCSE grades as follows:
A minimum of B grades in 5 different subjects
A minimum of B grades in the subjects they wish to study or in related subjects
A minimum of B grades in English and Maths
Any specific subject requirements as stated in the subject entry in the 6th Form prospectus
Students wishing to follow an applied A level pathway must demonstrate appropriate ability through their GCSE grades as follows:
A minimum of C grades in 5 different subjects
A minimum of C grades in English and Maths
Any specific subject requirements as stated in the subject entry in the 6th Form prospectus
The Director of 6th Form will review and make decisions on particular courses followed for any borderline cases or special considerations for combinations of academic and applied subjects.
Experience has shown that students wishing to progress from Year 12 into Year 13, where the academic demands are at a much higher level, are most likely to succeed where they demonstrate a good work ethic and full commitment. They should have attained at least 3 D grades at AS level at the end of Year 12. For students who have not achieved 3 Ds: borderline cases will be considered very carefully in the light of any special circumstances; some students will be invited to restart Year 12 where it is felt they did not fulfil their potential; others will receive guidance on more appropriate courses of study, including those at other institutions
Fortismere expects to be able to offer 6th Form places to all students meeting the above criteria. In the event of over-subscription, places will be offered in accordance with the over-subscription criteria set out in paragraph 4 above.
For Year 11 leavers who do not meet the above criteria, the school is working closely with a number of post 16 providers - the new Haringey 6th Form centre, the Learning and Skills Council, Connexions, and local Further education Colleges - to provide information and guidance about vocational courses on offer there. We believe that this small cohort of students will be much better served in this brand new purpose-built college, with facilities to offer high quality vocational training, and clear progression routes. Students who are not offered a place in Year 12 may appeal against the decision as described in paragraph 6 above.
