Question: At what age can my child start primary school?
Answer: By law, every child has to receive full-time education from the beginning of the term following his or her fifth birthday. However, your child can start primary school in September provided their fourth birthday is on or before 31 August. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: Do I need to re-apply each academic year for free school meals?
Answer: A review on all current claims is carried out in the summer holidays (July/August) each year. The entitlement to free school meals will continue onto the next academic year unless the claimant receives a letter from us in the summer holidays, requesting further evidence to support their claim.
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: Are Free School Meals Cards provided by the Isle of Wight Council?
Answer: Free School Meal cards are no longer issued by School Admissions, although some schools may issue these themselves.
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Question: Do I need to re-apply for free school meals if my child moves from primary to secondary or secondary to 6th form in the new academic year?
Answer: If a child is transferring in September to another school/site (i.e. Primary to Secondary School or Medina College to Island Innovation VI College) then they will continue to receive free school meals unless the claimant receives a letter from us in the summer holidays, requesting further evidence to support their claim.
New starters at the Isle of Wight College 6th Form will be able to apply for a 14 - 19 Bursary (forms available from the College), as the IW College do not use the free school meals system. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: How can I find out which schools have vacancies?
Answer: Primary - all enquiries made directly to the School Admissions team
Secondary - all enquiries made directly to the school, in the first instance.
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Question: Do you require evidence of my house move?
Answer: No - your application will be processed on the address provided on the application form.
If you know the address you will be moving to on the Island please provide this, along with the date you are expecting to take up residency. This will ensure that your application is processed in accordance with the School Admissions Code.
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Question: What options do I have if my child wasn't accepted to their first choice school?
Answer: There are two options available; you can either appeal the decision, appeals to be received 20 school days after the issue of the offer letters. You will be notified in writing a minimum of 10 days before of the date of your hearing. Alternatively your child can go on the appropriate waiting list. If the first choice is an Aided or Academy School, then you will need to write to the schools asking to be put on the waiting list. All other lists for the remaining Isle of Wight Schools are updated automatically.
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Question: Do Primary and Secondary Schools on the Isle of Wight have priority / catchment areas?
Answer: Primary and Secondary schools on the Isle of Wight do not have priority / catchment areas. Parents/guardians are able to apply for a place at the nearest primary or secondary school to their home address for their child.
If you are unsure of your nearest school please contact school admissions direct and they will be able to inform you.
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Question: Why has the admission number for a particular school changed?
Answer: Please refer your question in writing to school.admissions@iow.gov.uk.
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Question: My child was awarded a place at the first preference school, but I now want to change it, what should I do?
Answer: Please put your reasons for wanting a different school in writing to School Admissions and include the name(s) of the schools you would like your child to be considered for in order of preference. You can also e-mail your request to school.admissions@iow.gov.uk. Any changes to an application already submitted to School Admissions must be made in writing.
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Question: How do I apply for a place when my child is due to start at primary school?
Answer: We send letters to pre-schools and primary schools for distribution during the autumn term prior to the September that your child can start school or you can complete an online application form at www.iwight.com/schooladmissions. The closing time and date will be stated in the letter.
On-line application forms must be completed by the parent/guardian of the child for whom the application is made. Any additional evidence to support the application must be forwarded to School Admissions as soon as the application is submitted e.g. medical, looked after child documents. These must also be received by the closing date.
If you are unsure what to do, would like to request an application pack to be sent to your home address or would like further advice contact the:
School Admissions Office
County Hall
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 1UD
telephone: (01983) 823455
e-mail school.admissions@iow.gov.uk
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: I am moving to the Island in the near future. How do I apply for a school place for my child/ren during the school year?
Answer: You can apply for a place at an Island school via the Do It Online tab on the School Admissions webpage. You will need to complete the Home To School Placement form for an in-year school transfer. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: I am moving off the Island in the near future. How do I apply for an In-Year school place for my child during the school year in another Authority?
Answer: You will need to contact School Admissions at the Local Authority to which you are moving and apply direct to them. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: I have received my child’s school place offer; do I need to accept in writing?
Answer: You will only need to respond in writing to the offer of a school place if an acceptance form is enclosed with your allocation letter.
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Question: When does my child have to start attending the school they have been allocated a place at?
Answer: When starting Reception at Primary School or Year 7 at Secondary School in September, your child will be expected to start on the 1st day of the academic year.
When transferring to a new school In-Year your child must start at the school they have been allocated a place at within 4 school weeks of allocation. The allocation letter you receive will have the date your child will be expected to be on the school roll.
If you have any difficulty with the start date, you must either contact School Admissions or the school at which your child has been allocated a place to inform them immediately and discuss your options.
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Question: I have been refused a place at one or more schools and need to speak to someone about what to do next.
Answer: All the information about why your child was refused a place is included with the letter that is sent from School Admissions. This explains about how to appeal against the refusal(s) and how to have your child’s name added to the waiting list(s).
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Question: How is distance from home to school measured for transport purposes?
Answer: For admissions purposes, a pupils nearest school is calculated by direct distance, which is a straight line from the centre of the home address to the centre of the school.
Home to School Transport is assessed on whether they are attending their nearest school (direct distance or walking route) and whether the shortest walking route is over the qualifying distance. For further information on qualifying distances please refer to the Home to School Transport Policy.
The distances are calculated using the Local Authority’s Geographical Information System which draws on Ordnance Survey, Isle of Wight Rights of Way, National Land and Property Gazeteer data, using Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association Guidelines. -
Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: On National Offer Day am I able to collect my allocation letter from County Hall?
Answer: A duplicate letter can be printed which parents/guardians will be able to collect from County Hall on National Offer Day. To enable this to happen, please email school.admissions@iow.gov.uk stating you would like to collect a duplicate letter from County Hall on National Offer Day, you will be informed what time this will be ready to be collected by return of email. Only the parent/guardian who has their name listed on the application can pick up the letter, you must bring with you photo ID and evidence that you are the child's parent / guardian (i.e. birth certificate, residency order for the child.)
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: I have not yet received my letter telling me which school my child can attend in September 2022. Can I speak to someone in School Admissions to find out over the phone?
Answer: We cannot give out information over the phone, as we are unable to confirm the caller's identity.
Secondary School applications - If you do not receive your letter by 8 March, please contact us and we will post a duplicate out to you.
Primary School applications - If you do not receive your letter by 26 April, please contact and we will post a duplicate out to you.
If you would like to collect a copy in person, a letter can be printed which parents/guardians will be able to collect from County Hall. To enable this to happen, please email school.admissions@iow.gov.uk stating you have not yet received you letter and would like to collect a duplicate letter from County Hall , you will be informed what time this will be ready to be collected by return of email. Only the parent/guardian who has their name listed on the application can pick up the letter, you must bring with you photo ID and evidence that you are the child's parent / guardian (i.e. birth certificate, residency order for the child.)
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Question: When will I receive a letter telling me which school my child can attend in September 2023?
Answer: Secondary School - Parents / guardians who applied online by the closing date will receive an email from the local authority on the 1 March 2023 notifying them of the school where a place has been allocated for their child. Letters will also be sent 2nd class on this day to those parents / guardians who did not apply online and those who will be receiving additional information
Primary School - Parents / guardians who applied online by the closing date will receive an email from the local authority on the 17 April 2023 notifying them of the school where a place has been allocated for their child. Letters will also be sent 2nd class on this day to those parents / guardians who did not apply online and those who will be receiving additional information
A duplicate letter can be printed which parents/guardians will be able to collect from County Hall on National Offer Day. To enable this to happen, please email school.admissions@iow.gov.uk stating you would like to collect a duplicate letter from County Hall on National Offer Day, you will be informed what time this will be ready to be collected by return of email. Only the parent/guardian who has their name listed on the application can pick up the letter, you must bring with you photo ID and evidence that you are the child's parent / guardian (i.e. birth certificate, residency order for the child.)
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: What is the deadline for submission of Primary and Secondary school admissions applications for September 2023?
Answer: Secondary School applications - midnight on 31 October 2022.
Primary School applications - midnight on 15 January 2023.
As well as the Local Authority application form, some church aided primary schools require a Supplementary Information Form to be completed, as this provides them with further information regarding church attendance, which is a criteria listed high in the oversubscription criteria in the School Admissions Policy, if you are applying for a church aided primary school please check their School Admissions Policy for further information and the time the school needs to receive the completed Supplementary Information Form on Closing date.
Christ the King College and The Island Free School require parents to complete a Supplementary Information Form as well as the Local Authority application form. The Supplementary Information Form must be completed and returned direct to the school by the time and date stated in the relevant school/s admissions policy. If both forms are not completed, your application will not be considered until after those who have completed and submitted both forms.
All applications received after the stated time and date will be treated as a 'late application' and processed after on time applications are allocated.
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Related LinkHas this FAQ answered your query? Question: I live on the Island and I want my child to attend a different school. How do I arrange this?
Answer: You can apply online at www.iwight.com/schooladmissions to move your child to another island school. Once on this page click on the 'Do it online' tab and complete the form called 'In Year School Placement Application Form.' On-line application forms must be completed by the parent / guardian of the child for whom they are applying.
Please DO NOT use this form if you want to transfer In-Year to Northwood Primary School, Ryde Academy or The Island Free School, please contact the school direct as they administer their own In-Year admissions.
If you cannot apply online you can request a form to be sent in the post. Please call 01983 823455 or alternatively email school.admissions@iow.gov.uk to request this.
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