Admissions Criteria

The Local Education Authority (LEA) will comply with its duty to ensure the provision of efficient education and the efficient use of resources. In so doing, the LEA will have regard to the total resources, including accommodation and staffing, available to each school and any constraints imposed by the school organisation and curriculum. It will also consider the resource implications for the Authority and the impact on other education policies.

The LEA 's criteria for admission to schools are listed

They are subject to:

• the LEA's obligation to ensure that a pupil with a Statement of Special Educational Need is admitted to a school able to meet those needs;

• the LEA's obligation to comply with the limitation on infant class sizes

• the LEA 's obligation to ensure the provision of efficient education and the efficient use of resources

• any limitation which may arise in relation to a particular school resulting from the application of the Admission Number, which is the number of children that can be admitted to each year group during the school year.

Over Subscription Criteria

Consequently, in considering parental preferences, the criteria will be applied unless the LEA has agreed with an individual governing body an alternative order of priority, as published in the school 's prospectus. Where more parents have expressed a preference for a school in a particular year than there is room for, selection criteria will be applied in the following rank order:

• the LEA will consider the needs of children in public care (looked after children);

• the LEA will maintain the links between designated infant and junior schools, and between designated junior or primary schools and specific secondary schools as determined by the County Borough Council;

• the LEA will consider the special educational needs of children; other special circumstances (including medical reasons);

• the LEA will allow younger brothers or sisters (siblings) to be admitted to that school at which the older child is registered for the year of admission;

• the LEA will take full account of the proximity of the child 's home to the school for which a preference has been expressed. The LEA will ensure as far as possible that a place will be offered at the child 's nearest suitable school within the County Borough. In implementing this criterion, account will also be taken of transport arrangements and any potentially hazardous route between home and school.

Limitation

The Welsh Assembly Government, as outlined in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 is committed to ensuring that no child aged 5,6,and 7 years will be in a class of more than 30 pupils for every one qualified teacher. The statutory infant class size limit of 30 pupils applies to reception, Year 1 and year 2 classes.

Interviews

Interviews are not used as part of the application or admission process to those schools maintained by the Authority. Voluntary Aided schools may carry out discussions, but these will be held only in order to assess religious or denominational commitment. Parents may contact the school for a prospectus, which should state which particular factors will be assessed at the discussions.

Welsh Language

The LEA makes provisions for parents who wish their child(ren) to receive their education through the medium of Welsh. Further information is available from the Admissions team on 01978 297568 / 297569.

Denominational Schools

The LEA will ensure that parents wishing to have their children educated at a denominational school will have the opportunity to express their preferences for such a school. Admissions to Voluntary Aided Schools are subject to the criteria established by the governing body of such schools.

Admission to schools other than those maintained by the LEA

Parents wishing to express a preference for a school maintained by any LEA other than Wrexham County Borough will be expected to contact that Authority directly. In such cases, unless that school is the nearest suitable school, this LEA will not be responsible for meeting the costs of transport between home and school.

Admission of Pupils from Outside Wrexham County Borough

Children residing outside Wrexham County Borough will be admitted in accordance with the stated criteria.

Independent Schools

It is the policy of this Authority to place children of secondary school age in appropriate independent schools only in exceptional cases. The Authority will consider such a placement where it considers that a special aptitude or need in the child requires special education beyond that which can be provided within the County Borough.