How are referrals made?
Online
A referral can be made by completing the online form below:
In writing or email
Northamptonshire County Council
School Admissions Fair Access Team
P.O. Box 216, John Dryden House
8-10 The Lakes, Northampton
NN4 7DD
Email: admissions@northamptonshire.gov.uk
By telephone
Telephone the School Admissions Team on 0300 126 1000.
Please note: Student details are recorded directly onto the Local Authority database (ONE).
What happens next?
A caseworker (Admissions Officer) will be assigned to make contact with the parents/carers and the previous school to gather all relevant information to ascertain the most appropriate education provision for the child.
The case is then:
- Presented at a Pupil Placement Panel meeting. A school may be approached based on parental preference
- The Fair Access Protocol may apply
A place at an Education Provision which is not a mainstream school may be considered as a more suitable alternative. Alternative education provision will only be allocated for Year 11 students if they have just moved into the County so are therefore without a school place and have a previous history of the following:
- Poor attendance that has consequently affected their ability to reach a satisfactory level of learning, together with a history of behaviour issues.
- Children moving into the county in Year 11 who have English as a second language.
In these cases the funding for such provision will need to be considered at the local Behaviour and Attendance partnership meetings. Only in certain circumstances will alternative education provision be provided for students below year 11. (see the current list of alternative education providers used by School Admissions)
Pupil Placement Panel Meetings (PPP Meetings)
To effectively manage the admission process of children into secondary schools, Northamptonshire County Council operates pupil placement panel meetings across the county, except in the Daventry and South Northamptonshire area.
Representatives from each school responsible for Admissions in an area meet on a regular basis 3 - 4 weekly, to collaborate and take responsibility for the placement of secondary school children within their area - Corby, Kettering, East Northants, Wellingborough and Northampton. This includes the placement of Fair Access children.
Following a Pupil Placement Panel meeting, the parents will be notified of the allocated school within 5 working days.
There is no Pupil Placement Panel meeting in the Daventry / South West area of Northamptonshire. For secondary school applications in this area we will notify each individual school direct.