Admissions Policy
(this policy may be subject to variation for September 2021 Intake)
LONDON NAUTICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS POLICY 2021/2022 (i.e. boys starting in Sep 2021)
The London Nautical School admits pupils of all abilities from the whole of London, and occasionally beyond. For year 7’s starting school in September 2021 there are 120 places available that will be allocated according to the following criteria:
- Pupils who are in the care of a Council or provided with accommodation by that Council in accordance with the Children Act 1989, often known as ‘looked after children’ (a legal obligation). This will include any who are ‘previously looked after children’ (defined as those who have ceased to be because of adoption, a residence order or a special guardianship order).
- Pupils who already have another sibling on the school roll (including the 6th form) as at September 2020. Sibling is defined as a full, half or step brother who is living at the same home address, and may include an adopted or fostered child provided they can be proven to be resident at that address.
- Medical and/or social reasons: applications must be professionally supported. Medical reasons must be supported by written medical evidence. The evidence should come from at least two registered health professionals. An application being made for social reasons must be supported by written evidence from registered professionals such as social workers or other social care professionals. Medical or social applications must set out the particular reasons why. The London Nautical School is the most suitable school and what difficulties would occur if the child had to go elsewhere. Any such applications will be considered objectively by the Admissions Committee of the school based on the evidence provided. Application under this criteria does not guarantee a priority place and cannot be considered without the appropriate supporting evidence.
- All other pupils
In the case of twins, where one is allocated a place in the ballot, the remaining twin will also receive a place within their relevant band.
[n.b pupils with a Statement of Special Education Needs are dealt with under a separate system administered by their local authority]
All applicants under category 4 are treated equally, and in common with many other schools, where there are more applicants than places available, all potential pupils (including those in categories 1 - 4) will sit a special ‘test’ for the purposes of banding ability. This enables us to ensure the school has a very wide range of ability within it. Pupils are allocated to one of 3 bands according to results.
Potential students will be admitted to the school from three ability bands:
Ability Band 1 25% (i.e. 30 places)
Ability Band 2 50% (i.e. 60 places)
Ability Band 3 25% (i.e. 30 places)
(i.e. total 120)
Where there are more applicants than places within a particular band, allocation of those places will be by way of random selection with all pupils having equal opportunity. An appropriate independent person who is not a member of the school staff, governors or an LNS parent, will supervise this process.
All admissions are coordinated through the Pan-London Coordinated scheme and parents will be required to apply on the appropriate Common Application Form via their Local Authority before the published deadline. In addition, a supplementary form must be sent to the Admissions Department at the London Nautical School on or before that date. The Local Authority will advise parents whether or not a place at the school has been allocated to them on the 1st March 2021. Parents are allocated the highest preference school that has offered a place.
APPEALS
Parents, carers or guardians have the right to appeal to an independent panel where a place is not allocated to them, and where they think that the school has not complied with it’s published admissions criteria. Normally there are no other grounds for appeal unless there have been substantial changes in circumstances since the application was made (eg the child has received a statement since originally applying). Such appeals have to be made within 30 days of notification of failure to obtain a place. Further information can be obtained from the school on request.
Any parent not offered a place may, if they so wish, ask to be placed on a waiting list, which will be maintained by the school until at least the end of the first school term. Where a vacancy occurs the place will be offered in accordance with the above-published criteria. There is no priority in relation to length of time on the list.
MID TERM ADMISSIONS TO ANY YEAR
The maximum year sizes for 2021/22 are as follows:
Y7: 120
Y8: 120
Y9: 120
Y10: 120
Y11: 115
Additionally there are around 130 places in the 6th form (Y12 and 13); admission details for these will be found in the separate 6th form prospectus available on application to the school.
Parents, carers or guardians who would like their boy(s) to be considered for a place at the school in any of Years 7 to 11 should initially contact the school’s Admissions Officer (admissions@nautical.lambeth.sch.uk) with their request. Should there be a vacancy and no one on the waiting list at that time, a place may be offered. Otherwise the parent may request to be placed on the waiting list and will be contacted as and when a vacancy occurs to see if they are still interested.
