Moving schools (in-year transfers)

Overview

This information is for parents of children who need to move or start a new school outside of the usual times. This includes:

  • if your child needs to move after the school year has started (the school year starts in September)
  • if your child needs to move when they are part-way through primary or secondary (children usually start a new school in reception, year 3 and year 7)

These are known as in-year admissions.

This may be because:

  • you have moved into South Tyneside
  • you already live in South Tyneside but wish to change your child's school

South Tyneside Council organises in-year admissions for all schools in South Tyneside.

Fair Access Protocol

Our Fair Access Protocol is in place to make sure that children who haven't been able to get a school place through the usual process, especially the most vulnerable children, are offered a place at a suitable school as soon as possible.

Fair Access Protocol

Deciding whether to move

It's important to carefully think about whether moving school is the best option and what effect it might have on your child(ren). 

Years 10 and 11

Generally, changing schools during the last two years of secondary school (years 10 and 11) should be avoided if possible.

These years are very important. This is when pupils prepare for and take their exams. 

Moving schools at this time might have a negative effect on your child's exam results, because:

  • Schools don't always offer the same subjects and syllabus. 
  • Schools don't all use the same exam boards. 
  • Some subjects involve course work that must be sent to exam boards by set dates, and pupils who have not completed the course work may not be able to complete the exam.

Disagreements with the school

You may be thinking about moving your child to a different school because you or your child have had a disagreement with the school. 

Most differences can be resolved when the parent and the school have an open and reasonable discussion.

For help resolving difficulties between you and a school, you can also contact Services for Young People on 0191 424 6333.

We encourage you to settle any differences with the school and only move your child(ren) to another school as a last resort.

Bullying in school

All schools must have an anti-bullying policy. 

This policy will explain how they respond to all reported incidents of bullying. 

If you are worried or concerned about bullying issues, or your child has reported bullying to you, it is important that you contact the Head Teacher of the school.

The school will try to meet with you to discuss your concerns so that they can work with you and your child to resolve the issues. 

If the issue doesn't get resolved, the next step would be to refer the matter through the school's complaints procedure, which would involve the school's governing body. 

How to apply

When to apply

You must apply within two months of the move date.

You cannot apply if the move date is more than two months away.

Families of UK Armed Forces and Crown personnel are exempt from this rule, and can apply more than two months from the move date.

Who can apply

To apply, you must have parental responsibility for the child.

If you and another adult have shared responsibility for the child, you should both agree which schools to name as the preferred schools and the order of preference, before submitting the application.

If we get two applications for the same child from the same parents, we may need to put both applications on hold, reducing the chances of the child getting a place at a school.

Once you apply for a school place, your application will be live for two months.

If there are more applications than places available, the published admission criteria must be applied to all of the applications.

You can only make one application per academic year for the same school.

You can only reapply for a placement at that school if the school you have requested now has placements available.

Moving schools within South Tyneside

If your child is transferring from one South Tyneside school to another, their current Head Teacher must sign your form before you submit it.

Asylum seekers and refugees

If you tick the refugee box, we may share your information with other agencies.

This is to make sure that you and your child's needs are met and you get any support that you may need.

If your child lives at more than one address

Include the address of the parent or carer who the child normally lives with for most of the time.

If you want us to consider an address that is not your child's normal address, you must provide a child arrangement order, issued by a court.

We have the right to seek proof of address and to withdraw an offer of a place, if inaccurate information is given on the application form.

If you or the child moves address after you have submitted the form, you must contact us in writing immediately. We may ask for proof of the new address.

Complete the application form

In-year transfer application form

Email your completed form to: school.admissions@southtyneside.gov.uk

Or, post your completed form to: School Admissions team, Town Hall and Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2RL. We recommend sending by recorded delivery so that you have proof of postage.

If you need a hard copy of the application form, contact the School Admissions team on 0191 424 7704.

We may need more information

We may contact you for more information if:

  • you're a serving member of the regular UK Armed Forces with a posting to the area or a Crown Servant returning from overseas
  • you're applying on behalf of a looked after child, previously looked after child or a child from state care outside of England who has been adopted
  • you're applying from overseas - your application will be based on your current address so we may need evidence to confirm your return to the UK

Please note: any applications received in the school holidays will not be processed until schools return. For example any applications received in the summer holidays will no be processed until September.

After you've applied

Continue to attend school

Your child must still attend their current school while we deal with your application.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, we'll refer your request to the Special Educational Needs team.

They will work with you to secure a place at a school where your child's specific needs can be met.

We will contact your preferred school

Once we have received your application form, and have all the information we need, we'll contact your preferred school to check if they have space available.

Once we've contacted the school, they have three school days to respond.

If the school doesn't have any places available, we'll contact your second preference (if you've included one).

If that one doesn't have space, we'll contact your third preference (if you've included one). 

If your preferred school is full, you have the right to appeal.

We'll send you an outcome letter

The School Admissions team will send you an outcome letter, to let you know: 

  • whether your child has got a place, and
  • what to do next

Arranging a start date

If your child has got a place, your outcome letter will ask you to contact the school directly to arrange a start date.

The start date will usually be within 20 school days.

If lots of pupils are moving to a different school, the start date at the new school will be at the beginning of a half term.

In general, you shouldn't withdraw your child from their current school before you have arranged for them to start a new school.

Appeals

If your child has been refused at your preferred school, you can appeal the decision.

This will go to an Independent Appeals Panel.

Full details about how to make an appeal will be included in your outcome letter from the School Admissions team.

To get an appeal form:

Appeals can take four to six weeks to set up.

The Council's Democratic Services team will contact you once a date has been agreed for your appeal hearing.