Key Information

School and Trust-level policies, Annual Reports and Statutory Returns.

EKC Sheppey Secondary has an admission number (PAN) of 150 for entry into Year 7.

To apply for a Year 7 place for September, you need to complete the Local Authority’s (LA) ‘Common Application Form’ (CAF) by the deadline. All the details are listed on the Kent County Council Website following the link below:

www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/secondary-school-places

Parents are asked to apply online, or contact kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk for assistance.

All offers of Secondary School places will be made via the Local Authority.

Secondary oversubscription Criteria:

If EKC Sheppey Secondary receives more applications than there are available places, then children with the academy named on an Education, Health Care Plan (EHCP) will be automatically admitted to the academy. As a result of this, children on an EHCP will be counted against the PAN.

If there are still places available, priority for admission will be given to those children who meet the oversubscription criteria set out below, with each criterion held in distance order:

  1. Looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and or ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders).
  2. Children with a sibling(s) who are already at the Academy when your child is due to start.
  3. Children who attend a Trust Primary School on the Isle of Sheppey (up to a maximum of 60 places)
  4. Child of staff employed at the Academy where a) the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, and/or b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
  5. Isle of Sheppey residents – The Academy will give priority to those living on the Isle of Sheppey (as per the ‘Dual address’ definition).
  6. Distance – The Academy will give priority to those living nearest to the Academy (as per the ‘Distance’ definition).

If the Academy still has an oversubscription, then a further tiebreaker will be used. Distance from the Academy will be used as a tiebreaker whenever two children have the same priority based on any criteria.

In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place. This process will be supervised by someone independent of the school.

Appeals

If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2025, you can appeal if you are refused a place at one of your preferred schools on National Offer Day (Monday 3rd March 2025).

The appeals process (or Appeals Hearing) lets you explain to an independent appeal panel why you think your child should be given a place at the school and lets the school explain why it could not offer your child a place.

You need to submit your appeal before 31st March 2025 for it to be considered by 17th June 2025.

Any appeals received after this time will be heard within 40 school days from the deadline, or where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education. For late applications, appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged where reasonably possible in line with updated guidance from the Department for Education

For more information on Appeals and the process to follow including the form to complete, please view our Trust Admissions Policy via our Trust website.

How does the Local Authority/Kent County Council (KCC) coordinated admissions process work?

The Secondary Transfer Scheme to coordinate admissions to Kent Secondary Schools has been agreed by all admissions authorities.
As you know, there is a standard form known as a Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) families complete with their four school preferences in priority order. Following the closing date*, KCC notify all secondary schools of applications for their school. The schools then apply their over-subscription criteria and sent back to KCC a list of all applicants ranked in priority order.

KCC then act as a clearing house for all applications, and match each schools’ ranked list against other schools’ ranked lists and:
(a) Where a child was eligible for a place at only one of the nominated schools, that school was offered.
(b) Where a child was eligible for a place at two or more nominated schools a place was allocated at whichever of these was the highest
ranked preference.
(c) Where a child was not eligible for a place at any of the nominated schools, the child was allocated a place at an alternative school.

Families are then notified of the school allocation around early March* each year. Late April* KCC then allocates places at schools with vacancies to children on schools’ waiting lists, in accordance with their oversubscription criteria. Following which schools with vacancies allocate places to children on their waiting lists, in accordance with their oversubscription criteria.

* Exact dates in each admission year can be found on KCC’s website.

How do schools allocate places?

When a school receives more applications from parents than it has places available, not every child can be successful in securing a school offer. Schools use their admissions criteria also known as oversubscription criteria to decide which children to allocate places to. The oversubscription criteria set out in the school’s admissions policy sets out the order in places are allocated.

I have been offered a place at another school but want to appeal for my preferred school, what should I do?

You should consider accepting any offer of a school place you receive to ensure that your child has a school place should you appeal not be successful. Accepting another offer has no bearing on your appeal and the appeals process and does not limit other options available to you.

How will my appeal be considered?

The Independent Appeals Panel intends that your appeal will be conducted virtually via an online meeting. If you can demonstrate an equality consideration that prevents you from accessing the hearing virtually, and you do not have reasonable support to do so, please email the clerk setting out your reasons. It is important that you send in any information that you feel would support your case as the Panel will not be able to consider evidence if it is not submitted. The panel will of course be considerate to clear grounds for the need for an alternative format for the appeal to be heard.

Who will consider my appeal?

Your appeal is heard by an Independent Appeal Panel. There are usually 3 people on the panel, at least one member will have experience in education and at least one will be a lay person, alongside a clerk responsible for the administrative arrangements for the appeal. All are independent of the school, Trust and Local Authority. They make the decision on whether to uphold or dismiss your appeal. If the Panel upholds your appeal the school must offer your child a place at the school. If the Panel does not uphold your appeal, then the school will not offer your child a place at the school.

In addition…. Here is a link to the Department for Education’s guidance for parents, you might find helpful: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/admission-appeals-for-school-places/advice-for-parents-and-guardians-on-school-admission-appeals

in Year Admissions

Applications for in-year admissions are considered in the same way as those made at the beginning of the academic year and are dealt with in accordance the Local Authorities Fair Access Protocol.

Kent County Council has produced a standard form, known as the In-Year Casual Admission Form (IYCAF), which the Academy Trust uses to allow applicants to apply for school places in any year group outside of the normal admission round.

Details can be found on the LA website following the link below;

https://www.kent.gov.uk/ data/assets/pdf_file/0012/3522/in-year-application-form.pdf

In-year admissions forms can be obtained from and should be returned to the Academy. Forms will be processed no later than 10 working days from receipt.

View our admissions policy

School and Trust policies cover every aspect of school life. Below are our most important policies for your reference.

Home School Agreement

Home School Agreement – Key Commitments

Home School Agreement – Full version

Trust Policies

The following Trust policies are best viewed on our Trust website .

  • Admissions Policy
  • Charges and Remissions Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Whistle Blowing Policy
Access trust policies

School Policies

TitleLink
Acceptable use of the internet
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Attendance Policy 2024 25
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Character Policy 2024 25
Download
EKCSS Equality Information and Objectives
Download
Inclusion Policy 2024 25
Download
Remote Learning Procedure 2024 25
Download
RSE Policy
Download
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Download

EKC Sheppey Secondary opened 1st September 2024.

Over the coming years families and interested stakeholders will be able to view our exam results (circa 2027 for our first GCSE results) and Ofsted rating.

School and college performance measures website

Funding agreements for all EKC Schools Trust schools can be found on the Trust website.

EKCSS is proud to be part of eKC Schools Trust

Your School. Our Community.

As a family of schools, colleges and business units, EKC Schools Trust and its sister organisation, the East Kent Colleges Group, are committed to raising the aspirations of all within the communities we serve. Enabling all ages to access the highest quality educational provision, helping them to grow and flourish, and achieve their ambitions. 

Ours is a unique and sector-leading partnership. EKC Schools Trust and East Kent Colleges Group are relentless in our commitment to our learners, our families, our staff and our communities.

You can learn more about our Trust and the wider EKC family on our EKC Schools Trust website ekcschoolstrust.org

EKC School’s Trust Ltd
Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs, Kent
CT10 1PN

Telephone:  01304 244307 Email:  office@ekcschoolstrust.org

The EKC Schools Trust Limited (a company limited by guarantee) and registered in England and Wales under company number 11154851.

The Trust’s Annual Reports and statutory returns can be found on the Trust website.

We’re proud of our inclusive culture and the diversity across our Trust. Here, you can learn more about our leadership profile and our representation of the communities we serve, which is critical to our ongoing efforts to advance our inclusive culture.

Our Objectives

  • Diminish the achievement and attendance differences of disadvantaged pupils in the Trust
  • Strengthen the Academy curriculums across the Trust to ensure effective teaching of equality and diversity
  • Foster inclusive leadership at all levels across the Trust, to enable diversity of thought and experience to advance our inclusive culture.

EKC Schools Trust is committed to equality in both education provision and employment. We aim to ensure that students, parents, Governors, employees, contractors, partners, clients and those who may potentially join the Trust community are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. We will be positive and proactive about people’s differences, and wherever possible, we will identify and remove barriers to inclusion and achievement.

Equality is at the heart of EKC Trust’s culture, so whilst we have high standards, we continue to challenge and improve upon what we do; our Equality Objectives identify our focus through to 2025.  

These objectives are informed by:

  • Our organisation profile
  • Self-evaluation/quality improvement cycle outcomes
  • Best practice
  • Legal requirements
  • Local, regional, and national priorities and initiatives

The Trust will review its progress annually at Headteacher Board.

Public Sector Equality Duty

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010, and our objectives further the aims of eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering good relations.

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