Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir

Your Questions Answered

Consultation on proposals to change secondary catchment areas for Melton schools

Question

Do the proposals affect primary schools in Melton Mowbray or the Vale?

Answer

No, there are no plans to change the catchment areas for any of the primary schools in the area.

Question

What about Belvoir High School?

Answer

The proposals to consult on a single catchment area only affect the three secondary schools in Melton Mowbray, that is to say King Edward VII, John Ferneley High, and Long Field High.

The Belvoir High School in Bottesford, because of its location, is excluded from the proposals and will continue to maintain its existing catchment area serving the Vale community.

Question

What if I live in the Vale but would prefer my child to go to one of the schools in Melton (or vice versa)?

Answer

Parents are free to express a preference for their child to attend any school. If there are too many applications for the school requested then some children will have higher priority than others as set out in the Leicestershire admissions criteria. Parents are therefore always recommended when applying for a school for their child, to include their catchment school as one of their preferences.

Question

If there is to be a choice of three secondary schools in Melton for my child, will he/she qualify for free transport if I do not choose the nearest?

Answer

As all three schools are designated as in catchment, free transport will be available providing you live in catchment and more than three miles from the school.

Question

Will my child be disadvantaged if they live some distance from the preferred school?

Answer

The Local Authority, in considering your preference, take account of a number of criteria set out in the admissions policy, including as a last consideration the distance you live from the preferred school. This only matters if there are too many requests for the preferred school.

Question

What happens if my preferred school is over-subscribed and cannot offer a place?

Answer

The Local Authority is obliged to offer you a place at a suitable school. The application form for pupil admissions allows you to express a number of preferences, and we will do our best to agree one of your preferences, in the order you have given.

Question

If my child attends a feeder primary school, will this guarantee a place at the linked secondary school?

Answer

There are no guarantees for any child in the admissions process.

Each secondary school will work with its local primary schools as ‘feeders’ to ensure clear progression routes for each child’s learning, and to enable a smooth transition from the primary to secondary stage of their education. Attending a feeder primary school may give higher priority in the event your preferred secondary school is over-subscribed (please refer to the full conditions set out in the Admissions Policy www.leics.gov.uk/yourguides. for further information). Your local secondary school will be able to tell you more about their feeder primary school links.

Question

Are there any plans to restrict the admission numbers for the Melton secondary schools (below the limits already stated during consultation)?

Answer

No. The Local Authority is committed to the development of three 11-19 schools in Melton Mowbray, each offering 800 places for 11-16 year olds (pupils will attend the new Post 16 Centre on attaining 16 years of age). Each school will therefore have a Year 7 (age 11) admission limit of 160 pupils.