South Tyneside Local Authority (LA) operates a Co-ordinated Admission Scheme with other Admission Authorities within the Borough, i.e. Voluntary Aided and Academy Schools and with neighbouring Local Authorities. These include Gateshead, North Tyneside and Sunderland LAs. You can submit only one South Tyneside Local Authority (LA) operates a Co-ordinated Admission Scheme with other Admission Authorities within the Borough, i.e. Voluntary Aided and Academy Schools and with neighbouring Local Authorities. These include Gateshead, North Tyneside and Sunderland LAs. You can submit only we strongly advise that you name more than one school. If any of your preferences are for a school other than a South Tyneside School, then we will contact the appropriate Admission Authority of that school to enable a decision to be made on your application. If you live in South Tyneside - parents who complete a form online will be notified via their eservices account on offer day on DATE (National Offer Day).
Equal Preference System (All Schools)
All schools in South Tyneside operate an equal preference system. This means that each admission authority must consider any preference for the school regardless of the ranking on your application form. It means that an individual school first, second and third preferences equally and apply their admission criteria to everyone who applied on time. If your child can be offered a place at more than one school a place will be allocated at the highest ranked school.
Community, Voluntary Aided (V.A.), Voluntary Controlled Schools and Academies - Admission Policies and Admission Criteria
You need to be aware that Trust, Voluntary Aided (Roman Catholic and Church of England) Schools and Academies have different admission policies and admission criteria to that of Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools in South Tyneside.However all Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools in South Tyneside use the same admission policy. You will need to consider the admission policy for any School you express a preference for, in order to determine what criteria each school will use when they consider your application. All admission policies can be found in our booklet 'Information for Parents' available at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/schooladmissions or telephone 0191 424 7767 / 7706 for a copy.
Late Applications
If you return your application form after 4.30pm on DATE 2024, your application will be considered as 'Late' and you should be aware that this will reduce your chance of gaining a place at the school(s) you want. You should state why your application is ‘Late’ – if you fail to do this, we will assume that you do not have any exceptional circumstances to allow the LA to consider your application along with those received on time. Applications received before DATE 2024 with exceptional circumstances may be considered.
Change of School Preference(s) after 4.30pm on Monday 16 January 2023
Once you have submitted your application form you can only change your preferences in exceptional circumstances i.e. you have moved address. Your original application will be cancelled and a new application must be submitted which will be considered as 'Late'. You should be aware that this will reduce your chance of gaining a place at the school(s) you want.
Address
Your home address is an important factor as school places are allocated on the basis of the home address of each child. This must be the child’s permanent home address, where he/she lives with a person of parental responsibility as the main carer (as defined by the Children Act 1989). If the address on your application form is not your child’s normal address, you must provide a Residence Order, issued by a court, if you wish that address to be considered.
You should be aware that each Admission Authority reserves the right to seek proof of address and to withdraw an offer of a place, if inaccurate information or address is given on the application form. If you change your address after the submission of the form you must contact us immediately. Any school place will be offered on the basis of your application and the assumption that your child will still be resident at this address in September 2024 - we may ask for proof of your new address.
Acknowledgment of Application Form
We will send you an acknowledgment to your individual email account by the end of February 2023 to confirm that we have received and are processing your application form. If you do not receive an acknowledgment, please contact us immediately. Parents who have completed a paper application will be sent a letter through the post.
Contact Telephone Numbers
For advice on the admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools in South Tyneside, you can ring telephone numbers 0191 424 7767 or 0191 424 7706. If you require advice and guidance about how the admission criteria / policy of a school other than Community or Voluntary Controlled operates then you will need to contact the school direct.
Contacts in Other Local Authorities
You can seek advice about admission to schools in neighbouring Local Authorities on the following telephone numbers:
Gateshead Local Authority: 0191 433 8587
North Tyneside Local Authority: 0191 643 8724
Sunderland Local Authority: 0191 520 5553
