Admissions
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
We welcome applications from families of all faiths and no faith. All are welcome to join our inclusive, welcoming and friendly school.
Pupils transferring from Y6 at primary school to Y7 secondary school must do so through the Staffordshire County Council co-ordinated admissions scheme.
All applicants must submit the admissions online application or paper application to the Staffordshire County Council. Please find the link below:
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-secondary/Apply/Overview.aspx
The deadline for the form is Thursday 31st October 2024.
In addition to the local authority application, parents should submit a supplementary information form directly to Cardinal Griffin Catholic College by Thursday 31st October 2024. The appropriate evidence should be attached so that pupils can be ranked in accordance with our admissions criteria.
Supplementary Information Form
Our admissions criteria can be found: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-secondary/Current-arrangements/5403-Cardinal-Griffin-Catholic-College.aspx
Applications received after this date will be considered after the initial allocation process has been completed (see late application below).
If you do not complete the SCC admissions form and return it by the closing date, the Governing Body may be unable to consider your application fully and your child may not get a place at the College.
Pupils already in a secondary school who wish to transfer to Cardinal Griffin Catholic College do so by following the procedure set out below in-year admissions.
IN YEAR ADMISSIONS
Applications for In-Year admissions are made directly to the College.
If a place is available and there is no waiting list, the child will be admitted. If more applications are received than there are places available then applications will be ranked by the governing body in accordance with the oversubscription criteria above. If a place cannot be offered at this time then you may ask us for the reasons and you will be informed of your right of appeal. You will be offered the opportunity of being placed on a waiting list. Names are removed from the list at the end of each academic year. When a place becomes available the governing body will re-rank the list and make an offer.
In-Year Applications
An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. An application should be made to the school by completing the in-year admissions application form.
A hard copy of the application form can be obtained by contacting the admissions team at admissions@cardinalgriffin.staffs.sch.uk or on 01543 502215.
Completed application forms must be emailed to admissions@cardinalgriffin.staffs.sch.uk or returned to:
In-Year Admissions
Cardinal Griffin Catholic College
Cardinal Way
Cannock
Staffordshire
WS11 4AW
Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements for 2024-2025, will be applied. The full admission arrangements can be accessed here: https://cardinalgriffin.org.uk/Admissions/ or by contacting the school office to request a hard copy. Parents are advised to read the admission arrangements carefully before making their application.
If there are no places available, the child will be added to the waiting list and further information relating to this will be included in the letter sent from the school advising you of the outcome of your application. Please see the admission arrangements for more details.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible. Applicants must be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days of its receipt, but the aim is to notify applicants of the outcome of their application within 10 school days of its receipt.
You have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if your application is unsuccessful.
If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions please contact admissions@cardinalgriffin.staffs.sch.uk. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority, Staffordshire County Council.
CHILDREN EDUCATED OUT OF CHRONOLOGICAL AGE GROUP
Applications may be made for a child to be educated out of his/her age group i.e. a 12 year old being admitted to a Year 7, a 17 year old to a Year 12, or any child admitted in-year to the year below their chronological age group.
The applicant should write to the Chair of Governors at the time of application requesting that the child may be admitted out of his/her chronological age group.
UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS
If your child is not offered a place at the College, his name will normally be placed on a waiting list for admission to the College (see ‘Waiting List’ below).
If your child is not offered a place at the College you will be entitled to appeal to an independent panel. Details will be given in the letter of refusal. The decision of the panel is final.
WAITING LIST
Cardinal Griffin Catholic College operates a waiting list for pupils who have not been offered a place but whose parents express the wish for them to take up a place should one become available.
If a place does become available, all applicants are assessed in accordance with the entry criteria. Date of receipt of the application is not a factor. Pupils who are on the waiting list will not be removed unless requested by their parent(s).
APPEALS
Admission Appeal Timetable 2024/2025 (FOR SEPT 2024 YEAR 7 ADMISSIONS)
Parents have a statutory right of appeal against the refusal of a place which will be heard before an independent panel. Full details about the statutory right of appeal will be confirmed in the notification letter sent to parents on National Offer Day (1 March 2024).
LATE APPLICATIONS
Applications received after the closing date will be dealt with after the initial allocation process has been completed.
If the College is oversubscribed, it is very unlikely that late applicants will obtain a place.
FAIR ACCESS
The College is committed to taking its fair share of children who are vulnerable and/or hard to place, as set out in the locally agreed protocols.
Accordingly, outside the normal admissions round the governing body is empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is requested under local protocol that has been agreed by both the Diocese and governing body for the current school year. The Governing body has this power even when admitting the child would mean exceeding the published admission number.
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE
Cardinal Griffin Catholic College is committed to fairness and transparency in the way it operates its admissions procedures.
Parents are invited to contact the College to obtain help in applying, especially if they are disabled or have difficulties of language or are not familiar with the admissions process.
Any queries about admissions to our college should be directed to our College Reception. You can contact us on 01543 502215 or via email at admissions@cardinalgriffin.staffs.sch.uk
APPLICATIONS TO SIXTH FORM
Students transferring from Year 11 do not need to re-apply but must meet the requirements for the courses for which they have applied.
Please see Sixth Form entry requirements for the relevant year of entry. Applications from external students are welcome and places will be offered up to maximum capacity. Applications should reach the school by the published closing date, and in the case of oversubscription, the same criteria will apply as for Year 7.
Further queries should be directed to the Head of Sixth Form. A Sixth Form Prospectus is available upon request.
