Directory of schools in Central Bedfordshire - The Vale Academy - Dunstable

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Rule 1: Looked after children 

‘Looked after children’ or children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the Trust to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. 

• A looked-after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England (section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). 
• A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after (in England), but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or special guardianship order, as well as a child who appears to the Trust Board to have been in state care outside of England care (i.e. in the care of or accommodated by a public authority, religious organisation or any other provider whose sole/main purpose is to benefit society), but ceased to be so as a result of being adopted. 
• An adoption order is an order under the Adoption Act 1976 (see section 12 adoption orders) and children who were adopted under the Adoption and Children’s Act 2002 (see section 46 adoption orders). A ‘child arrangements order’ is an order settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 as amended by s.14 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). 

Rule 2: Children of staff

This refers to children of staff employed by The Shared Learning Trust for a place in any of their academies. 

Rule 3: Children who have siblings currently at The Vale Academy

Siblings are defined as meaning two or more children who have at least one parent in common and/or who reside at the same house. 

Rule 4: Children who live in the catchment area

The Vale Academy will draw its students from the Academy’s catchment area. Details of these catchments are published on the Local Authority and Shared Learning Trust websites. 

Rule 5: Shortest distance children

Those who live closest to the academy - measured in a straight line from the main front entrance of the academy and the pupil’s home address. 

In any situation where the application of the above (admission) rules results in a situation where there are more children with an equal right to admission to the academy than the number of available places, a distance tie-break will be used, giving priority for admission to the child living closest to the school. The tie-break will be the distance from the school, measured in a straight line, using an approved computerised mapping system. Those living closer to the academy will be accorded the higher priority. The home address will be measured from a point at the address identified in the Local Land and Property Gazetteer to the school gate on Wilbury Drive. Priority is not given within each criterion to children who meet other criteria.

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If you believe any of the information on this page is incorrect, please email admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk to let us know.

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