FAQ

What is the Choice Adviser Service?

The transfer from primary to secondary school can be very stressful for parents. Every parent wants the best for their child, and the service aims to provide all the information a parent will need to be able to make a realistic informed decision about the where their child should attend. The current Admissions Code ensures that the Choice Advisory Service helps parents to access information, and provides an impartial independent service to support parents to be able make a decision so their child is allocated the right school.

What is the role of the Choice Adviser?

The Choice Adviser will empower parents to make a choice about the preferred secondary school for their children. Choice advisers will offer advice and provide information, but will not make decisions for the parent. The Choice Adviser will provide information about the each individual school, so that parents can make an informed choice. They will have information available about the admissions process, and the admissions criteria for the schools. The Choice Advice Service can also provide support for parents through the appeals process.

How is the Choice Advisory Service Funded?

The Choice Advisory Service is funded by Stoke-On-Trent Local Authority. This is an initiative to help parents get their children into the right schools according to their child's needs. This ensures that there is equal opportunity for every parent and child when applying for a secondary school.

Will every local Authority be providing Choice Advice?

Currently every Local Authority has to provide a Choice Advice Service. They may vary between individual authorities in their set up and line management. Local authorities are required to provide Choice Advice ensuring that they remain independent and impartial, focussing on the families who need the most support through the admissions process.

Who can benefit from Choice Advice?

The Choice Advice Service is aimed at parents who find the admissions process difficult to navigate through, and need the extra support. All parents have the equal opportunity to access good education for their child. The service ensures that parents gain the information about the schools to make this access as fair as possible.

Where is Choice Advice based?

Mount Education Support Centre, People-Children & Young People's Services, City of Stoke-on-Trent, Mount Avenue, Penkhull, Stoke -on -Trent, ST4 7JU

It is based alongside the Parent Partnership Service so that it remains impartial and also independent from the Local Authority.

Where can I find further information about the admissions process?

You can find further information by the following:

  • The Local Authority Admissions booklet, which will have the admission procedure for each school in the area.
  • Follow the links off this website to DfE, and also Ofsted. This will give you further information about the admissions process, and also information about the schools. Booklets about the admission process and admissions appeals can be downloaded.
  • Attend school open days during September the schools will have open days which you can attend. This is where you can openly find out about the school and the facilities.

  • Each Local Authority will send out an application pack to all parents with children on school rolls at the start of Year 6, with detailed guidance on applying for a secondary school place.

Who needs to know about Choice Advice?

All practitioners working with families, all local school admissions staff, primary school staff, and Education Welfare Officers, so they know where to refer the parents they work with, if they need additional help in selecting a school or appealing for a school place.

Is Choice Advice provided for all school admissions e.g. primary entry in addition to secondary entry?

The main focus for the Choice Advisory Service is for parents transferring from primary to secondary school. Information can also be given about other schools.