Admissions and Open Days
Prospective students and parents/carers looking to join our School from Year 7 can come to visit us.
Open Evening
Every autumn we are delighted that prospective students and their parents/carers join us for our open evening. This is in readiness for the application deadline with Leeds City Council at the end of October.
At our open evening you will be able to hear from our Headteacher; see science and food technology demonstrations; experience art, I.T. and music workshops; sample food from the diner; tour the school and meet with students and staff.
We hope you can join us to see how wonderful our school is.
Admissions and Appeals
Horsforth School regulates its own admissions in accordance with the National Schools Admissions Code and the School Admissions Appeals Code and we coordinate with the Schools Admissions Department of Leeds City Council. Leeds City Council manages our admissions and appeals, you can find out further information about this here.
You can read our Admissions Policy here.
In Year Transfer
If you are wishing to transfer your child to this or another Secondary School, please apply online to Leeds City Council’s Admissions Department.
The Process
Leeds City Council Admissions Department handle the Admissions Process from Primary to Secondary School. Visit their website, which includes an outline of the process and key documents mentioned here.
If your child is due to start secondary school in September, you must apply to Leeds City Council for a school place by using the process outlined below. The deadline for applications is 31st October each year. It is important that you submit your application before this date.
If you live in Leeds and have an email address, you must apply online by going to the Leeds City Council website. If you apply online, keep your acknowledgement as proof. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email within 24 hours your application has not been completed successfully. Make sure you click the ‘submit’ button at the end of the form.
You must make your online application before the 31st October.
Any applications received after 31st October may not be considered by Leeds City Council until all applications submitted on time have been dealt with. If you did not apply online before 31st October and you wish your child to start in September email startingsecondary@leeds.gov.uk or call: 0113 222 4414.
If you do not have access to the internet please contact the Local Authority to request a paper application form on: 0113 222 4414.
Offers
Offers of school places will be sent out on 1st March each year.
Confirming Your Place
To confirm your place at Horsforth School, please complete our online acceptance form or contact Horsforth School Admissions Team either by post, telephone or email admissions@horsforthschool.org
Help and Guidance
Leeds City Council
For assistance with the online application process, please visit the Leeds City Council website or call the Admissions Team on: 0113 222 4414.
Horsforth School
Email us at: admissions@horsforthschool.org.
Please Note
The dates stated on this page may change if they fall on a weekend, please see Leeds City Council website for the most up-to-date information.
Year 6 into Year 7 Transition
We know how daunting the move to secondary school can be for both students and parents/carers, so we do lots of work with our Year 6 students to try to make this as smooth and easy as possible.
We have strong links with our primary schools and throughout the year we work closely together to share good practice and link learning from primary to secondary school. Several activities are developed to help bridge the gap between these key phases in students’ learning.
Please also have a read of our general school FAQs here.
Transition Information and Activities
Every week we’ll share something new with you so you can start to get to know us, we’re a friendly bunch really!
Year 6 Looking Ahead Evening
Thank you to all the parents/carers who joined us on Wednesday 13th March, we hope you found it useful. Here’s our presentation from the evening and some other key information for our students joining in September 2024:
Year 6 into Year 7 FAQs
How will Horsforth School differ from my primary school?
Our school will be bigger than your primary school with lots more students, but don’t worry, there is a map in the student planner, signage around school and classroom zones to help with this. There will be more teachers, classrooms and new lessons (drama, languages and technology) and clubs to experience. Students will need to be more independent and organised to remember stationery and PE kits, but we will always be here to help and support you as you settle in.
What will my transition timeline from Year 6 to Year 7 look like?
At the end of Year 6, students begin a transition programme of events which help with their move. Information on all of our events is distributed via primary schools once school offers have been made at the beginning of March.
March
We hold a ‘Looking Ahead’ session for parents/carers, where we will give you information about key events that will happen in the run up to September.
May
Students will attend a ‘Getting To Know Us Day’ where, along with their Year 6 teacher, they will be introduced to some key members of the Year 7 team, see the school, have lunch, begin to learn more about our school and have the opportunity to ask questions.
June
Our ‘Parents/carers’ Information Evening’ will go into more detail about day to day routines and procedures. Our uniform suppliers are on hand and our catering team will create sample food for you to try.
July
Students will attend their first full day in school, sampling lessons and meeting their Form Group and Tutor. Students will be given a summer project to complete and the best projects will win a prize!
Summer Holidays
Organised by Horsforth Children’s Services students can come along to the Summer School to become more familiar with their peers and new surroundings. Your primary school will let you know how to sign up.
September
On the first day in September, Year 7 students are first in the building to allow them to settle in. The other year groups don’t arrive until break time.
We do a lot of work as a Pastoral Team to help with the settling in process. Form Tutors will work on developing independence and reassuring students about any worries they may have.
In the first term all Year 7 students will go on an activity trip to do lots of fun activities like archery, an assault course, climbing tower and giant swing to help make new friends and parents/carers will be invited to a ‘Settling In Evening’.
Who are my key contacts in Year 7?
You can see who’s who on the Year 7 team including who to contact and when here.
How can I help my child be organised for school?
You can help your child by encouraging them to establish good routines, to be punctual and have a good attendance. Encouraging their effort and positive attitude to learning and reinforcing our expectations will all help.
Try to get them to check their planners daily for homework and to complete it the night it is set, where possible. We offer a homework club for students which can help them with this. They can go into the library between 8:00am and 4:00pm Monday to Thursday to complete work or can visit the ELC computer suite at lunch and after school most days.
Please encourage your child to check their planner and pack their bag the night before so that they are organised and prepared for the next day.
What will students in Year 7 learn?
There is a dedicated section on our website just for our Year 7 students, go here and read about what you will learn in your first year at our School.
Why do all students study RE?
Academies and free schools are contractually required through the terms of their funding agreement to make provision for the teaching of RE. Further information concerning RE in academies and free schools is given below.
– Academies and free schools must teach RE within the requirements for a locally agreed syllabus, set out in section 375 (3) of the Education Act 1996 and paragraph (5) of Schedule 19 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The requirements are that a syllabus must ‘reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are, in the main, Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’;
– The law gives parents/carers the right to withdraw their child from collective acts of worship and/or RE lessons. We respect that right but would ask that you make an appointment with the Curriculum Leader for RE to discuss the matter first and follow this decision with a formal letter to the Headteacher.
Why do all students study Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) including Relationships and Sex Education?
As an 11-18 comprehensive school, we have a responsibility to prepare students adequately for adult life. The curriculum endeavours to ensure that every child is offered a continuing programme of personal, social and citizenship and health education, which includes a relationship and sex education component. This is statutory.