Secondary Schools

Children transfer to secondary school at the end of Year 6 when they are about 11 years of age.

There are four secondary schools for pupils aged 11 to 16 years. Pupils normally attend the secondary school in whose catchment area they live.

Pupils wishing to attend Hautlieu at 14+ will have been judged academically able as a result of cognitive ability tests (CATs) and teacher assessment. Further information on Hautlieu is available here.

During a child’s final year in primary school, the Department for Education, Sport and Culture makes contact with all parents and asks them to complete a form for return to their catchment area school before March 1st. Parents are asked to indicate:

• whether they wish their child to attend their local catchment area school;
• whether they prefer their child to attend a different non-fee paying secondary school;
• whether they have made other arrangements for the education of their child.

Children living in the catchment area of a secondary school have priority for places. Subject to availability of accommodation, other children from outside the catchment area can be offered a place. Whilst the Department for Education, Sport and Culture makes every effort to accommodate parents' wishes priority for places is governed by the following criteria:

• children who already have brothers/sisters at a particular secondary school;
• children coming from a primary school which is located within the secondary school's catchment area;
• children whose families are working or living near the school;
• special cases eg supported by a doctor, educational psychologist and so on.

All secondary schools have arrangements for pupils and their parents to visit the school before transfer.