Pupils are normally transferred from primary between the ages of 11 and 12 years so that they will have the opportunity to complete at least 4 years of secondary education. Parents will be informed of the arrangements no later than December of the year preceding the date of transfer at the start of the new session.
Pupils who attain the age of 16 years on or between 1st March and 30th September cease to be of school age on 31st May, and pupils who attain the age of 16 years on or between 1st October and the last day of February cease to be of school age on the first day of the Christmas holiday period. A pupil is then free to leave school.
For pupils living outside the catchment area, an application for a Placing Request should be made to North Lanarkshire Learning and Leisure Services.
Children already attending another secondary school, but living within the school’s catchment area, can be enrolled at Our Lady’s High School. Parents should first telephone to make an appointment with the relevant Head of Year. The child should be brought to the interview along with any reports from their previous school. The purpose of the interview is to determine their class. The child would start school as soon as possible thereafter.
Placing requests
You have the right to make a placing request for your child to be educated in a school other than the local school. In December each year, the authority will advertise its arrangements for placing requests. There are sound educational reasons for trying to ensure that the transfer or admission of children to a school takes place at the start of a school session. Other than those who are moving home or to a new area, parents are advised to time any placing requests so that they take effect from the beginning of the new school session. Every effort will be made to try to meet the parental wishes, but you should note that it is not always possible to grant every placing request to a particular school. Once a pupil has reached the school leaving age the pupil, not the pupil’s parent/carer may choose which school to go to. Placing requests to Primary School does not necessarily ensure that your child will have a direct entry to the associated secondary. Advice on this must be sought from the Primary School Head Teacher. Further information on placing requests and procedures is available from the school or the council’s website.
Parents/Carers and Young People have a right under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2009 to make a placing request for their child or young person to attend a nursery (including partnership nursery), special school or special class managed by the home authority. In the event of a successful placing request the authority are not required to provide transport. The Act also enables parents and young people to make a placing request to attend a school/establishment belonging to another authority.
