Admissions
ADMISSIONS POLICY 2023/24
This policy is informed by the Christian values which are the basis for all of CDAT's work and any actions taken under this policy will reflect this. The Trust has a distinctive ethos that is clearly rooted in the Gospel. CDAT is committed to:
- Valuing the uniqueness of every child
- Aspiring to excellence
- Being a nurturing learning community for all.
Jesus said, ‘I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10).
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Admission arrangements for September 2024
Bredbury St Mark’s CE Primary School (academy)
Chester Diocesan Academies Trust is the admissions authority for Bredbury St Mark’s CE Primary School and will allocate places according to the criteria indicated below. This policy will be reviewed by the trust on an annual basis.
Making an application
Although Chester Diocesan Academies Trust is the admissions authority, admissions to reception for all schools and academies are co-ordinated by the Local Authority and so parents will need to fill in a common application form provided by the Local Authority. Applications for admission to Bredbury St Mark’s Primary should be be made on the form online at www.stockport.gov.uk/schooladmissions by the closing date (15th January) set out in the LA's co-ordinated scheme. It is not normally possible to change the order of your preferences for schools after the closing date.
Letters informing parents of whether or not their child has been allocated a place will be sent out by the Local Authority on or near 16th April. Parents of children not admitted will be informed of the reason and offered an alternative place by the Authority.
Parents should be aware that attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a place in reception and an application for a reception place must be made as set out above.
Admission procedures
The planned admission number (PAN) is 30. This arrangement follows consultation with other admission authorities in the area. There will be no restrictions on admissions to the reception class unless the number of children for whom admission is sought exceeds this number.
The academy trust operates a system of equal preferences under which all preferences are treated equally and the Local Authority allocates places according to its policy. In the event that there are more applicants than places remaining, the academy will allocate these places using the following criteria, which are listed in order of priority:
- Looked after children and children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements, residence order or special guardianship order).
- Children with exceptional medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at this academy.
- Children who live in the catchment area and who have a sibling currently attending the academy who will still be attending the following year.
- Children who live in the catchment area.
- Children who live outside the catchment area and who have a sibling currently attending the academy who will still be attending the following year.
- Children who live closest to the academy as measured in a straight line from child’s home address or the main entrance of the block of flats they reside in to the nearest entrance of the school, using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system. In the event of a tie break a lottery overseen by an independent body will be undertaken.
Definitions and notes
- a) A looked after child is a child who is a) in the care of the Local Authority, or b) being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions (under section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). A previously looked after child is one who immediately moved on from that status after becoming subject to an adoption, residence child arrangements or special guardianship order.
- b) Professional supporting evidence from eg a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under the criterion for exceptional medical or social. circumstances, and such evidence must set out the particular reasons why the school is question is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
- c) Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner, and in every case, the child should be living in the same family unit at the same address.
- g) Every address in Stockport falls with the catchment area of one Primary School. The catchment area; as set out by the Local Authority for this school; can be found using the link to the Local Authorities website: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/find-your-catchment-area
Parents should be aware that attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a place in reception and an application for a reception place must be made as set out above.
Late applications for admission
Where the Local Authority accepts that there are extenuating circumstances for an application being received after the last date for applications, and it is before the list of pupils to be admitted has been established, then it will be considered alongside all the others.
Otherwise, applications which are received after the last date will be considered after all the others, and placed on the waiting list in order according to the criteria.
Waiting list
Where there are more applications than places, the admissions criteria will be used. Children who are not admitted will have their name placed on a waiting list. The names on this waiting list will be in the order resulting from the application of the admissions criteria. Since the date of application cannot be a criterion for the order of names on the waiting list, late applicants for the school will be slotted into the order according to the extent to which they meet the criteria. Thus it is possible that a child who moves into the area later to have a higher priority than one who has been on the waiting list for some time. If a place becomes available within the admission number, the child whose name is at the top of the list will be offered a place. This is not dependent on whether an appeal has been submitted.
This waiting list will operate until the 31st December.
Address of pupil
The address used on the admission form must be the current one at the time of application. Where the parents live at different addresses, the current-at-the-time-of-application, normal address of the child will be the one used. This will normally be the one where the child wakes up for the majority of Monday to Friday mornings. Parents may be asked to show evidence of the claim that is being made for the address, e.g. utility bills of various sorts showing the child’s address as the one claimed. Where there is dispute about the correct address to use, the academy trust reserves the right to make enquiries of any relevant third parties, e.g. the child’s GP. For children of UK Service personnel and other Crown Servants returning to the area proof of the posting is all that is required.
Non-routine admissions
It sometimes happens that a child needs to change school other than at the “normal” time; such admissions are known as non-routine or in-year admissions. The LA co-ordinates in-year admissions and their process should be followed. An application form is available on their website.
Please note that you cannot re-apply for a place at a school within the same school year unless there has been relevant, significant and material change in the family circumstances.
Appeals
Where it is not possible to offer a place because Bredbury St Mark’s is over subscribed, parents have the right to appeal to an independent admission appeals panel. The Local Authority manages the appeals procedure on the behalf of the academy. Parents should fill in an appeals form and return it by the date indicated on the LA website. Parents will have the opportunity to submit their case to the panel in writing and also to attend in order to present their case. You will normally receive 14 days’ notice of the place and time of the hearing.
Fraudulent applications
Where it is discovered that a child has been awarded a place as the result of an intentionally misleading application from a parent (for example a false claim to residence in the catchment area) which effectively denies a place to a child with a stronger claim, then the academy trust is required to withdraw the offer of the place. The application will be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if a place is refused.
Deferred admission
Children are eligible for a reception place from the beginning of the school year in which they become 5 years old. However they do not become of compulsory school age until the start of the term after their fifth birthday. After a place has been allocated and accepted parents can request that the place be deferred until later in the year and if they do this the place will be held for the child. They cannot however defer entry beyond the beginning of the term after the child’s fifth birthday, nor beyond the academic year for which the original application was accepted. Parents can also request that their child attends on a part time basis until the child reaches compulsory school age. Parents of summer born children (those born between 1st April and 31st August) who wish to delay entry until the following year must speak to the school and Local Authority as soon as possible as this would involve either an in-year application for year 1 or a new application for reception in the following year. An application form should still be filled in for the current admission process.
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