St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Baptised Catholic looked after / previously looked after children — *Baptised Catholic children who are in the care of the Local Authority or provided with accommodation by that authority as defined in Section 22 of the Children Act 1989. This criterion will also apply to Baptised Catholic children who were previously in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care as they have been adopted. This is in accordance with advice from the Minister of State for Schools. These are Baptised Catholic children who were looked after outside of England by a public authority, a religious group or another provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society (eg orphanages). Parents/carers will be expected to provide evidence of previous looked after status. If this proves difficult, or not possible, they should contact the School Admissions Team for advice.
2. 2Baptised Catholic children in parish of St. Cuthbert's with sibling at academy — *Baptised Catholic children who are resident in the Parish of St. Cuthbert's on the closing date for applications who have a sibling(s)** at the academy, at the time of application.
3. 3Baptised Catholic children resident in parish of St. Cuthbert's — *Baptised Catholic children who are resident in the Parish of St. Cuthbert's on the closing date for applications
4. 4Baptised Catholic children residing elsewhere with sibling at academy — *Baptised Catholic children who are residing elsewhere who have a sibling(s)** at the academy at the time of entry into the Reception Class, at the time of application.
5. 5Baptised Catholic children residing elsewhere — *Baptised Catholic children who are residing elsewhere.
6. 6Other looked after / previously looked after children — Other children in the care of the local authority or provided with accommodation by that authority as defined in Section 22 of the Children Act 1989 or adopted children who were previously in the care of the local education authority or provided with accommodation by that authority as defined in Section 22 of the Children Act 1989. This criterion will also apply to children who were previously in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care as they have been adopted. This is in accordance with advice from the Minister of State for Schools. These are children who were looked after outside of England by a public authority, a religious group or another provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society (eg orphanages). Parents/carers will be expected to provide evidence of previous looked after status. If this proves difficult, or not possible, they should contact the School Admissions Team for advice.
7. 7Children of staff employed by the Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust — Children of staff employed by the Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
8. 8People of Faith — Children who are designated as People of Faith***.
9. 9Children with sibling at academy — Children with a sibling(s)** already attending the academy at the time of application.
10. 10Children of other faiths — Children of other faiths.
11. 11Other children — Other children whose parents/carers wish them to be educated within the ethos and values of a Roman Catholic Academy.

If two applications tie: Children living nearest the Academy as measured by a straight line distance from the Local Land and Property Gazateer (LLGP) address point of the school to the Ordnance Survey point of the applicant's home address and of the academy. In the event of the distances being identical lots will be drawn to determine which child is offered a place at the Academy.

The policy states that all children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs naming the Academy will automatically be admitted (pre-criteria). Sibling defined as full/half/adopted brothers or sisters, child of parent/carer's partner living in the same family unit at the same address, stepchildren or foster children living at the same address.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.