St Mary's R.C. Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after/previously looked after Catholic children — Looked after Children (LAC - children in the public care) or previously Looked After Children who are baptised as Roman Catholics or have been formally accepted into the Roman Catholic Church.
2. 2Catholic children in catchment — Children who are baptised as Roman Catholics, or have been formally accepted into the Roman Catholic Church, who permanently reside in the catchment area*.
3. 3Catholic children outside catchment — Children who are baptised as Roman Catholics, or have been formally accepted into the Roman Catholic Church, who do not permanently reside in the catchment area*.
4. 4Looked after/previously looked after non-Catholic children — Looked after children (LAC -children in the public care) or previously Looked After children who are not of the Roman Catholic Faith.
5. 5Other Christian denominations in catchment — Children of other Christian denominations, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who permanently reside in the catchment area*.
6. 6Other Christian denominations outside catchment — Children of other Christian denominations, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who do not permanently reside in the catchment area*.
7. 7Other faith traditions in catchment — Children of other Faith traditions, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who permanently reside in the catchment area*.
8. 8Other faith traditions outside catchment — Children of other Faith traditions, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who do not permanently reside in the catchment area*.
9. 9Other children in catchment — Other children, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who permanently reside in the catchment area*.
10. 10Other children outside catchment — Other children, whose parents have demonstrated a wish for Catholic education, who do not permanently reside in the catchment area*.

If two applications tie: In the event that the Admissions Committee is unable to allocate places to all the children in one particular category whose parents are practising Catholics or practising Christians, priority will then be based on those residing closest to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School. For further information on how distances are measured, please refer to the paragraph entitled ‘Home to School Distances’ within the ‘Relevant Information’ section.

Where St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School is named on a child’s statement of educational need, the Admissions Committee has a duty to admit the child before oversubscription criteria are applied. In each category, priority will next be given to siblings of pupils already registered at the school at the time of admission. Catchment area is defined as: Ely River, the eastern side of Western Avenue (A48) Ely Road and Cardiff Road; to roundabout (BBC) including Llandaff Village bounded by the River Taff to railway line parallel to Ninian Park Road; both sides of Sloper Road to both sides of Bessemer Road and Hadfield Road to the River Ely. Evidence required: photocopy of child's birth certificate; proof of residency (Council Tax check); for baptised Roman Catholic children, a photocopy of Baptismal Certificate or Minister/Religious Leader's reference (if preparing for sacrament, confirmation in writing from parish priest, equated to baptism); for other faiths, Minister/Religious Leader's reference; for other Christian denominations, Baptismal Certificate or Minister/Religious Leader's reference if denomination favours adult baptism. If evidence not provided, application considered under 'other children' (Cat 9 and 10). Age at baptism considered where category oversubscribed, youngest given highest priority. Fraudulent claims may result in withdrawal of place. Late applications processed after closing-date applications unless exceptional reasons (e.g. serious illness of single parent, just moved into area, arrival from abroad) supported by a letter, and received before offers are made. Waiting lists: for phase transfer, names remain on list until 30th September of the admission year; for in-year admissions, until end of the academic year; waiting lists do not prioritise by date added, but by oversubscription criteria. Multiple births: if last child admitted is part of a multiple birth, other sibling(s) will also be admitted. Deferred entry allowed until start of term after child's fifth birthday, within the same school year. Home-to-school distance measured as shortest available walking route via GIS/OS data. Siblings defined to include brothers/sisters, half-siblings, step-siblings, adopted/fostered children living at the same address, but a school will only consider siblings attending Years 1-6 during the 2025-26 school year. Infant class size limit of 30 pupils applies to Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

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.