St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Axminster

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately a… — Priority will be given to Catholic looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2. 2Priority will next be given to other Catholic children. [The applicant must complete a Faith Supplementary Information F… — Priority will next be given to other Catholic children. [The applicant must complete a Faith Supplementary Information Form verified by a church priest or minister.]
3. 3Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately… — Priority will next be given to other looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
4. 4Priority will next be given to children who have an exceptional social or medical need which means they should attend th… — Priority will next be given to children who have an exceptional social or medical need which means they should attend this school rather than any other (or whose parents have such a need). [The applicant must complete an Exceptional Needs Supplementary Information Form, supported by evidence from a medical specialist or social worker, explaining the need and why it necessitates the child’s attendance at this school.]
5. 5Priority will next be given to Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church. [The applicant must complete a Fa… — Priority will next be given to Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church. [The applicant must complete a Faith Supplementary Information Form verified by a church priest or minister.]
6. 6Priority will next be given to children who are siblings of pupils on roll at this school — Priority will next be given to children who are siblings of pupils on roll at this school.
7. 7Priority will next be given to children who are members of other Christian denominations, who regularly attend a Christi… — Priority will next be given to children who are members of other Christian denominations, who regularly attend a Christian church. [The applicant must complete a Faith Supplementary Information Form verified by a church priest or minister.]
8. 8Priority will next be given to children living within 2 miles of the school — Priority will next be given to children living within 2 miles of the school.
9. 9Priority will next be given to children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for more than two year… — Priority will next be given to children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for more than two years or recruited within the past two years to fill a vacancy for which there was a skills shortage. ‘Catholic’ means a member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome. This includes the Eastern Catholic Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. For the purposes of this policy, it includes a looked after child living with a family where at least one of the parents is Catholic. Children who are Looked After by or provided with accommodation in the exercise of its functions (see the Children Act 1989 section 22(1)) by a local authority. An adoption order is an order under the Adoption Act 1976 (see Section 12 adoption orders) and children who were adopted under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (see Section 46 adoption orders). A child arrangements order is an order settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 as amended by Section 14 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a special guardianship order as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). ‘catechumen’ means a member of the catechumenate of a Catholic Church. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of reception into the order of catechumens. ‘Eastern Christian Church’ includes Orthodox Churches and is normally evidenced by a certificate of baptism or reception from the authorities of that Church. Sibling’ means a natural brother or sister, a half brother or sister, a legally adopted brother or sister or half-brother or sister, a step brother or sister or other child living in the same household as part of a single-family unit at the date of their application for a place. Siblings are those on roll in Reception to Year 6 or with a formal offer of admission to those year groups. ‘Children of other Christian denominations’ means children who belong to other churches and ecclesial communities which acknowledge God’s revelation in Christ, confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit commit themselves: to seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another in the Church, which is his body; and to fulfil their mission to proclaim the Gospel by common witness and service to the world to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. An ecclesial community which, on principle, has no credal statements in its tradition is included if it manifests faith in Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures and is committed to working in the spirit of the above. All members of Churches Together in England (CTE) and Churches Together in Wales (CYTUN) are deemed to be included in the above definition, as are all other churches and ecclesial communities that are in membership of any local Churches Together Group (by whatever title) on the above basis. A church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity or a church recognised by Churches Together in England. This will be measured in a straight-line from home to the centre of the main entrance to the school grounds. A child will be eligible if the member of staff is either the natural or adoptive parent or other person with parental responsibility or any person living in the same household and acting as the child’s parent. This will be any salaried person employed at this school when the application is made. Where the duties of a member of staff are undertaken at different schools in a federation or chain of schools, there will be admissions priority only at one school. This will be at the member of staff’s base school, where he or she works for more than 50% of their duties.
10. 10Priority will next be given to other children — Priority will next be given to other children.

If two applications tie: Tiebreaker – to prioritise applications in the same oversubscription criterion: a) straight-line distance from home to school and then, b) where distances are equal (within 2 metres) an electronic list randomiser will be used. School Admissions Policies

Plymouth CAST is the admission authority for this school and determines one trust-wide policy per school per year; the local authority coordinates applications. Designated religious character: Catholic Church, Diocese of Plymouth. The policy gives priority to children living within 2 miles of the school.

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.