Burghill Community Academy

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 and previously looked after children — Looked after children and previously looked after children who have since been adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2. 2Catchment area with sibling — Children living within the defined catchment area of the academy with an older sibling already attending. A sibling is defined as a brother or sister, half brother or half 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 at the same address. The sibling must be in the academy at the time of application and be likely to remain in the academy at the proposed date of admission.
3. 3Catchment area — Children living within the defined catchment area of the academy.
4. 4Sibling connection — Children who have an older sibling at the academy not only at the time of application but also when the younger child is due to start.
5. 5Staff — Pupils whose parent/parents are employed by the Academy for two years or more or recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
6. 6Pre-School Attendance — Children who attend a pre-school located on-site at an Academy and operated by Orchard Multi-Academy Trust may be given priority for admission to the associated Academy's Reception class. To meet this criterion, the child must have attended the pre-school for at least one full academic year (starting September 2026) prior to entering the Reception class. Places will be ranked according to: a) Number of sessions attended per week at the pre-school (children attending more sessions will be given higher priority); b) Distance to the Academy, measured by the shortest available walking route, will be used to rank children who attend the same number of sessions. Applies to: Burghill Community Academy, Canon Pyon Church of England Academy, Stretton Sugwas Church of England Academy.
7. 7Exceptional circumstances — Children with exceptional medical, social or compassionate grounds for admission and whose parents can show that entry to a particular school only is necessary for the wellbeing of their child. Parents are required to produce a medical certificate or other appropriate information preferably from an independent source. Applications on such grounds will not be considered by the Board of Directors unless this supporting information is attached to application forms received by 31 December 2026.
8. 8Distance — Children who live nearest to the school by the shortest available walking route.

If two applications tie: Distance measured by the shortest available walking route using a road and/or made up footpath using the nearest node on the transport network to the property point.

This is a Trust-wide policy covering five academies: Burghill Community Academy (PAN 15), Canon Pyon Church of England Academy (PAN 15), St James Church of England Primary School (PAN 30), St Paul's Church of England Primary School (PAN 60), Stretton Sugwas Church of England Academy (PAN 30). PANs are per individual school. Faith criteria are referenced in school names (Church of England) but no faith-based oversubscription criteria are listed. EHCP children are addressed under Infant Class Sizes exceptions rather than as a separate numbered criterion, consistent with being admitted as a legal requirement before oversubscription criteria apply.

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.