St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

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. 1Looked After Children with church-attending carer — Looked After Children / Children in Local Authority Care... who are placed in families where at least one carer has attended a Church of England Church at least once a month for the last 12 months, as verified by a reference from the parish priest. This applies equally to children who immediately after being looked after by the authority become subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order.
2. 2Baptised children of communicant CofE parents — Baptised children of communicant Church of England parents where the family has worshipped at least once a month for the last 12 months as verified by a reference from the parish priest. In the event that during the period specified for attendance at worship, the church has been closed for public worship and has not provided alternative premises for that worship, the requirements of these admissions arrangements in relation to attendance, will only apply to the period when the church has been available for public worship.
3. 3Other Looked After Children — Other Looked After Children / Children in Local Authority Care, ie a child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents / carers (Section 22 of the Children’s Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act. This applies equally to children who immediately after being looked after by the authority become subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order.
4. 4Baptised children (non-practising parents) — Children baptised in the Church of England whose parents may not be practicing at the time of admission. Proof of baptism will be required.
5. 5Children of church-attending parents (any church) — Children whose parents have attended Church at least once a month for the last 12 months, as verified by the Minister of that Church
6. 6Siblings — Children with brothers or sisters attending St Mary’s School at the time of entry. Brother or sister means children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers and sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters. The sibling link is maintained as long as the family live at the same address as when the first child applied, or has moved closer to the school than when the first child was offered a place, or has moved to an address that is less than two miles from the school using the distance measured by the method outlined in the distance / nearness of children’s home to school criterion.
7. 7Medical/social/special needs — Children with medical, health social or special needs which make the school particularly suitable for the child. Medical, health social and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school’s legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Equally this priority will apply to children whose parents’ / guardians’ physical or mental health or social needs mean that they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and the particular school.
8. 8Nearness of home to school — Nearness of children's homes to school - we use the distance between the child’s permanent home address (defined in KCC’s annual admissions prospectus) and the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the child’s home to a point defined as within the school as specified by NLPG. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody.

If two applications tie: Allocations within each category will be based on distance from home to school.

Document states children with a statement/EHCP naming the school are admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied, and PAN is reduced accordingly; not numbered as a criterion. Waiting lists maintained for all year groups.

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.