Chatburn Church of England 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 Children and Previously Looked After Children — This means a ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously ‘looked after’ but ceased to be looked after because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements or special guardianship order, including those 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. 2Special medical or social circumstances — Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at this school. Professional supporting evidence from a professional, e.g. a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is essential if admission is to be made under this criterion, and must set out the particular reasons why the school is the only school where these needs can be met. Parents must submit this evidence to the school by 15th January 2027.
3. 2Ecclesiastical parish — Children whose parents live within the ecclesiastical parish of Chatburn. A map showing the boundaries is available in school and on the school website.
4. 3Siblings — Children who have a sibling attending the school on the date of application and on the date of admission. Siblings include full, step, half, foster, adopted brothers and sisters and children of parent or carer’s partner. In all cases both children should be living in the same family unit at the same address.
5. 4Worship at named churches outside parish — Children whose parents live outside the ecclesiastical parish of Chatburn who worship regularly at Christ Church Chatburn, Chatburn Methodist or St Leonards Downham. Worshipping is normally taken to mean a minimum of monthly attendance at public worship for at least 6 months before the 1st September 2026. The Governors will request confirmation from the relevant member of the clergy or church officer.
6. 5Worship at other Churches Together / Evangelical Alliance churches outside parish — Children whose parents live outside the ecclesiastical parish of Chatburn who worship at another church belonging to Churches Together or The Evangelical Alliance. Worshipping is normally taken to mean a minimum of monthly attendance at public worship for at least 6 months before the 1st September 2026. The Governors will request confirmation from the relevant member of the clergy or church officer. The list of churches can be found on the Churches Together in England website (cte.org.uk) and Evangelical Alliance (eauk.org).
7. 6Other children — Other children.

If two applications tie: Where there are more applicants for the available places within a category, then the distance between the Ordnance Survey address points for the school and the home measured in a straight line will be used as the final determining factor, nearer addresses having priority over more distant ones. Where two addresses have the same distance, or the cut-off point is for addresses within the same building, then the Local Authority's system of a random draw will determine which address(es) receive the offer(s).

After admitting all children with an Education Health and Care Plan naming the school, the Governing Board will allocate places using the listed criteria in order of priority. In 2026 there were 54 applications for 16 places.

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.