St Bartholomews's Church of England 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. 1Foundation place (40 designated): Looked after children or previously looked after children — See note 2, and the policy's boxed definition covering internationally adopted previously looked after children (IAPLAC). Looked after children are in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation under s.22(1) Children Act 1989 at the time of application; previously looked after children were looked after immediately prior to being adopted or becoming subject to a child arrangements or special guardianship order. Written confirmation required.
2. 2Foundation place: Children whose families are faithful and regular worshippers at St Bartholomew's Church or St Philip's Church — See notes 1 and 5. If oversubscribed at this stage, priority is (i) a sibling on roll at the school on the date of entry of the applicant, then (ii) nearness of the home to the school measured in a straight line between the applicant's home and a nodal point in the middle of the school, as calculated by Ordnance Survey.
3. 3Foundation place: Children whose families are faithful and regular worshippers at any CE Church for whom this is the nearest Church of England school — See note 1. If oversubscribed at this stage the same sub-criteria are used: sibling on roll at the date of entry, then nearness of the home to the school.
4. 4Foundation place: Children whose families are regular and faithful worshippers at one of the churches included in the membership of Ecumenical Bodies in Churches Together in Britain & Ireland or The Evangelical Alliance, or Affinity Churches, and for whom this is the nearest Church of England school — See note 1. If oversubscribed at this stage the same sub-criteria are used: sibling on roll at the date of entry, then nearness of the home to the school.
5. 5Open place (20 designated): Looked after children or previously looked after children — See note 2.
6. 6Open place: Medical/social needs — The application must be supported by a letter from a hospital consultant or a social worker or an equivalent professional, clearly setting out the reasons why the school is the only one able to meet the child's or family's needs and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school (see note 3).
7. 7Open place: Children who will have a sibling attending the school at the time of their admission to school — A sibling is a blood or adoptive sibling, or half sibling, plus foster or stepsiblings living at the same address as the child (note 4).
8. 8Open place: Children for whom this is the nearest school — Measured in a straight line between the applicant's home and a nodal point in the middle of the school, as calculated by Ordnance Survey.

If two applications tie: Within any criterion, places up to the admission number are offered to those living nearest the school; where two or more applicants have equal right to a place and live equidistant from the school, the Governing Body allocates the place by drawing lots.

RANKS ARE TWO PARALLEL POOLS, NOT ONE SEQUENCE: ranks 1-4 are the ordered criteria within the 40 designated Foundation Places, ranks 5-8 the ordered criteria within the 20 designated Open Places. Unsuccessful applicants for Foundation places are considered for any open places remaining unfilled at the end of the allocation procedure. The PDF numbers the Foundation list 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 because item 2 is a boxed definition of IAPLAC rather than a separate criterion; the four substantive Foundation criteria are transcribed here. The Governing Body admits 60 pupils to the Reception classes each year, agreed with the LA. Agreed by the Governing Board November 2024; review November 2026. Applications follow Lewisham's procedures and timetables.

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.