Abbey 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 and previously looked after children — Children looked after or previously looked after by a local authority in Wales, as defined in section 74 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, or England as defined in Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
2. 2Resident in the school's catchment area — Children who live within the catchment area of the school for which an application is made.
3. 3Older sibling of statutory school age at the school — Children who have an older sibling / a sibling of statutory school age (statutory school age is defined as pupils who are between the age of 5 and 16 i.e. pupils in any year group between and including reception to year 11) who will be on the register at the school when they are admitted. A 'sibling' is defined as a full sibling, a half sibling (i.e. one shared parent), a step sibling (i.e. the child of a person co-habiting with a parent), a fostered sibling or an adopted sibling. In each case, at the time of the application the sibling must reside at the same address as the child or young person.
4. 4Resident outside the preferred school's catchment area — Children who live outside the preferred school's catchment area.

If two applications tie: If children are equally entitled to a place in the school in categories a) to d) above, then priority will be given to the child living nearest. This is measured by the shortest suitable walking/travel route between the home and the school. The Council uses a Geographical Information System to calculate the shortest distance.

Any sibling connection must be clearly stated in the application. In the case of multiple births, where it is not possible to offer all children a place, parents will be asked to decide which child should be offered a place first, or may consider an alternative setting for all children — Neath Port Talbot does NOT automatically admit the remaining multiple-birth siblings, unlike several other Welsh authorities. Only applications received by the published closing date are considered in the initial round; late applications are considered weekly once the initial allocation is complete. Evidence of permanent residence at the time of application must be supplied in all cases. The home address is the child's and their parents' principal place of residence, where they are normally and regularly living; an address of friends or relatives (other than under fostering arrangements) will not be considered. Where parents share responsibility and the child lives with both for part of the week, the home address is where the child lives for the majority of the school week (e.g. 3 out of 5 days). The Council will not breach the Infant Class Size Regulations of 30 or fewer, save in exceptional circumstances.

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.