St Joseph's Catholic Infant School

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Baptised Catholic LAC/Previously LAC or SEN statement, within parishes — Baptised Catholic ‘Looked After’ and ‘Previously Looked After’ children, who are in the care of a local authority (children in care) or provided with accommodation by them (e.g. children with foster parents), or who have a Special Needs Statement naming the school, within the parishes served by the school.
2. 2LAC/Previously LAC or SEN statement (any) — ‘Looked After Children’ and ‘Previously Looked After’ who are in the care of a local authority (children in care) or provided with accommodation by them (e.g. children with foster parents) or who have a Special Needs Statement naming the school.
3. 3Baptised Catholic children within parishes — Baptised Catholic children within the parishes served by the school.
4. 4Other Baptised Catholic children — Other Baptised Catholic children.
5. 5Siblings (Catholic) — Children who have a brother or a sister at the school at the time of likely admission.
6. 6Other Christian denominations — Children of other Christian Denominations.
7. 7Other siblings — Other children who have a brother or sister in the school at the time of admission.
8. 8Other faiths seeking Catholic schooling — Children of other faiths whose parents seek Catholic schooling.
9. 9Other children seeking Catholic education — Other children whose parents seek Catholic education for their child.
10. 10LEA-directed placement — Children for whom the LEA has specifically asked for a place at the school.

If two applications tie: In event of any over-subscription in the number of applications made under any of the categories above then the Admissions Committee will offer places first to children living nearest to the school by the shortest walking distance using public highways. All Christian applicants will be required to produce baptismal certificates.

Note 1. In all categories, for a child to be considered as a Catholic, evidence of Catholic Baptism or Reception into the Church will be required. This includes the Eastern Catholic Churches. Those who face difficulties in producing written evidence of Catholic Baptism/Reception should contact their Parish Priest. Parents making an application for a Catholic child should also complete a supplementary information form (SIF). Failure to complete the SIF/provide evidence of Catholic Baptism/Reception may affect the criterion the child’s name is placed in. Note 2. Looked After Children from Catholic Families has a dual meaning... If the child is placed with a Catholic family who wish the child to have a Catholic education this should be evidenced by a baptism certificate of either parent carer. Note 3. Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs who name the school must be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available to applicants. Note 4. For Catholic and non-Catholic children the definition of a brother or sister is: - A brother or sister sharing the same parents; - Half-brother or half-sister, where two children share one common parent; - Step-brother or step-sister, where two children are related by a parent’s marriage; - Step-brother or step-sister; - Adopted or fostered children. The children must be living permanently in the same household. Note 5. Where a family of twins, or triplets request admission and if one sibling has been offered the 30th or last place the ‘excepted pupil’ rule comes in and the other twin/triplets are offered a place. ... If an application for admission has been turned down by the Governing Body, parents can appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel. This appeal must be sent in writing to the clerk to the Governors at the school within 14 days (10 working days) of refusal. Parents must give reasons for appealing in writing and the decision of the appeals panel is binding on the Governors. Policy states it governs: 2025-2026.

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.