St Mary's 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 and previously looked after children — Looked after children or previously looked after children (including children adopted from state care outside of England).
2. 2Exceptional medical or social need — Children who have an assigned social worker due to exceptional social needs. Applications submitted under this criterion must include details of the child's assigned social worker. Evidence will be verified by the school.
3. 3Exceptional medical or social need — Children: (a) for whom this school is the nearest school, and (b) who have exceptional medical needs which make this school, rather than any other, the most suitable. In this case, the application form must be accompanied by supporting medical evidence from an appropriate authority. A GP’s report alone is not sufficient. Parents must supply at the time of application: (a) a letter stating clearly the circumstances of the application and the specific reasons why St Mary’s, rather than any other school, is the most suitable for the child (b) all documentation that they would wish to rely on in the event of any later appeal. Applicants are encouraged to supply as many relevant documents as possible.
4. 4Siblings — Children who will have a sibling at the school at the proposed time of admission. In the event of there being more sibling applicants than available spaces, places will be allocated according to proximity to the school.
5. 5Faith / foundation places — Up to 24 foundation places for either: i) Baptised or dedicated children, one or both of whose parents worship regularly at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Twickenham or, ii) Baptised or dedicated children living within the parish boundaries of either St Mary the Virgin, All Hallows or St Stephens in Twickenham, one or both of whose parents are members of, and worship regularly at another Christian church (a church belonging to the Anglican Communion, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, or the Evangelical Alliance). Regular attendance means attendance at a minimum of two services a month for a minimum of two years. Those who have been attending their present church for less than this period can still apply for a foundation place but will have to submit two supplementary information forms: one from their previous minister and one from their current minister. If the foundation places are over-subscribed, places will be allocated first to families who worship at the church of St Mary the Virgin and any remaining places will be allocated according to geographical proximity as in criterion F, below. 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 or alternative premises have been available for public worship.
6. 6Children of staff — Children (by which is meant full, step, half, adopted and foster children living in the same household) of permanent staff directly employed by St Mary’s school for two years or more prior to the admissions application closing date and still employed, without having given notice or been given notice that the employment will end, at the time the offer is made.
7. 7Distance from home to school — Children who live nearest (proximity) to the front gate of the Amyand Park Road school site. For any place allocated by proximity we will use the local authority’s methodology, which determines the shortest route by road or maintained footpath, accompanied as necessary. Distances are measured using the School Admissions’ computerised geographical information system, which measures the distance from the middle (the seed-point) of the home property, into the middle of the road, then along the middle of roads and maintained footpaths, without cutting corners, to the front gate of the Amyand Park Road school site.

Summary of the school's oversubscription criteria for 2027/28 entry as printed by Achieving for Children in Richmond's schools brochure 2027 (the governing body/trust is responsible for the wording; read the full determined policy on the school's website). Paths through car parks, cemeteries, golf courses and other enclosed spaces will not be used. In the event of two equal distances and only one place available, the place will be awarded by random allocation. In any other circumstances where there is one remaining space available and two or more applicants cannot be distinguished on the basis of the school’s oversubscription criteria then the final place shall be awarded via the drawing of lots.

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.