St James' 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. 1Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but then became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. This includes children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2. 2Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. This includes full, half or stepbrothers and sisters, adopted and foster brothers and sisters or a child of the parent/carer's partner, and in every case who is living at the same address and is part of the same family unit.
3. 3Children of regular Church of England worshippers — Children whose parent(s) who regularly attend a Church of England church (a parent is any person who has parental responsibility or care of the child). Regular attendance shall be defined as public worship for at least once a month and for at least 2 years immediately prior to application. This would need to be confirmed in writing by a member of the clergy or a church officer and submitted by the parent with their application form.
4. 4Children of regular other Christian church worshippers — Children whose parent(s) regularly attend another Christian church. Christian church means any church which is designated under the Ecumenial Relations Measure nationally by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York or locally by the diocesan bishop, or is a member of Churches Together in England, or the Evangelical Alliance, or a partner church of affinity (a parent is any person who has parental responsibility or care of the child). Regular attendance shall be defined as public worship for at least once a month and for at least 2 years immediately prior to application. This would need to be confirmed in writing by the appropriate minister of religion or religious leader and submitted by the parent with their application form.
5. 5Medical or social need — Children who for medical or social reasons require a place at the school. Such applications would need to be supported in writing by a registered health professional or social worker at the time of application. The supporting letter or report must set out the particular reasons why the school is the most suitable and the difficulties that would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
6. 6Other children — Other children.

If two applications tie: Children whose family home is nearest the school, measured in a straight line using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) data and the National Grid co-ordinates for the family home and the school. Where the tie break does not distinguish between applicants (e.g. children living in the same block of flats) random allocation will be used, done by drawing lots supervised by someone independent of the school.

Waiting list closes 31 December 2026. Twins/triplets: where the final place is offered to one of twins or triplets etc., the Governing Body will admit the other twin etc. too, even if that means going above the admission number.

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.