Castlechurch 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. 1Children in Care / Previously in Care — Children in Care and children who ceased to be in care because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order), including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted
2. 2Medical / Exceptional Circumstances with Hardship — Children who satisfy both of the following tests: Test 1: the child is distinguished from the great majority of other applicants either on their own medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances. Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application). This report must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child's health to attend Castlechurch rather than any other school. Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school and the individual child, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent/carer. They should be supported by a professional report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application), e.g. social worker. This report must clearly justify why it is better for the child to attend Castlechurch the school rather than any other school. Test 2: the child would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend Castlechurch the school. Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Applicants must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship at the time of application.
3. 3Sibling — Children who have an elder sibling in attendance at Castlechurch and who will still be attending the school at the proposed admission date; (for admission purposes, a brother or sister is a child who lives at the same address and either: have one or both natural parents in common; are related by a parents marriage; are adopted or fostered by a common parent or are unrelated children who live at the same address, whose parents live as partners.)
4. 4Catchment Area — Children living within the catchment area of Castlechurch- Please refer to the following details of what our school catchment area is. https://apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk/scc/schooldetails/default.aspx
5. 5Children of Staff — Children of staff in either or both of the following circumstances: a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, and/or b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
6. 6Distance — Other children arranged in order of priority according to how near their home addresses are to the main gate of the school, determined by a straight-line measurement as calculated by the Local Authority's Geographical Information System.

If two applications tie: Straight-line distance from home address to the main gate of the school, as calculated by the Local Authority's Geographical Information System.

The PAN of 45 is for Reception. A separate Nursery admission number of 48 full time places is also stated. EHCP children naming the school must be admitted, reducing available places. Where all children in a category cannot be accommodated, sub-prioritisation applies (e.g. catchment + sibling before catchment alone). Waiting list operates until the cohort leaves Year 2.

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.