Bowdon CofE 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. 1Foundation - Looked after / previously looked after children whose parent/s worship in a Christian Church, resident in the named parishes — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after, whose parent/s worship*1 in a Christian Church *2 and who reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey A looked after child is a child who is in the care of a local authority in England, or is being provided with accommodation by a local authority in England in the exercise of their social services functions. Previously Looked After Children are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). This includes children who have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society.
2. 2Foundation - Special medical or social circumstances, parent/s worship in a Christian Church, resident in the parishes or Trafford — Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at Bowdon C of E School, whose parent/s worship*1 in a Christian Church*2 and who reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; or within Trafford. Professional supporting evidence from e.g. a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is required that sets out the particular reasons why the school is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
3. 3Foundation - Children of staff (16+ hours), parent/s worship in a Christian Church, resident in the parishes or Trafford — Children of staff employed by the Governing Body who work 16 hours per week or more and whose parent(s)/carer(s) whose parent/s worship*1 in a Christian Church *2 and who reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; or within Trafford.
4. 4Foundation - Sibling at the school, parent/s worship in a Christian Church, resident in the parishes or Trafford — Children with a sibling already attending the school and expected to continue at the school in the following academic year and whose parent(s)/carer(s) whose parent/s worship*1 in a Christian Church*2 and who reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; or within Trafford. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.
5. 5Foundation - Parent(s) worship at the four named churches and reside within their parish boundaries — Children whose parent(s)/carer(s) worship*1 at St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; and who reside within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of these churches or benefices
6. 6Foundation - Parent(s) worship at the four named churches, reside outside those parishes but within Trafford — Children whose parent(s)/carer(s) worship*1 at St. St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; and who do not reside within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of these churches or benefices. but do reside within Trafford (determined by the LA application received by the school).
7. 7Foundation - Parent(s) involved in worship of a Christian church, resident in the parishes or Trafford — Children whose parent(s)/carer(s) are involved in the worship*1 of a Christian church*2 and who reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; or within Trafford
8. 1Open - Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and all previously looked after children, 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. A looked after child is a child who is in the care of a local authority in England, or is being provided with accommodation by a local authority in England in the exercise of their social services functions. Previously Looked After Children are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Section 14A of the Children Act 1989 defines a ‘special guardianship order’ as an order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s special guardian (or special guardians). This includes children who have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society.
9. 2Open - Special medical or social circumstances, resident in the parishes or Trafford — Children with special medical or social circumstances affecting the child where these needs can only be met at Bowdon C of E School, whose parent(s)/carer(s) reside either within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; or within Trafford (determined by the LA application received by the school). Professional supporting evidence from e.g. a doctor, psychologist, social worker, is required that sets out the particular reasons why the school is the most suitable school and the difficulties which would be caused if the child had to attend another school.
10. 3Open - Children of staff (16+ hours) — Children of staff employed by the Governing Body to work 16 hours per week or more
11. 4Open - Sibling at the school, resident within the named parishes — Children with a sibling already attending the school and expected to continue at the school in the following academic year who reside within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of the following churches or benefices: St. Mary’s, Bowdon (including St Luke’s); St. Peter’s, Hale; St. Elizabeth’s, Ashley; or St. Mark’s, Dunham Massey; (Ecclesiastical parishes can be found here https://www.achurchnearyou.com/)
12. 5Open - Principal address within 0.5 miles of the school — Children whose principal address is within 0.5 miles (defined by co-ordinates held in Trafford’s Local Land and Property Gazetteer (BS7666)) of the school.
13. 6Open - Sibling at the school, resident within Trafford — Children with a sibling already attending the school and expected to continue at the school in the following academic year whose parent(s)/carer(s) reside within Trafford (determined by the LA application received by the school).
14. 7Open - Other children by distance from the school — Other children by distance from the school, with priority for admission given to children who live nearest to the school. Distance will be calculated in a straight line from the applicant’s home to the School using property coordinates provided through Trafford’s Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) which complies with BS7666, coordinates provided from other home authority LLPG systems and Royal Mail Postal Address Information.

If two applications tie: Foundation: Where two or more candidates are equal considering categories 3 and 4, categories 5 and 6 will be used to order applicants, followed by straight line distance of the child’s primary residence to the school ( see ‘Supplementary Information for Foundation Places and Open Places’ below) Where two or more candidates are equal considering categories1,2, 5, 6 and 7, straight line distance of the child’s primary residence to the school will be used. (see ‘Supplementary Information for Foundation Places and Open Places’ below) | Open: Where two or more candidates are equally ranked in categories 3 and 4, categories 5 and 6 will be used to order applicants, followed by straight line distance of the child’s primary residence to the school Where two or more candidates are equally ranked in categories1,2, 5, 6 and 7, straight line distance of the child’s primary residence to the school will be used to order applicants. | Final: If two or more applications for the last place cannot be separated by distance, the final place will be determined through a random draw, conducted and scrutinised by persons independent from the School, and from the Children's Services Directorate (in line with Trafford Policy)

Bowdon C.E. Primary School Admissions Policy for September 2027 (the school's own arrangements, read 1 Oct 2026). Places split: Of the remaining places, up to 70 places are called Foundation Places and give priority to those who are involved in worship of a Christian church. As we serve our local community, a minimum of 20 places are allocated openly and are termed Open Places. | The Governors have designated up to 70 places for the children of families who are involved in worship within Christian Churches.*5 | Unsuccessful applicants for Foundation Places will be considered for Open Places. Any unfilled foundation places will be designated as open places. | The Governors have designated a minimum of 20 places as Open Places, to be offered to applicants whose parents have chosen the school for the type of education it provides. Parents applying for an Open Place do so knowing that the Christian faith is at the heart of the school and comes into daily activities. Distance: The distance from the home address will be calculated from the seed point of the property, which is defined by co-ordinates held in Trafford’s Local Land and Property Gazetteer (BS7666), and are available for each individual property on request from Trafford’s School Admission Team. For applicants resident outside Trafford, the seed point data will be provided by the Home Authority. Royal Mail Postal Address Information may be used in some instances. The co-ordinates used for each school are held in Trafford’s School Admissions and Transfer system and are listed in the Directory of Primary Schools. [Open criterion 7:] Distance will be calculated in a straight line from the applicant’s home to the School using property coordinates provided through Trafford’s Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) which complies with BS7666, coordinates provided from other home authority LLPG systems and Royal Mail Postal Address Information. Determined: unclear: the document says 'The following policy has been agreed by the Governing Body for admissions to the school after September 1st 2027' but does not say 'determined'; the school site's link text is 'Admissions policy 2027 to 2028 FINAL for consultation.docx'. The 2026-27 policy (file=17) has the same structure (70 Foundation / 20 Open, 7 criteria each, same order) with different wording.

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.