Heswall 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 Looked-After (CLA) — Children Looked-After (CLA) - A Child Looked-After is a child who is a. in the care of a Local Authority, b. a child who, in the view of the Local Authority appears to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted or c) being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their Social Services functions (under Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). This definition includes a ‘previously Looked-After Child’, which is one who immediately moved on from that status after becoming subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order.
2. 2Siblings — Siblings - Students’ who have a brother or sister (siblings include half, adopted or step living in the same household) on roll at the school, and of statutory school age when it opens in September. Siblings MUST live in the same household, full time.
3. 3Children of Current teaching, administrative or support staff — Children of Current teaching, administrative or support staff - Students’ whose parents/legal guardians are currently teaching, administrative or support staff and have been employed for over 2 years at the time of application or less than 2 years when the member of staff has been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4. 4Catchment Zone — Catchment Zone - Parents of pupils who live ‘in zone’ and nearest to the school. We measure distances from home to the school gate nearest to the child’s home using the shortest road route, unless it is possible to use a footpath which we consider to be a safe walking route.
5. 5Distance from school — Distance from school - We will then take account of the distance from school to where your child lives. Those that live the closest distance will receive priority. The Local Authority uses a mapping system, based on Ordnance Survey maps, to measure the distance from your home to the school gate nearest to your child’s home using the shortest road route, unless it is possible to use a footpath which we consider a safe walking route as determined under Local Authority guidelines. When a child lives between two households, the home address distance will be calculated from the address where the child lives more than 50% of the time.

Oak Tree Multi Academy Trust admission policy (printed in the council booklet). Where the above schools are oversubscribed, places will be allocated in the following order: If children do not live in the school’s catchment area and if places remain available, places will be allocated in accordance with the following criteria:

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.