Birchen Coppice Academy

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 — Relevant ‘Looked after’ and previously ‘Looked after’ children.
2. 2Siblings attending and living in catchment — Siblings (see below for definition) of pupils attending the Academy and living within the catchment area of the school. In order to qualify for a place on the grounds of a sibling attending the school, the sibling must already be attending the school at the time to application and still be attending at the time of admission. Copies of catchment area maps, if required are available from the LA, or can be viewed in schools.
3. 3Siblings attending, living outside catchment — Pupils living outside of the catchment area but who would still have a sibling connection (see below for definition) at the Academy at the time of admission. In order to qualify for a place on the grounds of a sibling attending the school, the sibling must already be attending the school at the time of application and still be attending at the time of admission.
4. 4Pupils living within catchment area — Pupils living within the catchment area of the school. Copies of catchment area maps, if required are available from the LA, or can be viewed in schools.
5. 5Children of staff — Children of all staff at the mainstream school, where that member of staff has been employed for two or more years, and/or is recruited to fill a post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
6. 6Nearest by straight-line distance — Pupils who live nearest to the school by the shortest straight-line distance. The measurement will be taken using the Geocode Points for each property and the GeoCode point for the School. The ’LA uses a software package called Arcview GIS to determine distance. Ordnance Survey supplies the co-ordinates that are used to plot an address within this system.

If two applications tie: In the event of equidistance applicants, any place will be allocated by random selection (lottery). Someone totally independent of the two Academies will supervise this process on behalf of Victoria Academies Trust.

In accordance with legislation, a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan will be offered a place at the school named in the Plan. Multiple birth exceptions and Infant Class Size legislation exceptions apply as described. Nursery places (30 hours childcare, three-year-olds) are a separate admissions process. CATCHMENT: Pupils living within the catchment area of the school. Copies of catchment area maps, if required are available from the LA, or can be viewed in schools. Transcribed from the school's own determined admission arrangements as published by Worcestershire County Council. Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted first; that is a statutory duty, not an oversubscription criterion. | Previously recorded here: Worcestershire First & Primary allocation-day statistics, distance of last successful candidate (miles, crow-flies), NOD; 280mi source typo capped.

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.