St Mary's R.C. 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 / Previously Looked After Baptised Catholic children — Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children who are Baptised Catholic.
2. 2Other Looked After / Previously Looked After children (not Catholic) — Other Looked After and Previously Looked After Children who are not of the Catholic faith.
3. 3Siblings — Pupils with an elder sibling (see definition below) who is of statutory school age and will still be registered at our school when the younger child is eligible to attend.
4. 4Baptised Catholic within parish — Baptised Catholic children whose home address is within the parish boundaries named for the school.
5. 5Baptised Catholic outside parish — Baptised Catholic children whose home address is outside of the parishes served by the school for whom this is their preferred Catholic School.
6. 6Other Christian denominations — Children who are baptised or dedicated members of other Christian denominations, whose parents have a genuine desire for them to be educated in a Catholic school, and are fully supportive of its Catholic ethos.
7. 7Other faith traditions — Children of other faith traditions whose parents have a genuine desire for them to be educated in a Catholic school, and are fully supportive of its Catholic ethos.
8. 8No particular faith background — Pupils who have no particular faith background whose parents have a genuine desire for them to be educated in a Catholic school, and are fully supportive of its Catholic ethos.

If two applications tie: Within each category of the oversubscription criteria, if there are more applications than places a ‘tie breaker’ will be applied and the places will be allocated in distance order giving priority to those living nearest to the school. The distances are calculated by the LA who consistently use distances that are measured on a GIS mapping system.

For Catholic children in categories 1, 3, 4 and 5, the Admissions Panel will need to see an original/ photocopy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate, together with a written reference on the prescribed form from the Parish Priest. For category 6, the Admissions Panel will need to see an original/ photocopy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate, together with a written reference on the prescribed form from the Parish Priest or Minister of Religion. For category 7, the Admissions Panel will need to see an original/ photocopy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate, together with a written reference on the prescribed form from the relevant Minister of Religion/faith leader. A waiting list will be maintained in the event of the school being oversubscribed and will consist of: those children whose parents have specifically requested in writing (including email) to be placed on the school’s waiting list, those for whom an appeal form has been received, any late applications. Waiting lists will be maintained until 30 September in the school year concerned. Admission appeals: Parents who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Governing Body not to admit a child may appeal the decision... The appeal will be heard by an independent admission Appeal Panel, convened by the Local Authority according to the Welsh Government’s Statutory Code of Practice on School Admission Appeals. The right to appeal does not apply for Nursery admissions. Policy states it governs: 2026-2027.

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.