Admissions

ADMISSIONS POLICY
 
This policy is in line with the Surrey County Council requirements for school admissions. Surrey County Council has a single date of admission in the September of the school year in which children become five. Details are available on the Surrey website at www.surreycc.gov.uk.
 

Applications for Reception Class places should be made on the on-line Surrey Education Services Preference Form www.surreycc.gov.uk/admissions). In addition you will be asked by the School to complete a St Mary's School Supplementary Information Form, (files/supplementary_form.doc) which should be returned to the school. Both forms must be submitted by the stated deadline.

The Governors of St. Mary’s School will admit 30 children at the age of 4+ in accordance with the official Published Admission Number (30) for the school. This number will be reviewed annually. Allocation of places is made by the Admissions Panel of the Governing Body in accordance with the priority of the criteria stated below.
 
 
For all admissions to classes other than Reception, a St. Mary’s School Supplementary Form should be submitted a maximum of one term prior to the proposed date of admission.

 

Admission Criteria in Priority Order

1. Looked After Children (this priority constitutes a statutory obligation)


2. Exceptional Circumstances


3. Siblings of existing pupils of the school who live WITHIN the Parish boundary

Children who have a brother or sister attending St. Mary’s School (or step-brother or step-sister living within the same household and attending the school) at the time of entry and who live within the boundary of the Parish of Chiddingfold.

4. Children living WITHIN the Parish Boundary

Children living within the Parish Boundary of Chiddingfold.


5. Siblings of existing pupils of the school who live OUTSIDE the Parish boundary

Children who have a brother or sister attending St. Mary’s School (or step-brother or step-sister living within the same household and attending the school) at the time of entry and who live outside the boundary of the Parish of Chiddingfold.


6. Children living OUTSIDE the Parish Boundary

Children living outside the Parish boundary of Chiddingfold.

If all applicants within a particular category cannot be accommodated, the Admissions Panel of the Governing Body shall determine the pupils to be admitted by measuring a straight line from the address point of the pupil’s house, as set by Ordnance Survey to the nearest school gate for pupils to use.

In over-subscribed years and in the event that all offers of places for children in Reception Class have been accepted, a pool of unsuccessful applicants will be created. Should a place or places subsequently become available the Admissions Panel of the Governing Body will apply the above criteria to all children in the pool at that time. Names will remain in the pool for that academic year. Thereafter, should parents wish their child’s name to remain in the pool, they should inform the school, in writing, by 30th September of the year admission is required.
 
 
Children with statements of special educational needs
All governing bodies are required by section 324 of the Education Act 1996 to admit to the school a child with a statement of special educational needs that names the school. This is not an oversubscription criterion. Schools must admit such children whether they have places or not.
 
 
Approved by Governors 2010