Admissions
First School
Although children do not have to start school until the term after their fifth birthday, our policy is for all children (who will become five during the school year) to start full time in our Reception Class in September. All children starting at the same time allows friendships to be built from the start and for all the children in the class to share the same experiences and teaching input. If your child was born from January onwards and you would prefer your child to start later than September, please discuss this with the school.
During the summer term a meeting is held for the parents of children due to start school the following September, this gives them the chance to meet the Reception class staff and other members of the school community. They also have the opportunity to view the Reception Class learning areas, both indoors and outdoors and some of the resources available.
Following this meeting, the children are invited into school for ‘taster sessions’. During these sessions they meet the Reception class staff, begin to get used to the learning areas, and meet their new classmates.
In addition to visits, Pre-School Packs’ are available, during the summer term. The Packs contain a story book with suggestions of activities for the children to do at home. The children will also receive a small booklet telling them about school life, while the parents receive the ‘Parent’s Guide to Starting School at St. Barnabas’.
Middle School
We are delighted to act as the designated Middle School for Defford-cum-Besford and Norton-Juxta-Kempsey First Schools. We welcome children from both schools into St. Barnabas at the start of Year 5. From this point onwards, we usually operate three parallel classes in each year group, depending on the size of the cohort.
During the summer term, a meeting is held for parents and children who will be joining us the following September. The purpose of the meeting is to tell them about the school and offer the opportunity for questions.
School Transport
Transport to and from school for eligible children is arranged by Worcestershire School Transport.
You can contact them on:
Telephone: 01905 763763
or via their online Enquiry form
Worcestershire County Council
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
Admissions Policy
Worcestershire County Council’s Information for Parents Book on Admissions and Transfers to Schools is available to view online at the local authority website.
A copy of the book is also available to view in Schools, Libraries and at your Local Worcestershire Hub.
The Information for Parents book contains full details on the application and allocation process, including the oversubscription admission criteria for each school. You are advised to read the book prior to making an application.
Please follow this link below to access the local authority website.
If you are looking for information about school transport follow this link.
How to apply for a school place in the normal round of admissions 2022 / 2023
The parents of ALL pupils resident in Worcestershire, including parents whose preference is for the catchment area school for the child’s home address, seeking a place at any First/Primary or Middle School, including any Academy, Foundation or Voluntary Aided Schools, and any School outside Worcestershire, must complete a Worcestershire LA Common Application Form (PA1) by the closing dates shown in the table below.
Applications can be made online up until the closing date, see the table below for dates.
If you do not have access to the internet Application Forms are available from the School, Local Worcestershire Hub or by request on Tel no: 01905 822700
The parents of pupils resident outside Worcestershire, but who wish to apply for a place at any Worcestershire school, must complete an application form provided by the “home” LA. (The “home” LA is defined as the Local Authority relevant to the Child’s home address). The “home” LA will ensure that the application details are passed onto Worcestershire LA for consideration in the allocation of school place.
Admissions Table
In the few cases, where it may not be possible to offer a place at any of the preferences nominated on the application form, a place will be offered at the nearest school with available places.
The offer letter will include an acceptance/decline slip which must be returned by the date specified in the offer letter.
For pupils not resident in Worcestershire, the offer or refusal letters will be sent direct to parents by the home LA, even if it is for a school in Worcestershire.
Is there a waiting list for schools that have too many applicants?
Waiting lists, are maintained by the Academy, and parents need to apply, in order to be included. These waiting lists will be maintained until the [day/month/year]. At that stage parents will need to reapply at the start of the following term if they wish to be included. Only on receipt of an acknowledgement letter from the Academy will that child be on the list.
Application letters will be destroyed at the end of the preceding term so the waiting list is accurate and active.
Admissions to schools during the year outside the normal round of Admissions.
All information about the Application Process for Worcestershire residents can be found here: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20099/school_admissions/706/in-year_applications
Parent/Carer is to complete the application form and ensure Section 6 of the form is completed by your child’s current or most recent school.
The parent/carer should then please send all applications via email directly to the School Admissions Office at: schooladmissions@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk to be processed.
The Home Local Authority will co-ordinate with any relevant admission authorities on behalf of the parent/carer to determine which is the highest ranked offer that can be made.
The Home Local Authority will write to parents, on behalf of the relevant admission authority, normally within 10 school days, of the form being received to notify of the decision. Where it is not possible to offer a place, parents will be notified of the right of an appeal, on behalf of the relevant admission authority and in most cases, an alternative school will be offered.
If there are insufficient places for all applications received at a time, then priority will be decided in accordance with the published admissions criteria for the school.’
Appeals General Information
The Department for Education has passed emergency regulations that introduce flexibility in the way that appeals are held, given the current social distancing measures in place. They have also amended some of the deadlines surrounding the timescales. The Appeals Team within the Local Authority as well as every admission authority in the county that makes arrangements for independent appeals to be heard, will be investigating ways of dealing with appeals using written representations, as well as bringing panels together via telephone or other means. Please see below the information in relation to appeals and how to appeal for Academy Schools.
Appeals for Academy Schools
If you wish to appeal for an Academy School, then the appeal must be documented, including your full case and sent directly to the Local Academy Board of the school.