Guidance for Starting School

As an academy, Catmose Primary is its own admissions authority and as such is responsible for setting the criteria for admission and their interpretation; at all times however it will act in accordance with the School Admissions Code published by the Department for Education.

All admissions, either In-year or for children starting school in Reception class are determined by our Admissions Policy, the details of which can be found here.

All parents wishing to apply for a place at the Primary  during the normal round i.e.at the beginning of Reception year, should do so via their ‘home’ authority (i.e. the authority where they live). Parents have a right to express a preference for the school they want for their child. Application forms can be obtained via your home authority. Application forms must be returned to the home authority by the specified date, which is published annually.

You can find out about the school’s admission arrangements through the local authority by clicking here.

The Planned Admission Number (PAN) for the school is 30.

Where the number of applications for places exceeds the number of places available, as specified by the Planned Admission Number, the following criteria, in priority order, will be applied to determine those children that will be offered a place:

  1. Looked after children/SEND children.
  2. Sibling link.
  3. A child of staff at the Federation.
  4. Children who live nearest the Primary School by distance.

HOW TO APPLY VIA YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY

Parents of children who are due to start primary school in September 2024, must submit an application to their ‘home’ local authority.  This means that an application must be submitted to the Council where you live, even if you want to apply for a place at a school in another local authority area. Further information from a number of local authorities can be found below.

APPEALS TIMETABLE 2024

Parents have the right to appeal if a place cannot be offered at Catmose Primary School.  If you wish to lodge an appeal you should complete an appeal form and provide all appropriate supporting evidence before the deadline of Thursday, 16 May 2024. You should put your intention to Appeal in writing to Valda Austin, Admissions Manager at Catmose College. An independent appeal panel will be convened to hear the appeal.

Wednesday 17 April 2024National Offer Day.
Thursday 16 May 202420-school day deadline (from offer day) for parents to lodge appeal.

Paperwork for appeals received after the deadline will be heard within 40-school days of receipt.

Tuesday 3 September 202440-school day deadline (from deadline to lodge appeal) for appeals to be heard.
Week commencing 13 May 2024Second round offers made by the Local Authority (21 days after National Offer Day).
All appeals will be heard within 40 school days of being lodged.

Guidance for Joining Catmose Primary In Year

If you are considering moving your child outside the normal admissions round please contact the school here. Where a Year group is over-subscribed a waiting list is held. The order of this waiting list is determined by our Admissions Policy, it is not first come, first served.

The order of priority for the waiting list is the same as for over subscription listed above.

Please read the Admissions Policy here for an explanation of these terms and a more detailed explanation of the admissions process. It is this policy that we follow, in order that pupil admissions to the School are determined in a fair and objective way. If your application is unsuccessful you have a right to appeal this decision. Should you wish to appeal please write to the Principal at Catmose College, detailing your grounds for making an appeal.  An independent appeal panel will formally hear your appeal and you will have an opportunity to present your supporting evidence.  The deadline for you to lodge your appeal is 20 school days from the date of the letter.

Appeals will normally be held within 40 working days of them being lodged.