How Places Are Offered

For admission into Reception each September, the LA, on behalf of the Governing Body, will offer places to up to 30 children. This is the Published Admission Number (PAN) for that year group.

In the event that more than 30 applications are received, the oversubscription criteria will be applied to determine priority for places. Both preferences are treated equally, regardless of whether they are first or second preference

Over-subscription Criteria

Children who have a statement of special educational needs, whose parents/carers name the school will be admitted.

N.B. Those children with a statement of special educational needs whose parents/carers do not name a school will be referred to Student Assessment to determine an appropriate place.

Where applications exceed the number of places available at the school, referred to as the PAN, the following criteria are applied in order.

PAN

• Children in Care, also known as Looked After Children (LAC);
  
• Children living in the catchment area* with a sibling** at the school at the time of admission;
  
• Children living in the catchment area;
  
• Children living outside the catchment area who have a sibling at the school at the time of admission;
  
• Children who live in the ecclesiastical Parish of the Ascension, Cambridge (see attached map);
  
• Children of regular worshippers of a Christian church;
  
• Children of regular worshippers of other World Faiths;
  
• Children living outside the catchment area, but nearest the school according to the shortest safe walking route from their home to the school site.

* The home address is defined as the address of the adult, with parental responsibility, with whom the child normally lives and which applies at the time of application. Future addresses will be accepted only if the move is intended to take place within 6 teaching weeks of the application and upon confirmation of tenancy or exchange of contracts. For further details, please see the full definition in the LA admissions booklet for parents

** A sibling is defined as another child of compulsory school age living in the same family home.

Appeals

The parent of any child who is refused a place at a VA or F Primary School has a right of appeal to an independent Appeals Panel. The panel consists of three people who are independent of the school’s Governing Body and the Local Education Authority.

The panel will consider the circumstances of the case put before them and the Governing Body and parents must abide by the decision it makes.

Appeals for VA or F Primary School are currently arranged by the LA Admissions Team on behalf of the Governing Body. Further information and appeal forms are available from the Admissions Team.

Infant Class Size Review
Please note that where a child is refused a place in an infant class because of the requirement to limit class size to 30 children, parents have the right to have their decision reviewed. This process is very similar to an appeal, but the circumstances in which the panel can find in the parents favour are limited by law. For further information, please contact the school office or the LA Admissions Team.

Definitions
For the purpose of admission to the school, the Governing Body has adopted the LA’s definitions of parent, sibling and home address. Details of these can be found at the back of the LA’s admission booklet for parents.