Admissions

STARTING SCHOOL

St. Teresa’s is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School maintained by Bolton Local Authority and falls to the Trusteeship of the Diocese of Salford.

The Governing Body is the admissions authority. The Governors’ Admissions Committee is comprised of three governors and an independent clerk.

New Intake Admissions:

• In the autumn term, all parents who have expressed an interest in a school place will be sent details of the LA co-ordinated admissions arrangements for Bolton LA.

• Parents must complete the common application form (CAF). Parents who wish their application to this Roman Catholic school to be considered against the priority faith criteria should also complete the supplementary form. If the school is oversubscribed failure to complete the supplementary form may result in your application for a place in this school being considered against lower priority criteria.

• All applicants will be considered by the governors of St Teresa’s School at the same time in a fair way according to the published criteria.

• Parents will be informed of the governors’ decision by Bolton LA.

• An offer of a place does not guarantee a place for siblings in subsequent years.

• Late applications will be considered in accordance with the published admissions criteria. If the school is over subscribed, the applications will be placed on a reserve list in priority order according to the published admissions criteria. Parents will be notified if a vacancy subsequently arises.

All admissions:

Each Roman Catholic applicant will be required to produce a baptismal certificate (which is obtainable from the parish priest where the child was baptised.)

Parents should check carefully whether they are resident within the parish boundaries of St Teresa’s parish.

All applicants be required to present proof of address, by supplying evidence of the child’s address.

The Governing Board requires the right to withdraw the offer of a school place where false evidence is received in relation to the application.

It is the duty of governors to comply with regulations on class size limits at Keystage 1. This means that normally the School cannot operate classes at the Foundation Stage and Keystage 1 of more than 30 children. The Governing Board may exceed Keystage 1 and Reception Class Regulations for twins and multiple births where one of the children is the 30th child admitted and the other(s) beyond that limit.

If in any category there are more applications than places available, priority will be given on the basis of proximity to the school. This will be calculated (by the shortest walking route) using the LA computerised measuring system from the front door of the child’s address (including flats) to the main entrance of the school. In the event of distances being the same for two or more applicants and where this distance would be the last place/s to be allocated, a random lottery will be carried out in a public place and the required number of names will be drawn out.

Where a child lives with parents with shared responsibility, each for part of the week, the “home” address will be determined as being the address where the child normally lives. Where care is split, and the child moves between two addresses, the household in receipt of child benefit would be the address used but the Governing Board reserves the right to request other evidence as fits the individual circumstances.

The term sibling refers to a brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of parent/ carer where the child for whom the school place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.

If the school is over-subscribed, a waiting list will be maintained until the end of the autumn term for the September intake. Parents are asked to read and confirm receipt of the Governors’ published Admissions Policy. The policy will be included on the school website.

A parent is any person who has parental responsibility for or who is the legal guardian of the child.

For “In Year” applications received outside the normal admissions round and if places are available then children qualifying under the published criteria will be admitted. If there are places available but more applicants than places, then the published oversubscription criteria will be applied. In year applications may apply directly to the school using the Local Authority Common Application Form.

Appeals

It is hoped that the allocation procedure described above will result in a satisfactory offer of a place for each child. If, however, the Authority’s final offer (in writing, and formally described as final) is not satisfactory, the parent has a right of appeal. In this situation the appeal panel can only allow the appeal if it is satisfied that the decision to refuse the child a place was not one which a reasonable admission authority would make, or that the child would have been offered a place if the published admission arrangements had been properly implemented.

An appeal must be made in writing, within 20 days of the date of the Authority’s letter of final offer, to

Democratic Services,

Pupil and Student Services Unit.

Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU

The decision of the Appeals Panel is binding on the Governing Board.

Apply for Primary School Places