Admission Arrangements 2027-28 Consultation
Admissions Consultation
We are in the process of consulting on admission arrangements for pupils applying for places for the academic year beginning September 2027. The consultation will run for 6 weeks from 17 November 2025 until 29 December 2025.
Proposed changes to the policy include the mandatory changes required as a result of the DFE’s School Admissions Code 2021, and any relevant updates made since its first publication. The Schools Admission Code requires all admissions authorities to consult on any changes proposed to their admissions arrangements.
Where the admission arrangements have not changed from the previous year, there is no requirement to consult, subject to the requirement that admission authorities must consult on their admission arrangements at least once every 7 years, even if there have been no changes during that period.
Relevant Documents
St MAry's draft Admission Arrangements 2027-28SChool Admission appeaL code 2022
School admissions code 2021
Questions We are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please contact us at: office@st-marys-uttoxeter.staffs.sch.uk
We will respond as quickly as possible.
Your Views
We would welcome your views on our consultation. Please ensure you respond to the consultation by noon on Tuesday 30 December 2025. You can respond by:
Email - please send your views to office@st-marys-uttoxeter.staffs.sch.uk
Post - please send your views to St Mary’s CE(A) First School, The Heath, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 7LX
Next Steps
After our consultation period, we will consider all responses and discuss these with the Local Authority. The final copy of the arrangements will be published on the Policies page of our website.
Many thanks for your support.
Admission Guidelines
Online Admissions
Parents should contact Staffordshire County Council (Local Authority) to find out about our admission arrangements (website link below). Parents will be able to make their middle school applications online from November, every year for the following September’s intake. First school applications can be made online from November to January, every year for that year’s September intake. Further details and actual dates are available on the Staffordshire County Council website.
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/admissions/
In-School Admissions
Applications for Nursery places can be made at any time of the year, by contacting the Office Manager.
Admissions to Nursery
St Mary's CE(A) First School is responsible for managing its own admissions to the school’s nursery setting. Children can be admitted when they turn 3 years old, however, the 15 hours government funding is only available in the term after they are 3 years old. All nursery aged children are entitled to 15 hours a week funded learning and care in an early years’ setting from the start of the term following their third birthday. If eligible, working parents may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare. Our sessions are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.30pm.
Parents can check their eligibility for 30 hour funding via www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Admissions to Reception year group in September each year
Admissions are open to children who have their 4th birthday between 1st September and 31st August in the previous academic year. Parents who would like their child to be allocated a Reception place at St Mary's CE(A) First School must complete an online application form on the Staffordshire County Council Admissions website within the given timescales.
Applications will be accepted for all eligible pupils up to the school’s planned admissions number (PAN). This is currently 45. If the number of applicants exceeds the PAN the available places will be allocated according to the Local Authority’s admissions criteria.
Any parent whose child is not allocated a place is entitled to appeal to the Local Authority.
Admissions to other year groups at all times or to Reception at any other time than 1st September
Pupils will be accepted in every year group where there is a place available. We actively welcome in-year admissions if there is a place within the required year group. If you are considering an in-year change of school for your child please contact the office to arrange a visit, to meet the staff and pupils and to have a look around. Once a decision has been made, and the necessary forms completed, a move can be arranged very quickly, should you wish, as well as a transition/familiarisation visit for your child.
Any parent/carer whose child is not allocated a place is entitled to appeal to the LEA.
If a year group is full, an application could still be accepted by the Governors providing that existing legislation and LEA guidelines are met, and that the education of the other pupils in school would not be adversely affected.
Equal Opportunities
Applications for places in school will be considered regardless of the gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, sexual orientation, ability, disability or social circumstances of either prospective pupil or parent.
Admission Appeals
Reception places for September 2026 – National Offer Day is 16th April 2026. For further information, please visit SCC web-pages; Admission Appeals – Staffordshire County Council