Admission Policy

Applying for a Reception class place at Christ Church

Applications to school need to be made by the closing date using this direct link

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/

Should you need any help, support or guidance, the Pupil Access Office Contacts are listed below

Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

01254-220747

County Team

01772-531676

Making an application

Applications for admission to our school for September 2024 should be made between 1st September 2023 and 15th January 2024 (11:59pm) using Lancashire's new online common application form available on the council’s website:

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/schools

This online version is quick and easy to use and offers an email receipt of all submitted applications. Please ensure that you hit the "submit" button when you are ready to send in your completed online application.

If you live in Lancashire you can include out of area preferences on your online application. However, it is not normally possible to change the order of your preferences for schools after the closing date.

Parents 'must' complete the Local Authority application form, stating three preferences. Those who wish their application to this Church school to be considered against the faith criteria 'should' also complete the appropriate questions on the supplementary application form which can be obtained from school. If we are oversubscribed, a failure to answer these questions may result in your application for a place being considered against a lower priority criteria as the Governing Board will have no information upon which to assess the worship attendance.

Primary offers will be confirmed electronically to on-line parents on 16th April 2024.  Parents of children not admitted will be informed and offered an alternative place by the Local Authority.

If you wish to make an appeal against the decision made (following your offer letter) applications must be made to the Local Authority.  The appeal form is available electronically from the Lancashire County Council Website:  www.lancashire.gov.uk/schools.  See information below.

Please contact school directly regarding this.  

Waiting lists for EYFS places are held for 12 months only. The Admission Policy criteria is applied to the waiting list - not first come first served.

In Year Applications

If you wish to make an In Year Application for Year Groups 1-6, please contact school directly and complete the initial application form below.

If we have a space available in the requested year group we will then arrange an immediate discussion with the Headteacher. You will have the opportunity to look around school and ask any questions you may have. School will then contact your child's current school to confirm your child's details and to agree an appropriate transition phase or starting date. Transitions usually happen at the beginning of the next half term. Occasionally, earlier starting times can be negotiated, but this is only in agreement with both school.

We do not hold in year waiting lists and places cannot be reserved. Each application is considered in line with our admission policy and distances calculated in a straight line from the current address the child resides at to the front of school.

We have a statutory duty to inform the LA of all enquiries and allocation of places to ensure that no child is classed as CME - Child Missing in Education.

If we do not have a space available in the requested year group, you will then have the right to make an 'In Year' appeal.  

Admission Appeal Information

There are two kinds of appeals:

• Entry into Reception 
• In Year appeals for a place in Years 1-6.

We always advise that you speak to the school office or Headteacher first before submitting an appeal for a place, this is to ensure you have all the necessary information prior to deciding on whether to make an appeal or not. 

All Key Stage One classes are bound by class size prejudice, which means that legally schools cannot take more than 30 children into an infant class unless there are exceptional circumstances. e.g. Children Looked After or Looked After Child.

Key Stage Two classes are not bound by class size prejudice, although we as a school, will make a case against an increase in class sizes in order to ensure high quality education can be provided to all. 

If you have not been awarded a place in EYFS and you wish to make an appeal for entry into Reception Class in September, please contact Lancashire County Council directly:

Local Authority Appeals Team Tel: 01772 536776  emails: appeals@lancashire.gov.uk

If you wish to make an In Year Appeal for Year Groups 1-6, please contact school directly.  We will provide you with the necessary paperwork. Once completed school will submit this to the Local Authority Appeals Team:

 Tel: 01772 536776  emails: appeals@lancashire.gov.uk

School uses the Local Authority Appeals Team to organise appeal hearings and paperwork. They will contact you directly with the time and date of your appeal hearing. Please note that due to the high volume of calls and emails submitted to the Local Authority Appeals Team, they need to prioritise all enquiries and will try and respond to your requests within 5 working days wherever possible.

The current proposals for Admission Appeals to be heard in line with the DFE Guidance has been agreed and further advise can be found on LCC web pages – please follow link:-

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/appeal-against-an-admission-decision/