A primary school provides education for children from the age of 5-11. Children are admitted in the school year that they turn five years old.
Admission criteria
The 'Admission to Primary School' booklet provides information to parents/carers regarding the admission criteria for each primary school. This booklet will be sent via post the week beginning 26 September to parents/carers resident in Bolton with a child who is due to start primary school in September 2012. You may also view/download the booklet from this page at the same time.
Apply online
Bolton online admission website is now closed. We will now treat any applications received as 'late applications' and will be considered after all the applications which arrived on time. You must now contact Pupil and Student Services if you wish to apply for a school place for September 2012.
The closing date for all application was 16 January 2012.
Application Procedure
You can give up to three preferences in rank order on the form, describing your reasons for these preferences. If you wish to apply for a school out of the Bolton borough this must be included as one of your three preferences. Then submit the form on-line or return the paper application to the LA. You must provide evidence of your home address, this may be a copy of your Council Tax document or child benefit letter. Evidence must be sent to the Pupil and Student Services Section. If you are applying for a Church of England school you need to complete a supplementary form (see 'Downloads' section on right hand side from 26 September) and return it to the Local Authority. Some schools ask you to fill in additional forms, please refer to the admission criteria for each school (please refer to your Admission booklet)
Bolton Local Authority will post your offer letter on 16 April 2012 for admission in 2012.
If you are refused a place at your preferred school, you will be offered an alternative school and sent an appeals form and details of how to appeal.
Waiting lists
The Local Authority compiles a waiting list of children who have not been offered a place at their preferred school including late applicants. The waiting list is compiled using the over subscription criteria.
Types of schools
Community Primary Schools
These are community primary, junior or infant schools. They take both boys and girls and are day schools. None have a religious affiliation. Admissions are coordinated by Bolton Local Authority.
Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools
These take both boys and girls and are day schools. Each school is affiliated to a particular religious denomination.
Voluntary Aided Schools – Church of England
These take both boys and girls and are day schools. The School Governors control admission and depending on the school, you may need to complete an additional form to show how you meet the admission criteria for an individual school.
Voluntary Aided Schools – Roman Catholic
These take both boys and girls and are day schools.
Roman Catholic schools
The school will need to see proof that your child is a baptised Roman Catholic. Admissions criteria may include residency within a parish boundary, check with the school or parish priest to confirm your parish.
Class size limits
Government legislation is in place which limits infant class sizes. This means that no infant child is taught in a class of more than 30 pupils with one teacher.
Permanent address/change of address
You need to give the address of the parent that the child lives with on a permanent basis. The Local Authority will not consider another address e.g. the residence of a child minder, grandparents. If you move to another address after the closing date changes can be made up to 24 February 2012 provided you have supplied evidence that such a move has taken place. If you move after 24 February 2012 your new address will not be used as part of the allocation process until after the allocation date. If you give false information on the form or give a false address you will lose your school place.
Changing your preferences
This is only considered in very exceptional circumstances. Normally this is when you move address and you would need to provide documents proving you live at the new address e.g. a letter form solicitor exchanging contracts and a council tax bill or a long term tenancy agreement. You should note that preferences cannot be changed for any reason after 24 February 2012.
These are considered after in-time applications have been looked at. Places will then be allocated to late applicants and a school offer letter goes out in April 2012.
Only in exceptional circumstances will late applications be considered on time, this is when:
- Parents move into the borough after the closing date
- Parents were abroad during the application and closing date period
- Parent or child received medical treating hospital from application through to the closing date period
Applications received after the allocation date
The LA will continue to manage the co-ordinated admission arrangements after the allocation date i.e. 16 April 2012 until the end of the Autumn term.
The LA form and any relevant documents will be passed on to the appropriate admissions authority for consideration. The LA will retain responsibility for informing parents about the outcome of their application. If admission is refused to the preferred borough community and controlled school(s), an appeal form(s) will be sent with the letter, which will inform parents or carers of the alternative school to be offered.
Where a place cannot be offered at the borough aided school(s), in addition to the details about the alternative school offered, the LA’s letter will advise parents and carers of their right of appeal and provide details of the appeals process.
Appeals
If you are not happy with the place you are offered by the Local Authority, you can appeal.
Making an appeal
- You are sent an appeals letter and form with the school place offer letter.
- You must appeal in writing to Democratic Services Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU within 14 days of the date of the Authority’s final offer.
- A leaflet explaining the appeals process is available from the 'Pupil and student services'.
- Your appeal is taken to an appeals panel.