Admissions, Catchment Area, Prospectus
We are delighted that you are considering St Mary’s as your child’s school. Whether you are considering your child's first school place or a move to the local area, we would love to welcome you into our school to talk more about what we do and what makes us special.
In-Year Admissions
Parents can apply for a place at St. Mary’s C of E Primary School any school at any time. An application is an in-year application if it is for the admission of a child to the relevant age group, but it is submitted on or after the first day of the first term of the admission year, or if it is for the admission of a child to an age group other than the relevant age group.
Where the school is dealing with multiple in-year admissions and does not have sufficient places for every child who has applied for one, places will be allocated on the basis of the oversubscription criteria detailed in the admissions policy. The school will maintain a clear, fair, and objective waiting list until at least 31st December of each school year of admission; each added child will require the list to be ranked again in line with the published oversubscription criteria. An in-year application may be refused if the governors feel that the admission of another child would negatively affect the provision of high quality education or efficient use of resources.
Admission of Children Outside Their Normal Age Group
Parents may request that their child is admitted to a year group outside their normal age range, for instance where the child is gifted or talented or where a child has suffered from particular social or medical issues impacting on their schooling. All such requests will be considered on their merits and either agreed or refused on that basis. If a request is refused, the child will still be considered for admission to their normal age group.
The process for requesting such an admission is as follows: With the application, parents should request that the child is admitted to another year group (state which one), and the reasons for that request. Parents will submit any evidence in support of their case with the application, for instance from a medical practitioner, headteacher etc. Some of the evidence a parent might submit could include:-
• information about the child’s academic, social and emotional development;
• where relevant, their medical history and the views of a medical professional;
• whether they have previously been educated out of their normal age group; and
• whether they may naturally have fallen into a lower age group if it were not for being born prematurely.
The school will consider each case on its merits, taking into account the individual circumstances of the request and the child’s best interests. We will also ensure the parent is aware of whether the request for admission out of age group has been agreed before final offers are made, and the reason for any refusal. Requests for admission out of the normal year group will be considered alongside other applications made at the same time. An application from a child who would ‘normally’ be a year 8 child for a year 7 place will be considered alongside applications for year 7.
Waiting Lists
The school will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year the school receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate until the end of the first term after the beginning of the school year. This will be maintained by the admission authority and it will be open to any parent to ask for their child’s name to be placed on the waiting list, following an unsuccessful application. Children’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria. Looked after children or previously looked after children allocated a place at the school in accordance with a Fair Access Protocol will take precedence over those on a waiting list. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria. The waiting list will be reordered in accordance with the oversubscription criteria whenever anyone is added to or leaves it.
In-Year Admissions 2023-24
Between 1st November 2023 and 31st August 2024, in-year admissions will be dealt with as detailed above. If you would like to apply for a place for your child during this period, please complete the 'Contact Us' form in the section 'Arrange a School Tour' below, and we will invite you to complete the in-year transfer form (for children moving from a maintained school within the United Kingdom). If your child is moving from a non-maintained school or a school outside the United Kingdom, please contact the school office for advice. You will be offered a tour of the school as soon as possible. If you are offered a school place following the school tour and you wish to accept it, arrangements will be made for the child to start at St. Mary's as soon as possible, on a mutually convenient date. If a place is not available for your child but you wish your child to be placed on the waiting list, this will be arranged by the school as detailed above.
Appeals
All applicants refused a place have a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel constituted and operated in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code - see below link. Appellants should contact the
Headteacher at the following address within 21 days of the date of the letter refusing your child a place at the school for information on how to appeal.
St. Mary's Church of England Primary School
Court Orchard
Fownhope
Hereford
Herefordshire
HR1 4PG
Church Places
Although St. Mary’s is a Church of England school, we do not offer places based on church attendance. We believe that our Christian ethos and vision is best displayed in creating an inclusive environment, where children and families of all faiths are welcomed and treated equally.
Catchment Area
The catchment area is Fownhope, Woolhope and surrounding hamlets, however we appreciate that from time to time families wish to travel further. Please contact us to discuss our current spaces and waiting lists.
Secondary Feeder Schools
In recent years children have moved to the following high schools:
Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School, Hereford
- We are a BHBS cluster school and so a feeder primary for Bishop’s; this means children are higher up the admissions criteria for Bishop’s.
- John Kyrle High School, Ross-on-Wye
- St. Mary’s R.C. High School, Lugwardine
- John Masefield High School, Ledbury
- Whitecross High School, Hereford
Admissions Policies and Documents
Please find below our Admissions Policy and application forms for in-year transfers. If you would like paper copies of these forms, please contact the school office.
Arrange a School Tour
If you would like to arrange a tour, please contact us using the below form. Please be sure to include the following details:
- Your name and contact details (email and telephone)
- The name(s) and age(s) of your children
- Which year groups you require places for