Admissions Arrangements

Details of our school’s admission and appeals arrangements can be found on the local authority website.

 To view the Admission Policy for our school  please click here<https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-admissions-scheme-criteria-and-protocol/>

Please then click on the link to the Determined Admission Criteria and Scheme for the required year, and our Admission Policy is shown under GCC Admission Arrangements.

Please contact Gloucestershire county council to find out about admissions and appeal arrangements.

We seek to be an inclusive school, welcoming children from all backgrounds and abilities.

All applications will be treated on merit, and in a sensitive manner. The only restriction we place on entry is that of number. Our standard pupil admission number (PAN) is 30.  If the number of children applying for entry exceeds the places available, we adopt the procedure set out below to determine whether a child is to be accepted or not. It is our wish for parents and carers to find a place for their child at the school of their choice. However, this is not always possible, due to excess demand on the places available.

A child’s level of ability is irrelevant to this school’s admissions policy, as are any special needs the child may have.

The LA’s annual admissions prospectus informs parents and carers how to apply for a place at the school of their choice. Parents and carers have a right to express their preference, but this does not, in itself, guarantee a place at that particular school. Applications should be made on a form that can be obtained from the Gloucestershire County Council, and should be returned by the date stipulated. GCC will notify parents and carers of the decision as soon as all the applications have been considered.

Click here to view the Admission criteria for 2024

or contact on 01452 425407 for more details.

All Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary and Infant Schools use the following criteria to admit children into Reception Class:  

1. Children in Public Care (Looked After Children).
2. Children who have a statement of special educational needs.
3. Children who will have siblings attending the school at the time the applicant child is admitted.
4. Children for whom only one particular school is appropriate due to an exceptional medical condition. Applications under this criterion will only be considered if they are supported by a written statement from the child’s doctor. This must demonstrate that there is a very specific connection between the medical need and the facilities or resources of the school concerned.
5. Children with the strongest geographical claim, measured in a straight line from the centre of the child’s home address (including flats) to the central point of the school, using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system, with those living closer to the school receiving the higher priority.

Where any particular category at points 1-4 above is oversubscribed, criterion 5 (strongest geographical claim based on straight line distance) will be used to determine which child is offered a place.

Starting School 

Children are admitted to the Reception Class in the September prior to their fifth birthdays.

At St Paul's, we expect all of our Reception children to begin school for full days from the outset of the autumn term.  We believe that this helps them to establish a better routine, however, if staff identify individuals that may not be quite ready and who might benefit from part-time induction (for example, if they are stressed, over-tired or have additional needs), this is discussed with parents and suitable arrangements will be made. 

Parents who would like to visit the School or who are considering entering their children for admission are asked to get in touch with the Headteacher who is always willing to show parents around and answer any questions that they may have.

Late Admissions 

If your child joins St Paul’s C of E Primary School at some other stage, e.g. because of a house move, they will be admitted to their respective year group if there is space. Again, new parents and their children are always welcome to visit the school prior to the agreed start date and meetings can be arranged as required.