Admissions
We welcome applications from all families - you do not need to be Catholic to be part of our wonderful school.
If your child's 4th birthday is between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024 then you will need to apply for a place at First, Infant or Primary School.
Applying for a place in Reception Class
The School Admissions Team at Staffordshire County Council allocate all school Reception class places - for further details on the admissions process including admission criteria, catchment areas, appeals etc please follow this link to Staffordshire County Council website. School Admissions do not issue application forms as the Service is keen to provide a paperless system in all its admissions processes wherever possible. Their website also gives details if you wish to apply for a mid-year transfer, but we would request that you contact the school first. |  |
When Can I Apply?
To apply for a reception place at St Austin's you must apply via Staffordshire County Council here: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-primary/Apply/Overview.aspx
You can also find our full admissions policy below.
If you would like any further information or any support with the application process please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
office@st-austins.staffs.sch.uk
01785 413277
For us, every day is an open day - so please give us a call and we will arrange a time and date for you to visit us!
KEY DATES
1st November 2023 - applications open. You will need to click on this link to apply online.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-primary/Apply/Overview.aspx
15th January 2024 - deadline for applications. You will need to click on this link to apply online.
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-primary/Apply/Overview.aspx
16th April 2024 - National Offer Day (parents receive outcomes)
Further information can be found on the Staffordshire County Council School Admissions website
Applying for a Nursery Place
You can apply for a nursery place from the start of the school term after your child’s third birthday. Nursery applications are a dealt with directly by the school.
Here at St Austin's Nursery, we are dedicated to ensuring that your child has the best possible start to their educational, social and emotional life. If you are interested bringing your child for a 'stay and play' session, you would be most welcome. Please contact the school office to arrange a day / time for this.
To find our more or for an application pack please call us on 01785 413277 email: office@st-austins.staffs.sch.uk
Our nursery has places for 3-4 year olds and is open 5 days per week (NB term time only).
Morning and afternoon sessions are available with the option of before and after school club provision each day - from 7:45am-8:45am, and again in the afternoon from 3:15pm until 5:30pm on a Monday - Thursday and 3:15pm until 4:30pm on a Friday.
Please contact the school office re eligibility.
In Year Admissions
We welcome in-year admissions to all year groups. The process for this is different however, as it is not led centrally by the County Council Admissions Team. In the first instance, we would recommend that you contact us directly to arrange a time to come and look around and have a chat with the headteacher. You will then need to submit an in-year admissions form and return it to the school office.
In-Year Applications
An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. An application should be made directly to the school by completing the form below.
As a Catholic School, parents will also need to complete a Supplementary Information Form in addition to the standard application form that is submitted. Our Supplementary Information Form can be found here: https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/st-austins-catholic-primary-school/UploadedDocument/153cc4de-454d-469d-a3fe-02c6bc59cc03/st.austins-2023-24-supplementary-information-form-1.pdf or a hard copy can be provided on request by contacting the school office on 01785 413277 or email office@st-austins.staffs.sch.uk . Supplementary Information Forms must be returned directly to the school at office@st-austins.staffs.sch.uk or post to St Austin’s Catholic Primary School, Garden Street, Stafford ST17 4BT. If a Supplementary Information Form is not submitted directly to the school this may affect the priority given to the application and may affect your child being offered a place.
Once your application is received, this will need to be reviewed by our admissions committee (members of our Local Governing Body) before a place can be considered.
Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements for the corresponding year, will be applied. The full admission arrangements can be accessed at the foot of this page or by contacting the school office to request a hard copy. Parents are advised to read the admission arrangements carefully before making their application.
If there are no places available, we will notify you of this decision on behalf of the governors and the child will be added to the waiting list on request. Please see the admission arrangements for more details regarding waiting lists.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing within one week if your application is received during term time. Applicants must be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days of its receipt, but the aim is to notify applicants of the outcome of their application within 5 school days of its receipt.
You have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if your application is unsuccessful.
If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions please contact our school office on 01785 413277. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority who can be contacted as follows:
admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01785 278593
School Admissions and Transport Service
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire Place
Stafford
ST16 2DH
Admission to our Nursery Class
You are able to apply for a nursery place at any time during the school year. Please contact our school office at office@st-austins.staffs.sch.uk or telephone 01785 413277 for an application pack. Please visit our Nursery page under the 'about us' tab for further information.
Admissions for September will be ranked in line with our admissions policy (see below) on the last day of the Spring Term. After this time, places will be offered subject to available spaces.
Admission to our school in Reception
You will find all the information you need to apply for a school place at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/education/schoolsandcolleges/admissions/primary
If you do not have internet access you can contact the admissions team on 01785 278593.
Parents are given the option of entry to school for their children at the beginning of the school year in which their fifth birthday falls.
Applications are usually invited in the November prior to the child's enrollment date, you will receive notification from the local authority. You will be notified in the April as to whether you have secured a place within our school. There is a link below regarding instructions on how to appeal this decision.
Prior to starting school new entrants are invited to spend several half days with Reception. We find this helps the child to become familiar with the school environment and helps them to settle more easily into full time school.
Parents are invited to a meeting with our Reception teacher and the Head teacher to ask any questions you may have. We will also give you an Admission Pack with helpful information and forms to complete for our records.
Joining School In Years 1-6
St Austin’s has well developed pastoral systems that help children who choose to join the school settle in quickly.
If you have moved into the area or are considering moving your child to St Austin’s then please feel free to contact the school to arrange an informal visit. If you wish to enrol your child please complete the in year application below and forward to the school office. If a place is available and your application is successful you will be notified as soon as possible. If you are unsuccessful you have the right to appeal and the appeal timetable can be found below.
Pupil Induction
Once a place has been formally offered then please contact the school to arrange a further visit and/or a start date. There will be opportunity then for you to meet your child/children’s new teachers and find out about class routines. If your child joins midyear, in their first few weeks they will be assessed and their needs identified. The class teacher will then arrange a meeting with you to discuss your child’s induction and short term targets.