Wickersley Northfield
School Admissions Code 2021
The purpose of the Code is to ensure that all school places for maintained schools and
Academies (excluding maintained special schools and special academies) are
allocated and offered in an open and fair way. The Code has the force of law, and
where the words ‘must’ or ‘must not’ are used, these represent a mandatory
requirement. Admission authorities and local authorities must also comply with the
regulations and legislation set out in the Appendix to the Code.
In drawing up their admission arrangements, admission authorities must ensure that
the practices and the criteria used to decide the allocation of school places are fair,
clear, and objective. Parents should be able to look at a set of arrangements and
understand easily how places for that school will be allocated.
How Admissions Work
In summary, the process operates as follows:
All schools must have admission arrangements that clearly set out how children will be
admitted, including the criteria that will be applied if there are more applications than
places at the school. Admission arrangements are determined by admission
authorities.
Admission authorities must set (‘determine’) admission arrangements annually. Where
changes are proposed to admission arrangements, the admission authority must first
publicly consult on those arrangements. If no changes are made to admission
arrangements, they must be consulted on at least once every 7 years.
Consultation must be for a minimum of 6 weeks and must take place between 1
October and 31 January of the school year before those arrangements are to apply
(the determination year). (For example: for arrangements which are to apply for entry
in September 2024, consultation must be completed by 31 January 2023). This
consultation period allows parents, other schools, religious authorities, and the local
community to raise any concerns about the proposed admission arrangements.
Once all arrangements have been determined, arrangements can be objected to
and referred to the Schools Adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must
be referred to the Adjudicator by 15 May in the school year before those
arrangements are to apply (the determination year). (For example: for arrangements
which are to apply for entry in September 2024, objections must be referred to the
Adjudicator by 15 May 2023).
Any decision of the Adjudicator must be acted on by the admission authority and
admission arrangements amended accordingly. The local authority will collate and
publish all the admission arrangements in the area in a single composite prospectus.
In the normal admissions round (i.e., normal point of application and entry to school)
parents apply to the local authority in which they live for places at their preferred
schools. Parents are able to express a preference for at least three schools. The
application can include schools outside the local authority where the child lives. A
parent can apply for a place for their child at any state-funded school in any area. If
a school is undersubscribed, any parent that applies must be offered a place. When
oversubscribed, a school’s admission authority must rank applications in order against
its published oversubscription criteria and send that list back to the local authority.
All preferences are collated and parents then receive an offer from the local authority
at the highest preference school at which a place is available. The offer is made on
National Offer Day – this is 16th April for entry to Reception in a Primary, Infant or J&I
school and Year 3 of a Junior school (or the next working day where 16th April falls on
a weekend or bank holiday), in the year in which the child will be admitted.
The National Offer Day for admission in 2024/25 will be 16th April 2024.
Parents, and in some circumstances children, have the right to appeal against an
admission authority’s decision to refuse admission. The admission authority must set
out the reasons for the decision, that there is a right of appeal and the process for
hearing such appeals. The admission authority must establish an independent
appeals panel to hear the appeal. The panel will decide whether to uphold or dismiss
the appeal. Where a panel upholds the appeal, the school is required to admit the
child. Further information is available on the Local Authority website:
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/schools-schooling/school-admission-appeals
Email schoolappeals@rotherham.gov.uk
Determining Admission Arrangements
Admission authorities are responsible for admissions and must act in accordance with
the Code, the School Admission Appeals Code, other laws relating to admissions, and
relevant human rights and equalities legislation.
Published Admission Number (PAN)
As part of determining their admission arrangements, all admission authorities must set
an admission number for each ‘relevant age group. (Relevant age group is the first
year of entry – Reception year in an Infant, J&I or primary school and Year 3 in a
separate Junior School).
Own admission authorities are not required to consult on their PAN where they
propose either to increase or keep the same PAN. For a community or voluntary
controlled school, the local authority (as admission authority) must consult at least the
governing body of the school where it proposes either to increase or keep the same
PAN. All admission authorities must consult where they propose a decrease to the
PAN.
Community and voluntary controlled schools have the right to object to the Schools
Adjudicator if the PAN set for them is lower than they would wish. There is a strong
presumption in favour of an increase to the PAN to which the Schools Adjudicator
must have regard when considering any such objection.
Admission authorities must notify their local authority of their intention to increase the
school’s PAN and reference to the change should be made on the school’s website.
If, at any time following determination of the PAN, an admission authority decides that
it is able to admit above its PAN, it must notify the local authority in good time to allow
the local authority to deliver its co-ordination responsibilities effectively.
Admission authorities may also admit above their PAN through in-year admissions. The
PAN only applies to the relevant age group (normal year of entry). This means that
admission authorities may not refuse admission to other age groups on the grounds
that they have already reached their PAN. They may, however, refuse admission
where the admission of another child would prejudice the provision of efficient
education or efficient use of resources.
Oversubscription criteria
The admission authority for the school must set out in their arrangements the criteria
against which places will be allocated at the school when there are more
applications than places and the order in which the criteria will be applied.
Please note that where ‘Authority’ is stated this refers to Rotherham Local Authority as
the admissions authority for maintained Infant, J&I, Primary and Junior schools.
All children whose Education, Health and Care Plan names the school must be
admitted.
If the school is not oversubscribed, all applicants must be offered a place.
All schools must have oversubscription criteria for each ‘relevant age group’.
The highest priority must be given, unless otherwise provided in the Code, to looked
after children and all previously looked after children. Previously looked after children
are children who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted
(or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). All
references to previously looked after children in the Code mean such children who
were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship
orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who
appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England
and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Oversubscription criteria must then be applied to all other applicants in the order set
out in the arrangements.
Oversubscription criteria must be reasonable, clear, objective, procedurally fair, and
comply with all relevant legislation, including equalities legislation. Admission
authorities must ensure that their arrangements will not disadvantage unfairly, either
directly or indirectly, a child from a particular social or racial group, or a child with a
disability or special educational needs, and that other policies around school uniform
or school trips do not discourage parents from applying for a place for their child.
Admission arrangements must include an effective, clear, and fair tie-breaker to
decide between two applications that cannot otherwise be separated.
Places at LA maintained schools will be allocated using the admissions criteria given
below for the relevant year group and will be co-ordinated by the Local Authority.
Places will be offered by Rotherham Local Authority as the admissions authority for the
school.
The Local Authority Admission to Primary School 2024 booklet contains information on
all Rotherham schools and is a guide for parents/carers to the admissions process.
Parents/carers are strongly advised to read the booklet and familiarise themselves
with the process and the admission criteria given below prior to submitting their
application. The Admission to Primary School 2024 booklet will be available to view
on the Local Authority website by 31st August 2023: -
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/education-learning/starting-primary-school
A hard copy of the booklet can be posted to parents/carers on request by
telephoning the Local Authority Admissions Team on 01709 823777 or email:
admissions.enquiries@rotherham.gov.uk
Closing Date for Receipt of Applications
For admission to Reception year in an infant, J&I or primary school and year 3 in a
junior school in 2024, the Government has deemed that the National Closing Date for
receipt of applications will be 15 January 2024.
Parents/carers must submit their application stating their preferred schools by this date
to be considered in the first round of offers made on the National Offer Day.
How to Apply for an Infant, J&I, Primary or Junior School Place
Parents of children resident in Rotherham must apply via Rotherham Authority.
However, for looked after child, the application must be submitted by the social
worker via the Local Authority responsible for the child’s care rather than the foster
carer.
Rotherham Authority operates an online admissions service to enable parents to
submit an application for their preferred school(s) via the Authority’s website where
you will find a link to the school admissions online service (Capita Citizen Portal):
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/education-learning/starting-primary-school
Parents who are unable to apply online or would simply prefer to complete a paper
application form can contact the Admissions Team to request a paper copy.
Telephone: 01709 823777
Email: admissions.enquiries@rotherham.gov.uk
The Published Admission Number for entry to Reception for Wickersley Northfield Primary School is: 60
Where the published admission number for the school is likely to be reached mid
category, places will be prioritised within that category by reference to the distance
between the home address and the school. Highest priority will be given to those who,
on 15 January 2024, live closest to the school measured in a straight line on a horizontal
plane (commonly known as measurement, “as the crow flies”). Distance
measurements are calculated (by the Local Authority Admissions Team) using a
Geographical Information System which applies seed points as determined by
Ordnance Survey. Measurements are taken from the seed point of the ordinary place
of residence to the seed point of the school. Where the school has more than one
seed point, the seed point closest to the geographical centre of the school site is used.
Where places are being allocated based on the distance criteria or as part of the
distance tie breaker, and there are insufficient places within the admission number for
two (or more) children living in the same building (e.g., flats) or otherwise equidistant
from the school, then any final place will be allocated by the simple drawing of lots
by a representative of the Local Authority independent of the School Admissions
Team.
Where applications are received for twins, triplets, siblings born in the same academic
year etc these will be treated equally as there is nothing within the admission criteria
to distinguish between them.
Places will be allocated in accordance with the LA’s co-ordinated admissions scheme
for Primary schools. In assessing preferences, the LA will operate an ‘equal
preference’ system, which means that no priority will be given according to the
ranking of the preference, except where a potential offer can be made in respect of
more than one school. In that situation, the final offer of a place will be made at the
highest preferred school as named on the application form of the potential offer
schools.
Children issued with an Education and Health Care Plan will gain a place at the school
named in the plan as part of that process.
Catchment Areas - Each school has been provided with a list of streets which forms
the basis of the catchment area for that particular school. This information is available
to view on the school website or can be obtained by contacting the School
Organisation Team on (01709) 254831 or on the Local Authority website at:
https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/schools-schooling/find-a-school/3
Catchment area list of streets (see appendix 1)
Admissions Criteria for entry to Reception in an Infant, J&I or Primary School maintained by the Local Authority
A) Children with Special Educational Needs:
A small number of children will have an Education Health Care Plan that names
a school, and these children must be admitted to the school named as part of
that process.
The majority of children with special educational needs will not require an
Education Health Care Plan. Applications for children who have special
educational needs but no Education Health Care Plan, will be considered on the
basis of the Admission Authority’s published admissions criteria.
B) For all other applications places will be allocated in the following order of priority
(Please note that where ‘Authority’ is stated this refers to Rotherham Local
Authority):
1 Relevant Looked After Children and previously looked after children (see
note (a) below for full definition).
2 Children who, on 15th January 2024, have a specific medical reason,
confirmed by a medical practitioner, which the Local Authority is satisfied
makes attendance at the preferred school essential. Parents should ensure
that they provide full supporting information to be considered along with
their application.
3 Children who, on 15th January 2024, have a compelling social reason which
the Local Authority is satisfied makes attendance at the preferred school
essential. The kind of overriding social reasons which could be accepted
are where there is evidence that the child’s education would be seriously
impaired if he or she did not attend the preferred school. Parents should
ensure that they provide full supporting information to be considered along
with their application.
Please note: Very few cases are agreed annually on exceptional medical
or social grounds
4 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live in the catchment area of the
preferred school as defined by the local Authority and it is expected will
have an older brother or sister on the roll of the preferred school or its
associated Junior School in Years 1-6 at the start of the academic year 2024
(see notes (b) and (c) below)
5 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live in the catchment area of the
preferred school as defined by the local Authority (see note (b) below)
6 Children who, on 15th January 2024, it is expected will have an older brother
or sister on the roll of the preferred school or its associated Junior School in
Years 1-6 at the start of the academic year 2024 (see note (c) below)
7 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live nearest to the preferred school
measured by a straight line on a horizontal plane, (commonly known as
measurement “as the crow flies”).
Admissions Criteria for entry to Year 3 of a Junior school maintained by the Local Authority
It is necessary for parents of children in Year 2 of a separate Infant School to apply for
a place in a Junior School when their child is due to transfer to the next phase of their
education.
A) Children with Special Educational Needs:
A small number of children will have an Education Health Care Plan that names
a school, and these children must be admitted to the school named as part of
that process.
The majority of children with special educational needs will not require an
Education Health Care Plan. Applications for children who have special
educational needs but no Education Health Care Plan, will be considered on
the basis of the Admission Authority’s published admissions criteria.
B) For all other applications places will be allocated in the following order of
priority (Please note that where ‘Authority’ is stated this refers to Rotherham
Local Authority):
It is necessary for parents of children in Year 2 of a separate Infant School to apply for
a place in a Junior School when their child is due to transfer to the next phase of their
education.
1 Relevant Looked After Children and previously looked after children (see
note (a) below for full definition).
2 Children who, on 15th January 2024, have a specific medical reason,
confirmed by a medical practitioner, which the Local Authority is satisfied
makes attendance at the preferred school essential. Parents should
ensure that they provide full supporting information to be considered
along with their application.
3 Children who, on 15th January 2024, have a compelling social reason
which the Local Authority is satisfied makes attendance at the preferred
school essential. The kind of overriding social reasons which could be
accepted are where there is evidence that the child’s education would
be seriously impaired if he or she did not attend the preferred school.
Parents should ensure that they provide full supporting information to be
considered along with their application.
Please note: Very few cases are agreed annually on exceptional
medical or social grounds
4 Children in attendance at Y2 in the associated Infant School.
5 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live in the catchment area of the
preferred school as defined by the local Authority and it is expected will
have an older brother or sister on the roll of the preferred school in Years
1 - 6 or a younger sibling on roll in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 at the
associated Infant school at the start of the academic year 2024 (see
notes (b) and (c) below)
6 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live in the catchment area of the
preferred school as defined by the local Authority (see note (b) below)
7 Children who, on 15th January 2024, it is expected will have an older
brother or sister on the roll of the preferred school in Years 1 - 6 or a
younger sibling on roll in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 at the associated
Infant school at the start of the academic year 2024 (see note (c) below)
8 Children who, on 15th January 2024, live nearest to the preferred school
measured by a straight line on a horizontal plane, (commonly known as
measurement “as the crow flies”)
Parents of Year 2 children resident in Rotherham who currently attend a Primary or J&I
School, or a school outside Rotherham Authority, can also express a preference for a
place in Year 3 at a Junior School if they wish to do so by either applying on-line or by
obtaining a Common Application Form from the Admissions Team on 01709 823777.
NOTES – definitions and additional information in relation to the admissions criteria for entry to Reception and Year 3
a) A ‘relevant looked after child’ is a child that is looked after by a local authority
in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989 at the time an
application for admission to a school is made, and who the local authority has
confirmed will still be looked after at the time when he/she is admitted to the
school.
Previously looked after children are children who were looked after but ceased
to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child
arrangements order or special guardianship order). All references to previously
looked after children in the Code mean such children who were adopted (or
subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders)
immediately following having been looked after and those children who
appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of
England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
b) Places will be allocated based on your residential address on 15 January 2024.
Therefore, you must notify the Local Authority Admissions Team in writing if you
change address before this date. You may be asked to provide proof of
residence (e.g., utility/council tax bill). Documentary evidence of ownership or
rental agreement may be required together with proof of actual permanent
residency at the property concerned. The Local Authority reserves the right to
request an affidavit where there is uncertainty regarding a child’s ordinary
place of residence.
c) For a child to be considered a sibling, one of the following conditions must exist:
(you may be asked to provide proof e.g., Birth Certificate and proof of
residence)
• brother/sister to be permanently resident at the same address.
• stepbrother/stepsister to be permanently resident at the same address.
• half-brother/half-sister to be permanently resident at the same address.
• brother/sister who do not live at the same residence but, who share the
same parents.
• child of the parent/carer’s partner to be permanently resident at the
same address.
• adopted brother/sister permanently resident at the same address
• foster brother/sister resident at the same address
d) Children of UK service personnel (UK Armed Forces) – For families of service
personnel with a confirmed posting to their area, or crown servants returning
from overseas to live in that area, admission authorities must allocate a place
in advance of the family arriving in the area provided the application is
accompanied by an official letter that declares a relocation date and a Unit
postal address or quartering area address when considering the application
against their oversubscription criteria. This must include accepting a Unit postal
address or quartering area address for a service child. Admission authorities
must not refuse a service child a place because the family does not currently
live in the area, or reserve blocks of places for these children
Waiting Lists
On the National Offer Day of 16 April 2024, the Admissions Team will establish a waiting
list for all Infant, J&I, Primary and Junior schools in Rotherham where the number of
applications for those schools has exceeded the available places for entry into
Reception or Year 3 for a separate Junior school.
The Local Authority Admissions Team will administer the waiting list on behalf of all
schools which will operate until the 31 December 2024 when it will cease.
The child’s name will automatically be put on the waiting list for a school where they
have not been made an offer of a place and where that school is named as a higher
preference than the school at which an offer has been made.
Children’s positions on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with
the oversubscription criteria, with no reference to the date of receipt of the
application. The waiting list will be re-ordered in accordance with the oversubscription
criteria whenever anyone is added to or leaves the waiting list. Should a place
become available it will be allocated to the child whose name is at the top of the
waiting list on the day that the Local Authority receives written confirmation of the
vacancy.
In-year Admissions – Transferring School During the School Year
Any application for an in-year school transfer should be made via the Local Authority
Admissions Team in the first instance. The Local Authority will co-ordinate in-year
transfers for all primary schools in Rotherham.
The Local Authority will be able to provide an indication of potential school place
availability on request however, this is subject to change on a daily basis as
applications are received and processed. Parents may still wish to apply for a school
which appears to be oversubscribed as, if declined, all parents will be offered the right
of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Further information and the relevant application form is available on the Local
Authority website: Transferring School during the school year – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Transferring School during the school year – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
A paper copy of the application form can be requested from the Admissions Team:
Telephone: 01709 823777
Email: admissions.enquiries@rotherham.gov.uk
If you are moving home, please apply in advance of your move to reduce the risk of
your child being out of school while your application is processed. You will need to
provide details of your new address and when you intend to move.
You are advised to discuss your transfer request with a member of staff at your child’s
present school.
If there is more than one child involved each request will be considered on an
individual basis. If a child is offered or admitted to a school, it does not guarantee a
place at that particular school for any other child/children in the family.
The Local Authority Admissions Team will record all in-year transfer applications and
will forward your application via secure email for consideration by the relevant
Admissions Authority.
Applications received will be forwarded to preferred schools on the day of
receipt where possible, or the following working (school) day.
Applications received during a weekend or bank holiday or during school
holidays will be forwarded to the preferred schools on the next working (school)
day.
It is not possible to process any applications during school holidays and your
application will be considered as soon as schools re-open. Schools are required to
respond to in-year transfer requests within a maximum of 15 school days from receipt
of the application therefore, although in-year applications may be forwarded to
schools during school holiday periods, it is unlikely that you will be notified of the
outcome of your application until schools re-open and the 15 school day response
time commences.
In many cases a child will transfer to a new school only at the beginning of a new
term, unless there is agreement by all concerned that the transfer should take place
earlier. Until the transfer arrangements have been approved it is expected that your
child will continue to attend their present school.
Parents can make applications up to one term before the date when they would like
their child to start at the preferred school. Parents can apply from the 1 May onwards
for Admission in the following September. Any application for admission in the
following September which is received prior to this date will be considered as having
been received on 1st May.
You will be notified in writing of the outcome of your application. This decision will be
sent by the Local Authority Admissions Team.
It should be noted that it is the Local Authority’s policy that repeat applications made
for entry to the same year group at the same school will not be considered unless
there has been a significant and material change of circumstances which is relevant
to the application for admission.
Information on Appeals
Where it is not possible to offer your child a place at the school you have applied for,
you will receive a letter advising you of the reasons for this decision. This will be sent
by the Local Authority Admissions Team.
All parents/carers have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel if you
have received written confirmation that it has not been possible to offer your child a
place at the schools you have applied for.
All independent appeals are organised by an Appeals Clerk and follow procedures,
which are set out in legislation and the School Admission Appeals Code of Practice.
The Appeals Clerk, Panel and process are independent of the Admissions Authority.
Important requirements to note are:
- Appeals must be in writing stating the grounds on which the appeal is made;
- Every parent has the right to attend the independent appeal in order to make
- their case;
- The parent can be accompanied by a friend or be represented by them;
- Independent appeals are heard in private;
- The decision of the Appeals Panel is binding on both parents and the Admissions
- Authority;
- Parents will receive written notification of the Appeals Panel decision.
- Dates – (parents will be advised at the earliest opportunity of appeal dates by the Clerk)
General Information on Appeals
A separate document containing details of the appeals procedure is available from
the Local Authority for parents whose applications could not be satisfied.
Any member of the Authority may attend, as an observer, any hearing by an
Independent Appeal Panel established by the Authority.
Parents will be given at least 14 days written notice of the date, time and place of the
appeal hearing and will receive prior to the appeal, written documentation
summarising the reasons for refusing the admission.
If a parent does not attend the appeal or is not represented by another person the
hearing may be held and the case dealt with in the absence of the parent using only
the written documentation submitted.
In some cases, parents who are not successful at the appeal occasionally consider
applying again for the same school in the same academic year. Unless there has
been a significant and material change of circumstances which is relevant to the
application for admission, the Authority is not required to reconsider its decision and
therefore parents do not have the right of another appeal.
Further information is available on the Local Authority website
School admission appeals – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Email schoolappeals@rotherham.gov.uk
FIND YOUR CATCHMENT AREA SCHOOL
You can use the catchment map to find your catchment area school.
- Visit RMBC Mapping (rotherham.gov.uk)
- Close the disclaimer
- Type your postcode in the address bar to search
- Select a property from the list (if yours is not shown press MORE)
- Click or tap on the property to select it
- The property will be shown on the map
- Select What would you like to do? in the top left corner
- Select Map features
- Select Education
- Tick the Primary & Secondary catchment boxes as required
- Click or tap the map and catchment area school/s will appear in a pop-up box
USEFUL CONTACTS
ADMISSIONS TEAM
Children and Young People’s Services
Riverside House
Main Street
Rotherham
S65 1AE
Contact an Admissions Officer on 01709 823777
or email: admissions.enquiries@rotherham.gov.uk
APPEALS CLERK
Legal and Democratic Services,
Town Hall, The Crofts,
Moorgate Street,
Rotherham
S60 2TH
Tel: (01709) 822054
Email: schoolappeals@rotherham.gov.uk