Admissions
Admission to Clifford All Saints
Clifford All Saints C of E Primary is a Voluntary Aided School in which the Governing Body is the Admission Authority and responsible for admissions.
It is guided in that responsibility by the requirements of law, the school trust deed, by advice from the Diocesan Board of Education and its duty to the community and the Common Good.
Applications are made by the completion of the COMMON APPLICATION FORM and the Church of England Aided School ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FORM, or you can apply online (however you must still return the additional information form to the school if you want to be considered for criteria 3,4 or 5. You can also download A Guide for Parents and Application Form Guidance to help you complete the application form.
Changes to the school admissions programme have come into effect which results in more choice for parents about the right time for their child to start school.
These choices are:-
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All four year old children can start reception in a primary school in the September after their fourth birthday.
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Parents/carers may choose to defer their child’s admission until January depending on their child’s date of birth.
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If you choose to defer, you continue to be entitled to free early learning (15 hours per week term time) in an early years setting of your choice.
Compulsory starting age remains the same—children must start school the term after their fifth birthday.
Criteria for Admission:
Where there are more applications for admission than the indicated admission number stated (footnote 1), the Governing Body/Admission Committee will apply the following criteria in strict order of priority. If the admission number is reached mid criteria, applications in that criteria will be prioritised on the distance of the child’s ordinary place of residence to the main entrance to the school building measured in a straight line. ALL applications will be judged on ‘equal preference’ and EACH INDIVIDUAL application ranked according to criteria for admission.
Children who:
- Are in Public Care (Looked After Children) and children who were previously in Care/Looked After (see definition 1)
- Have an elder sibling (see definition 2) in school at the time of admission.
- With his/her parents/carers regularly and frequently attend (see definition 3) St. Andrew’s Psalter Lane Church or All Saints Ecclesall.
- With his/her parents/carers regularly and frequently attend (see definition 3) another Christian denomination subscribing to a Trinitarian confession.
- With his/her parents/carers are active members of other World Faiths and whose parents wish them to attend this Church of England Voluntary Aided School.
- Children of staff of the school. (see definition 4.)
- Have parents/carers seeking a Christian environment for their children’s education.
- All other children.
If the admission number is reached mid criteria, applications in that criteria will be prioritised on the distance of the child’s ordinary place of residence to the main entrance to the school building measured in a straight line using the Local Authority’s computerised measuring system.
Tie Break
In the event of two or more children living equidistant from the school, the place will be decided by drawing lots. The first name drawn will be offered the place.
Definitions:
Definition 1
A ‘relevant Looked after Child’ is a child that is looked after by a local authority in accordance with Section 22 of the Children’s 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. A previously looked after child is a child who was adopted or became subject to a residence or special guardianship order immediately following having been looked after.
Definition 2 - Brother or Sister
Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carers partner and in every case the child should be living in the same family unit at the same address.
Definition 3
Definition of “regular and frequent”
The Governing Body defines regular and frequent as attendance by parents/carers at a place of worship at least once a month for a minimum period of 2 years prior to the closing date for applications. Regular attendance by children is defined as attendance at a place of worship at least once a month over the past twelve months. Parents/carers whose application is based on attendance at a place of worship should submit the Minister of Religion Reference Form available with the Common Application Form.
“In the event that during the period specified for attendance at worship the church [or, in relation to those of other faiths, relevant place of worship] has been closed for public worship and has not provided alternative premises for that worship, the requirements of these [admissions] arrangements in relation to attendance will only apply to the period when the church [or in relation to those of other faiths, relevant place of worship] or alternative premises have been available for public worship.”
In-Year Admissions
Clifford All Saints CofE Primary participates in the Local Authority’s Co-ordinated Admission Scheme for in-year admissions. If a parent of a child on our roll wishes to apply for a transfer to another school, they must obtain a transfer form from the school for completion of Section 2. The application must then be sent to the Local Authority which will process the application on the parent’s behalf. The Local Authority will confirm the outcome of the application in writing within 15 school days. If the application is refused, the Local Authority will advise on the statutory appeal procedure. Details of the Co-ordinated Admission Scheme and how in-year applications are managed can be seen at https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/schools-childcare/apply-school-place.html
Families New to the City
For families that are new to the City, they should contact the Children Missing Education Team at ed-missingchildren@sheffield.gov.uk or 0114 273 5766 to arrange an appointment to make an admission application.