Our Lady F The Visitation Admissions Policy 2026-27.pdf

Overview:
Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Primary School, established by the Catholic Church, aims to provide a Catholic education for all pupils. The school's ethos is deeply rooted in Catholic doctrine and practice, and full support from families is expected.

Published Admission Number (PAN):
- 60 children for Reception year starting September 2025.

Admissions Priorities:
1. Catholic Applicants: First priority is given to baptised Catholic children.
- Sub-priorities:
- Looked-after Catholic children and previously looked-after adopted or guardianship order children.
- Children with a Certificate of Catholic Practice (CCP) and a sibling already attending the school.
- Resident baptised Catholic children from the school's parish (a map and list of streets are provided).
- Other baptised Catholic children.

2. Looked-After Children: After Catholics, priority is given to other looked-after or previously looked-after children who have been adopted or under guardianship orders.

3. Exceptional Need: Compelling written evidence from a professional (e.g., priest, hospital consultant) justifying an exceptional social, medical, pastoral, or other need will be considered first after looked-after children.

4. Multiple Applications: If a sibling is applying, all siblings will be admitted if offered a place.

Tie Break:
In cases where oversubscription occurs within sub-categories, places are allocated to those living nearest to the school (measured by straight line from home to school using Synergy software). Random allocation may be used for ties after distance determination.

Fair Access:
The school is committed to accommodating vulnerable and/or hard-to-place children as per locally agreed protocols. The Governing Body can give absolute priority to such children outside the normal admissions round, even if it exceeds the published admission number.

Application Procedure:
1. Complete a Common Application Form (CAF) from your local authority by 15th January 2026.
2. Fill out and return the School's Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to the school along with all required paperwork.
3. Provide a Certificate of Catholic Practice (CCP) for criteria 2 and 3 by the closing date.

Next Review:
The admissions policy will be reviewed in Spring 2026, with the next edition due by February 2027.