Admissions Consultation for 2027
School admissions policy 2027-28
We will consult on an admissions policy between November 2025 and 16 January 2026. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held on 19th January 2026. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2026.
Objections can be made up to 15 May 2026 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator.
The policies being consulted on can be found here:
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| 2027 Buckland Brewer admissions policy.pdf | |||
| 2027 Parkham admissions policy.pdf | |||
| 2027 Woolsery admissions policy.pdf |
The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2026
The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.
Allocation date for Reception: 16 April 2026
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2026
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 24 July 2026
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 24 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.
The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2027
The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.
Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2027
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2027
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 23 July 2027
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 23 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.
Admissions
Our Partnership Schools are very busy and we are very proud that many of our year in groups are presently full or nearly full. As Foundation Schools, the Governing Body of the School sets our Admissions Policy. However, the Governors have elected that this should be in line with the Devon Local Authority Admissions Policy. Our Admissions Policies for each school and for the current and following acadmic years can be found on our Policies page HERE.
Buckland Brewer Primary School
At present, the Governing Board have set a Planned Admissions Number (PAN) of 7 children per year group for Buckland Brewer Primary School.
"Normal round" applications must be made directly to the Devon County Council by 15th January. As with all our Partnetship schools, we request that Devon handle our in-year admissions, so if you are looking for a place, you're welcome to contact us and discuss your needs but you will need to liaise with Devon Admissions as well. We are bound by the Devon School's Admissions Code so where year groups are already full, the Governing Body must apply strict criteria before offering places. It is very helpful if, when you contact the school about places, you know which current year group your child will be placed in.
If you live within the Designated Area ("catchment area") for Buckland Brewer the admissions policy for oversubscription will still be applied.
If you are considering bringing your child to any of the primary schools within the Partnership from another local school, we will usually contact your child's present school before an offer of a place is made.
Parkham Primary School
At present, the Governing Board have set a Planned Admissions Number (PAN) of 10 children per year group for Parkham Primary School.
"Normal round" applications must be made directly to the Devon County Council by 15th January. As with all our Partnetship schools, we request that Devon handle our in-year admissions, so if you are looking for a place, you're welcome to contact us and discuss your needs but you will need to liaise with Devon Admissions as well. We are bound by the Devon School's Admissions Code so where year groups are already full, the Governing Body must apply strict criteria before offering places. It is very helpful if, when you contact the school about places, you know which current year group your child will be placed in.
If you live within the Designated Area ("catchment area") for Parkham, which includes Horns Cross and Goldworthy, the admissions policy for oversubscription will still be applied.
If you are considering bringing your child to any of the primary schools within the Partnership from another local school, we will usually contact your child's present school before an offer of a place is made.
Woolsery Primary School
Woolsery school’s designated area includes the villages of Woolsery, Clovelly, Higher Clovelly, Bucks Cross, and Bucks Mills, together with outlying hamlets as far south as Ashmansworthy. However, we are able to offer places to families who live outside this geographical area.
At present, the Governing Board have set a Published Admissions Number (PAN) of 20 children per year group for children currently in our school and of PAN of 15 for the new Reception intake and younger. Devon handle our in-year admissions, so if you are looking for a place, you’re welcome to contact us and discuss your needs but you will need to liaise with Devon Admissions as well. We are still bound by the Devon School’s Admissions Code so where year groups are already full, the Governing Body must apply strict criteria before offering places. It is very helpful if, when you contact the school about places, you know which current year group your child will be placed in.
If you live within the Designated Area (“catchment area”) for Woolsery, the admissions policy for oversubscription will still be applied. If you wish to see our Designated Area, please click HERE.
If you are considering bringing your child to Woolsery Primary School from another local school, we will usually contact your child’s present school before an offer of a place is made.
How Admissions Work
Children are admitted into the main school between the ages of 4 and 11 (Admissions into preschool are not bound by this process). There are two types of school admission: “Normal Round”, which is for September Admissions and “In-Year” for any admissions during the school year.
The schools operate a single offer point, with children usually beginning their Reception year in the September of the school year (1st Sept – 31st Aug) in which they are five. This is line with Devon County Policy which also allows for deferred and delayed entry.
If you are thinking of sending your child to our school, we strongly encourage a visit: You and your child are very welcome to come in to meet the staff, look around and get a feel for our ethos. Please contact the Office for a mutually convenient time.
If you decide to apply for a place, it’s work checking directly with us first that we have space in the relevant year group for your child (although you may be able to apply for over-subscription criteria in line with our Policy). Once you know whether a place is possible or not, you can contact Devon Admissions and formally apply for a place. They will then contact us for a formal decision on a place offer. Devon will then get back to you to advise you of a start date for your child.
If your child lives within one of our Designated Areas but more than 2 miles outside of the village of Woolsery, Parkham or Buckland Brewer, you may qualify for transport to school or payment towards your travel costs if Devon are unable to include you on their minibus or taxi routes. If you think this applies to you, we can help put you in touch with officers at Devon School Transport.
Links:
Devon website for applications www.devon.gov.uk/admissions
To view school designated area maps across Devon, follow this link: School designated (catchment) areas – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)
Preschools
All three schools offer Preschool provision. In Buckland Brewer and Parkham schools, which are smaller, this is within a Reception and Year 1 learning environment and is open to children who are 3 years or over. In Woolsery, which is a larger school, there is a dedicated Preschool called Sunflowers which has the capacity to offer places to children aged 2 years and older
Please note that having a place in any of our Preschools does not lead to an automatic place at that school and you will need to go through normal round admissions for Reception places following the guidlines above. We will always aim to accommodate your child when they move into their Reception year; you just need to remember to apply for a place!
The Partnership's Foundation Stage provisions are very well integrated with children in Reception who follow the same Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. Your child will be very well supported as they move from preschool into the main school. They will be very familiar with all Foundation Stage staff, routines and learning styles deployed across their settings.
We encourage any new children joining us to spend at least half a day with us, prior to entry, as this means they are familiar with the school, and this helps to ensure a smooth transition when changing from another school.
