Admissions Information

Applying for a Place in Reception

Children in Dudley can start school (Reception) in the September after their fourth birthday.  Dudley Council's School Admissions Service publishes information on their website, informing parent/carers on how to start their child at school. However, the responsibility for applying online for a child to start reception class, remains solely with parent/carers.

When to apply

Parents can apply for a place in the Autumn of the year before their child turns 4 years of age. It is important that you apply for a place as soon as possible.  Attendance at our pre-school does not give a child automatic priority for a place

In-Year Applications (changing schools after starting Reception)

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 via the local authority by completing the in-year admissions application form which is available from Dudley's Admissions website (click here). As a Catholic School, parents will also need to complete a Supplementary Information Form in addition to the standard application form that is submitted to the local authority. Supplementary Information Forms can be obtained by downloading from the link below, or a hard copy can be provided on request by contacting the school office by email (enquiry_stmarys@st-mary-bh.dudley.sch.uk) or by telephoning 01384 985 005. Supplementary Information Forms must be returned directly to the school either by emailing to the email address above or by post. If a Supplementary Information Form is not submitted directly to the school, this may affect the priority given to the application and could affect the likelihood of your child being offered a place.

The local authority will forward your application to the school for consideration by the governors.

Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements for each academic year (please see below), will be applied. The full admission arrangements can be accessed below 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, the local authority will notify you of this decision on behalf of the governors and the child will be added to the waiting list. Please see the admission arrangements for more details regarding waiting lists.

You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible. 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 10 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 the school office using the details above. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority by calling 0300 555 2345

The Local Governing Body of St. Mary's Catholic Primary School adhere strictly to our admission criteria.

The School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code came into force on 1st February 2012. In line with this, the Local Governing Body is required to publish a timetable for organising and hearing school admission appeals.

Attendance at St. Mary's Preschool does not automatically guarantee that a place will be offered in Reception class of St. Mary's Catholic Primary School. Parents must apply for a Reception place in exactly the same way as parents of children not attending Preschool. All applications will be considered against the oversubscription criteria by the Board of Directors in the same way, regardless of whether the child does or does not attend Preschool at the time of application.