Admissions Policy for 2008/9
The Governors, who are responsible for the admission to this Church of England Voluntary Aided School, have agreed with the Learning Trust to admit 30 pupils for each year group. These arrangements and the admission criteria below are reviewed annually.

Each application should be supported by the relevant documentary evidence. Parents applying for a Foundation Place do so on the understanding that the Governors will seek a letter of support from the Minister of Religion detailed on the supplementary form. The governors will need to be satisfied that the family has been regularly attending church for at least one year. The Governors will interpret ‘regularly’ to mean at least once a month.

We aim to provide an education based on Christian principles. Parents applying for a place at the school need to be aware that all children will be expected to take part in religious education and in the Christian acts of worship in the school and in the church.

When there are more applications than there are places available, the Governors will admit pupils according to the following criteria. It should be understood by parents that a place in the nursery does not give a child automatic entry to the Reception Class.

1 Church of England looked after children in Public Care

2 Children whose parents are regular worshippers at St. Mary?s Stoke Newington.

3 Children whose parents are regular worshippers at any other Anglican church.

4 Children whose parents are regular worshippers at other Christian Denominations as recognised by Churches Together in England.

For the purposes of these applications, parent should be taken to include carer, guardian or foster parent/carer. Applications for Foundation Places will need to be supported by a church reference.

When deciding between applicants who appear to have equal entitlement to admission under the criteria, places will be allocated firstly to applicants who will have a sibling in the school at the time of admission to the school's register, and secondly to applicants living nearest to the main entrance to the school in Barn Street measured by a straight line.

1 Looked after children in Public Care.

2 Children who will have a sibling in the school at the time of admission to the school's register.

3 Children with Statements of Special Educational Need, or with documented acute social or medical needs supported by professional references.

4 Children already at St. Mary?s Nursery school.

5 Children living closest to the school.

When deciding between applicants who appear to have equal entitlement to admission under the criteria, the governors will offer the place to the applicant who lives nearest to the main entrance to the school in Barn Street measured by a straight line.

Unsuccessful applicants for Foundation Places will automatically be considered for Open Places. Any unfilled Foundation Places will become Open Places.

An impartial Appeals Committee exists to examine any appeals from parents unsuccessful in gaining a place for their child.