Admissions

The Academy has an agreed Admission Policy which complies with the law on admissions.

Admissions to Roundthorn Primary Academy are managed by Oldham Local Authority.

Apply for a school place

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/admissions

Please note:

If your child attends the nursery class attached to an Infant or Primary School, this does not guarantee admission to the reception class at the school.

Supporting Transition For Vulnerable Children

Any parents who would like their child to transfer from another school, should contact the admissions team at Oldham Council and complete an in year transfer form (see link above for contact details.)

Moving up to Secondary School

For Oldham schools, please see the links below. Private schools have their own arrangements, please visit their websites.

Apply for a Secondary School Place

Admission Appeals

Admission Appeals Timetable

Overview

What is an appeal?

If you applied for a place at the school and were not offered one, you have the right to appeal against this decision. Please note however that appeals must be submitted in writing and are only upheld in very specific circumstances. For full information about school admissions appeals, please refer to the DfE Advice for parents and guardians on school admissions appeals.

Why was my child not offered a place?

If we could not offer your child a place, this means that the children who were offered a place had greater priority, as set out in the oversubscription criteria in our Admissions Policy. For example, they may have a sibling at the school, or live closer. The letter you received confirming that you were not offered a place should include information on why.

If you have made an in-year application and this has been refused, it will be because the year group to which you have applied is full, therefore no spaces are available.

Find out more…

It is the local authority’s responsibility to ensure that every child has a school place, and we strongly advise you to contact your local authority to enquire about vacancies at other schools.

How appeals work

Appeals for children refused admission will be heard according to the regulations in the School Admission Appeals Code (October 2022).

All appeals must be submitted in writing.

Your appeal will be heard by an independent panel of three people who will consider two main questions:

Was the school’s decision made properly according to admissions law and its own policy?
Are your child’s individual circumstances so exceptional that it would be worse for them not to have a place at a specific school than it would for that school to accept an additional child? This is called the balance of prejudice test.

How to submit an appeal

Your appeal is made in writing by writing to School Appeals at Oldham Council.

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200327/apply_for_a_school_place/2497/appeals_-_what_to_do_if_you_havent_got_your_choice_of_school

An independent clerk will then manage the case and will write to you with further information about how the process will work. Appeal hearings may take place in person or via video conferencing.

Appeals Timetable

Main round appeals

Primary Offer Date: 16^th April 2025

Deadline for submitting appeal: 9^th May 2025

Appeal panel hearings will take place within 40 school days of the deadline date for submitting an appeal. The independent appeal panel clerk will notify parents/carers of the date of their appeal at least 10 school days prior to the hearing date and will include whether the hearing will be held in person or virtually.

Appeals for late applications will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline date for appeals, where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being submitted.

In year appeals

Appeals for an in-year admission, for example to year groups other than Reception, must be submitted within 20 school days of notification that a place has not been offered.

Appeals for children refused an in-year admission will be heard within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal. Parents/carers will be notified of their appeal hearing date by an independent appeal panel clerk.