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Luton Borough Council

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Starting school, junior school and middle school - what happens next?

 

Please see the information below regarding the starting school admissions round, junior school and middle school allocation for September 2024. 

The school your child has been allocated will be in contact with you in due course regarding admission arrangements.  

Please notify the Admissions team in writing if you no longer require the place allocated for your child.  If you are happy with the school that has been allocated to your child and do not wish to remain on the waiting list for any higher preference school(s), you must notify the Admissions team immediately by emailing [email protected]. 

If your child is offered a place at one of your higher preference schools via the waiting list, the original place offered will be immediately withdrawn and reallocated to another child. 

If your child has been allocated a place at a school outside of Luton, you must notify the relevant council by email if you no longer require the place. 

Please note: school places are offered on the understanding that you will be responsible for any transport arrangements that may be necessary and that brothers and sisters do not gain automatic admission to the school in future years. 

Starting school admissions round and junior school transfer - what happens next?

If you are unhappy with the school that has been allocated to your child, please read the information below for information on what to do next. 

Oversubscribed schools

The infant/primary schools and junior schools listed below have been unable to accommodate all pupils who stated the school as a preference.  Places were allocated in accordance with the council's or schools' admissions criteria. Please go to the relevant school link to see how places were allocated.
 

Open all

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:
Children with an Education Health Care plan.There were no applications that met this criterion.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care. outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Children of staff who work at the school.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

  1. children with an Education Health Care plan.There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. a ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  3. brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  4. pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  5. on medical grounds supported by medical evidence.
  6. children of staff who work at the school.
  7. on the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:
Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion
  5. Children of staff who work at the school. There were no applications that met this criterion
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The School was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. Looked after children and previously looked childrent including those that appear to the school to have been in state care outsie of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Children of staff currently employed at the school.
  3. Children in the catchment area with siblings at the school who will still be attending the school at the proposed date of admission.
  4. Children living in the catchment area of the school.
  5. Children who live outside of the catchment area with siblings at the school who will still be attending the school at the proposed date of admission.
  6. Children living closest to the school measured on straight line distance. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan. There were no applications that met this criterion

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence.
  5. Children of staff who work at the school.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.There were no applications that met this criterion.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Children of staff who work at the school. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or linked infant school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Pupils attending the linked infant school.
  6. Children of staff who work at the school. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  7. On the shortest distance. The school was not able to accommodate all pupils who met this criterion; therefore, the pupils living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan. There were no applications that met this criterion.

  1. A looked after child or a child who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the school to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Children of staff who work at the school.
  3. Children in the catchment area with sibling(s) already at the school at proposed date of admission.
  4. Children living in the catchment area of the school.
  5. Children who live outside of the catchment area with siblings at the school who will still be attending the school at the proposed date of admission.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan. There were no applications that met this criterion.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Children of staff who work at the school. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. A looked after child or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order, including those who appear to Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted.
  2. Children of staff who are employed by the school. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  3. Children in the catchment area with a sibling or siblings already attending Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre or Someries Junior School at the proposed date of admission.
  4. Children living in the catchment area of Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre.
  5. Children who live outside of the catchment area with siblings at Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre and/or Someries Junior School who will still be attending Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre and/or Someries Junior School at the proposed date of admission.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or linked infant school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Pupils attending the linked infant school.
  6. Children of staff who work at the school. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  7. On the shortest distance. The school was not able to accommodate all pupils who met this criterion; therefore, the pupils living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

The school was able to accommodate applications that met the following criteria:

Children with an Education Health Care plan.

  1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship order including those who appear to the council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in care as a result of being adopted. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  2. Brothers and sisters of pupils attending the school or the linked junior school when the pupil starts at the school.
  3. Pupils living in the catchment area of the school.
  4. On medical grounds supported by medical evidence. There were no applications that met this criterion.
  5. Children of staff who work at the school.
  6. On the shortest distance, measured in a straight line, between the main entrance of the school site and the pupil’s home address, with those living closer to the school being accorded higher priority. The school was not able to accommodate all children who met this criterion; therefore, the children living closest to the school were allocated a place.

Only applications submitted on time were considered in the initial allocation of places.

Waiting lists 

If your child has not been allocated a place at one of the schools listed below, his or her name will be placed on the waiting list for the schools you have specified as a higher preference.   

The following shows how long your child’s name will be held on the waiting lists: 

Primary and infant schools

Waiting list expiry date is 7 April 2025 for the following schools:

  • Leagrave Primary School (Foundation) 
  • Someries Infant School (Foundation) 

Waiting list expiry date is 31 July 2025 for the following schools:

  • Beech Hill Primary School (Community)
  • Beechwood Primary School (Community) 
  • Bramingham Primary School (Community)
  • Bushmead Primary School (Community) 
  • Chantry Primary Academy (Academy)
  • Crawley Green Infant School (Foundation)
  • Dallow Primary School  (Academy)
  • Denbigh Primary School (Community)
  • Downside Primary School (Community)
  • Foxdell Primary School (Community)
  • Hillborough Infant School (Community)
  • Icknield Primary School (Community)
  • Maidenhall Primary School (Community)
  • Norton Road Primary School  (Community)
  • Parklea Primary School (Community)
  • Pirton Hill Primary School (Community)
  • Putteridge Primary School (Community)
  • Ramridge Primary School  (Community)
  • River Bank Primary School  (Free school)
  • Sacred Heart Primary School (Voluntary aided (Catholic)) 
  • St Josephs Primary School (Voluntary aided (Catholic))
  • St Margaret of Scotland Primary (Voluntary aided (Catholic))
  • St Martin de Porres Primary (Voluntary aided (Catholic))
  • St Matthews Primary School (Community)
  • Southfield Primary School (Academy)
  • Stopsley Primary School (Community)
  • Surrey Street Primary School (Community)
  • Tennyson Road Primary School (Academy) 
  • The Ferrars Academy (Academy)
  • The Linden Academy (Free school)
  • The Meads Primary School (Community)
  • Warden Hill Infant School (Community)
  • Waulud Primary School (Community)
  • Whipperley Infant Academy (Academy)
  • Whitefield Primary School (Academy) 
  • Wigmore Primary School (Community)
  • William Austin Infant School (Community)

Junior schools                                     

Waiting list expiry date is 31 July 2025 for the following schools:

  • Farley Junior Academy (Academy) 
  • Ferrars Junior School (Community)
  • Foxdell Junior School  (Community) 
  • Hillborough Junior School (Community) 
  • Someries Junior School (Community) 
  • Warden Hill Junior School (Community)
  • Wenlock Junior School (Community) 
  • William Austin Junior School (Community)

For all of the schools mentioned above, parents/carers can apply for their child’s name to be held on a waiting list following the expiry date.

Waiting list process

Parents/carers must be aware. 

  • There is no guarantee that it will be possible to offer places to children on waiting list(s), in the future. Places at oversubscribed school(s) have been allocated up to their admission limit. Opportunities for those on the waiting lists will only occur if children already allocated a place decide not to take up the place offered. 
  • Waiting lists are organised in the order of priority of the relevant school’s admission criteria. Waiting lists are not based on the date the application was added to the list. The position of your child on a waiting list may change as children are added to or deleted from the list(s). 
  • You must write to the Admissions team to remove your child’s name from the waiting list(s) for any higher ranked school if you are content with the school offered. This is because waiting lists are often activated between May and August. 
  • If your child is offered a place via the waiting list process, the original place offered will be immediately reallocated to another child. Your child’s name will then be removed from the waiting list of any school(s) you have specified as a lower preference. 
  • If your child has a brother or sister who is on the waiting list for the school offered, you must contact the Admissions team to ensure the brother or sister’s details are re-ranked on the waiting list. 

Change of preference and late applications

Where parents submit a late application changing their preference(s), and are successful in gaining a place at one of their preferred schools, the original place offered to their child will be immediately reallocated to another child. 

Below are the closing dates and offer dates for the late rounds, where changes of preferences and late application will be processed. 

  • For late starting school applications received up to 25 April 2024, decisions will be sent to parents on 5 June 2024. 
  • For starting school applications received up to 23 May 2024, decisions will be sent to parents on 15 July 2024.
  • Late starting school applications received after 23 May 2024 will be processed in due course and the Admissions team will aim to advise parents in writing of the outcome before September 2024. 
  • For late junior applications received up to 8 May 2024, decisions will be sent to parents on 31 May 2024. 
  • Late junior applications received after 8 May 2024 will be processed in due course and the Admissions team will aim to advise parents in writing of the outcome before September 2024. 

Appeal process

In accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act (1998), you have the right of appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at your preferred schools.  

Find out more information relating to the appeals process for school admissions including completing an appeals form. 

You are strongly encouraged to complete and submit an online application.  The online appeal process is both quick and easy. 

Alternatively, you can also print an appeal form from our website, complete fully and then return via the post to: 

Luton Council
School Appeals Team
Town Hall
George Street
Luton
LU1 2BQ

Should you have any queries, please:

E: [email protected]
T: 01582 54 80 19

The local authority plan to hear all appeals for the year R, 3 and 7 intakes that are received ‘on time’ within forty school days.  Appeals are considered on time if they have been submitted within 20 school days of being notified that a place has been refused for your child.  A copy of the timetable for phase appeals (Year R, 3 and 7 in September) is located on our school appeals website..

If your appeal is received after the deadline detailed in the online timetable, your appeal may not be heard in the summer term. 

You will normally be given written notice of at least 10 school days before the date of the appeal hearing. 

Appeals for Leagrave Primary School

To lodge an appeal for Leagrave Primary School, you should write a letter of appeal to the governors.  

Your letter should be addressed to:

The Clerk of the Governors’ Admissions Committee
Leagrave Primary School
Strangers Way
Luton
LU4 9ND.  

The contact number for queries regarding appeals is:
T: 01582 571951.  

Starting school admissions round - before submitting an appeal please read this important information about admission appeals for children aged 5,6 and 7 years of age

The law states that no Key Stage 1 class (Year R, 1 and 2 in infant/primary schools) may have more than 30 pupils in a class with one qualified teacher.  

This law means that local authorities and Governing Bodies of schools must comply with limits on class sizes.  

There are very limited circumstances in which a panel can allow infant class size appeals, consequently only a very small number of appeals are usually allowed. There were no successful appeal for the September 2023 intake. 

Where the local authority has refused admission on the grounds that class size prejudice would occur (i.e. the class would exceed 30 pupils). 

An appeal panel can only allow such an appeal in three circumstances.

  1. That the decision was not one which a reasonable admissions authority would make in the circumstances.  A reasonable decision is one which a sensible admission authority would make taking into account factors such as the admission policy for the school, the internal operation of the school and the school’s ability to accommodate pupils and meet the class size limit of 30.

or

  1. That the admission arrangements have not been applied properly to the case and that if they had been applied properly the child should have been offered a place. If the panel consider that the admission authority did not carry out the admission arrangements properly, or if the rules were broken, then the appeal will be allowed.

or

  1. The admission arrangements do not meet the requirements of the School Admissions Code or Part 3 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. 

If you cannot prove any of the above your appeal will be unsuccessful. 

Help and support

The Access to Education team will be available to offer advice to all parents/carers where they have been unsuccessful in securing a place at any of their preferred schools. Emails will be sent individually to parents/carers so they can access the support from the Access to Education team. Please note, if you have provided an email address when submitting your child’s application the appointment invites will be sent via email. Should you require additional support in relation to 'what happens next', please visit www.luton.gov.uk/A2E or contact the helpline on 01582 54  80 16. 

Independent advice on admissions and appeals can be obtained from the Advisory Centre for Education by going to www.ace-ed.org.uk. 

In addition, further guidance on admissions legislation can be found on the Department for Education website: www.education.gov.uk. 

Appeals and waiting list information for schools outside of Luton

You must contact the relevant local authority to find out information on their appeals and waiting list process. 

To obtain the contact details for the local authorities, please see the contact details for other local authorities. – document uploaded to DWR 

Admissions team contact details

If you have a query about the admissions process, please contact the:

Admissions team helpline (Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm)
T: 01582 54 80 16

Admissions team
Luton Council
Town Hall
George Street
Luton
LU1 2BQ 

Further Information

Assistance is available in other languages, please contact the:

Admissions team (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
T: 01582 54 80 16 

If you have any queries, please contact the:

Admissions helpline (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm)
T: 01582 54 80 16 

© 2024 Luton Council, Town Hall, Luton LU1 2BQ