Consideration of applications
Procedures where the Academy is oversubscribed
a. Catholic and other Faith Entrants
Applicants applying for a place under this category should complete the Certificate of Catholic Practice. Applications made without a completed certificate will be considered as an application for a community place.
Up to 140 of the remaining places, subject to the number of Catholic Entrants admitted with statements of Special Educational Need (SSEN) or an education, health and care plan (ECHP) naming the school, will be available to Catholic Entrants, who will be considered according to the following criteria, in order of priority:
This includes those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Christchurch Eltham
Holy Cross Plumstead Common
Our Lady of Grace Charlton
Our Lady of the Angels Erith
Our Lady Star of the Sea Greenwich
St Benet’s Abbey Wood
St David’s Abbey Wood
St John Fisher Kidbrooke
St John Fisher Thamesmead South
St John Fisher & St Thomas More Eltham
St Joseph’s Greenwich
St Joseph’s Shooters Hill
St Patrick’s Plumstead
St Paul’s Thamesmead Central
St Peter’s Woolwich
St Stephen’s Welling
St Thomas More Bostall Park
(Parish boundaries are available upon request from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark)
Practising Catholic is defined by frequency of Mass attendance as shown on the SIF. Applicants will be ranked weekly, fortnightly, monthly, occasionally, with those ranked weekly being given the highest priority.
The reinstatement of the obligation to attend Mass – 5th June 2022
As of 5th June 2022, Pentecost, the Bishops of England and Wales reinstated the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Parents applying for a place at St Paul’s Academy, under a faith based criteria will need to complete a Supplementary Information Form. Evidence of practice will be measured by frequency of attendance at Mass as validated by either a priest or minister, as was the case prior to 18th March 2020. These arrangements apply to the admissions round for 2023 and subsequent rounds.
*A copy of this list is available from the school on request.
Notes:
1] Under each of the above criteria, priority will be given in order to applicants who:
b. Community Entrants
Up to 70 of the remaining places, subject to the number of Community entrants admitted with statements of Special Educational Need (SSEN) or an education, health and care plan (EHCP) naming the school, will be available to Community Entrants, who will be considered according to the following criteria, in order of priority:
Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 5, the Secretary of State may direct the Academy to admit a named pupil on application from a Local Authority. The Secretary of State shall, in such circumstances, consult the Academy before making such a direction.
Additional Information:
Under both categories, where the last remaining place is to be allocated and two or more children are deemed to live at the same distance from the Academy, the place will be decided by the drawing of lots.
Twins/Children of multiple birth
Additional children may be admitted under very exceptional circumstances. This will be in instances where children are twins and children from multiple births when one of the children is the 210th child admitted.
Children educated outside the chronological year group
The Academy follows the Royal Greenwich procedures, as stated in the booklet ‘Secondary Schools in Royal Greenwich. www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/admissions
Appeals
Parents/Carers of children who are not offered a place have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Committee under the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act. Parents/Carers wishing to appeal should contact St Paul’s Academy to request an appeal form. Parents/Carers have 20 school days from the date of notification that their application was unsuccessful to prepare and lodge their written appeal.
Waiting List
Unsuccessful applicants can request for their child to be placed on the waiting list. Should a vacancy occur, the Governing Body will apply the above Admissions Criteria to determine who should be offered a place. Names will remain on the waiting list until the end of the academic year. After this time, parents will be required to re-apply to
St Paul’s Academy via the in-year applications process.
In Year Admissions
Applications for places can be made at any time. The above Admissions Criteria will apply to determine the prioritisation of such applications.
St Paul’s Academy participates in the Local Authority’s Fair Access Protocol. Children admitted via the Fair Access Protocol take priority over those children on the school’s waiting list and those pending appeal. Admitting students under the protocol may require the Academy to admit above the planned admission number for the relevant year group.
Secondary transfer process for entry in September 2025 |
|
Stage of process |
Date |
Application period starts |
1 September 2024 |
Closing date for applications |
31 October 2024 |
Outcome of applications |
3 March 2025 |
Deadline for accepting the offer |
17 March 2025 |
Appeal hearings |
May and June 2025 |
Induction day at secondary school |
2 July 2025 |