Page Contents
- Applying for a place in our Reception class (starting Sept 2023)
- Open events for prospective parents
- Delayed Entry requests (for Reception and other year groups)
- In year transfers
- Appeals process (2023-24 timetable)
- Secondary school application process
Choosing the Priory School – our school prospectus
Choosing the right school for your child is one of life’s big decisions, so thank you for considering the Priory School. Our school prospectus contains a wealth of information and hopefully will give you a feel for our school.
Applying for a place in Reception
We hope to be able to offer a place for your child in the Autumn term after their fourth birthday, depending on numbers. We are happy to consider applications from out of our catchment area, including those with a Southbourne postcode. Our class size is 30 and in the event of over subscription, we offer places according to the criteria set out in our Admissions Policy
The published closing date for admission to reception is 15 January 2023. You can apply online via BCP Council or by downloading a paper form. The published notification date for admission to reception is 17 April 2023.
You can find information about all aspects of starting school in the BCP Parent Guides on the BCP admissions website. You may also contact the BCP Admissions Team on 01202 127963 or email them at school.admissions@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.
Open Events for Prospective Parents
We would really like you to see our school in action, so you can make an informed view of what we can provide for your child. This is why we offer open events during the school day rather than in the evening. Our tour also includes a visit around every classroom.
Our open days include a short presentation by the Headteacher and Deputy Head, followed by a tour of the school with our Year 6 prefects. Time is spent in our EYFS base. If your child has significant additional needs, there will be an opportunity to talk to the school SENCO to consider whether Priory School is an appropriate choice.
Places must be booked in advance (limited to 30 per session) by phoning the school office on 01202 484105 or emailing office@prioryceprimary.co.uk.
- DATES OF OUR OPEN VISITS FOR 2024-25 RECEPTION STARTERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPT 2023
We look forward to meeting you at our open events and answering any questions you may have.
Status as a feeder school to Twynham Secondary School
The Priory Primary School is not part of the Twynham Multi-Academy Trust, but we have a very close and positive relationship with Twynham Secondary School. We follow the same Maths and modern foreign language curriculum and we are also enjoy the benefits of being supported by their PE and Music departments. In 2021-22, 87% of our Y6 cohort went to Twynham secondary school, 6% to Highcliffe, 3% to Bournemouth grammar schools and 3% to the private sector.
We are delighted to confirm that The Priory School remains a feeder school for Twynham.
Applications for a Delayed Entry to Reception for summer born children
Our process for responding to requests for admissions to a year group outside a child’s normal age group (including delayed admission to reception for summer born children) is detailed below.
Application form for delayed entry to Reception for summer born children:
Application form to request a child is placed in a class outside their normal year group other than Reception i.e. kept behind year
In all cases of deferred or delayed entry requests, please contact the school for a discussion with the Headteacher.
In year transfers i.e. moving schools
Our PAN (Published Admissions Number) for each class is 30.
Latest School Roll: the school is full, with waiting lists for all year groups.
Spaces can sometimes become available, so please contact the school to find the latest position.
Changing your child’s school part way through the year is a big decision. There are some situations where you can’t avoid it, like moving house or coming into the area. If there are other reasons for changing schools, ideally you should:
- discuss the reason you want to change schools with your child’s current school
- understand that in year places are not always available
- consider the impact on your child as they leave friends and a familiar environment
If you would like your child to attend our school, please do contact our school office team for further information – 01202 484105.
BCP Council are responsible for all in year transfers. Please refer to the following web page for information and how you can apply. www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Appeals information
You have the right to appeal a refusal to offer your child a place at the Priory School, as long as you have:
a) applied for a place
b) not been offered a higher preference school
Please do contact the school to make us aware of your intentions. You will be directed to the BCP schools appeal website for the relevant forms and information: www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/schoolappeals. When completing the forms please type them rather than scanning a handwritten copy. If you do not have access to the internet, then please post the forms to the Council although this may delay your appeal.
If your appeal relates to an infant class (i.e. Reception, Class 1 or 2) then the Council have responded to some frequently asked questions below:
Appeals Timetable (and Appeals Code)
BCP School appeals team
Telephone: 01202 118 911
Email: schoolappeals@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Full contact details for School appeals team
BCP School admissions
Telephone: 01202 127 963
Email: school.admissions@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Full contact details for School admissions
Children’s Information Service
Telephone: 01202 123 222
Email: edu.cis@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Full contact details for Children’s Information Service
Applying to Secondary School
We understand that moving up to Secondary or Studio school is an exciting experience for both children and parents. However, this transition can also be a challenging time for all as decisions are made about which schools to apply for – with this process then followed by the inevitable and anxious wait to see if the application has been successful.
It is important that you do express your preferences for schools you wish your child to attend. Local secondary schools are popular; there is no guarantee that a place will be offered at your preferred school(s), so expressing three school preferences will maximise our ability to offer you one of them. Please list your choice of schools in your order of preference.
BCP online application system provides a simple and secure way for you to send your application. It also means you can log in again in March to view your child’s allocated school. It is important to make a well-informed decision about which school you wish your child to attend.
We strongly recommend that parents take the opportunity to visit schools to see what they can offer their child before making an application. It is also important to read the schools’ admission policies to understand how your application will be considered by them. You will find all the policies on either the schools’ webpages or on the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole website. You can also view information about how places were offered last year.