All Saints C of E (VA) Primary School

Datchworth Primary 089 Choosing a school for your child can be a really tricky and uncertain time as, understandably, you want to make the right decision both for your child and in choosing a school that resembles your own personal views, values and aspirations in education.

We are delighted that you are considering sending your child to All Saints, Datchworth and we are very confident of providing the best possible education for your child.

As a voluntary aided school, the school’s governing body is responsible for admissions. The school’s admission arrangements are detailed in the Admissions Policy, explaining how we will consider applications for every age group, including:

the arrangements for selecting the pupils who apply
the oversubscription criteria (how places are offered if there are more applicants than places)
an explanation of the process parents need to follow if they want to apply for their child to attend this school.

There are two different types of admission to our school:

Reception Admissions
In-Year Admissions

Reception Admissions (for the start of the academic year):

Children will start in Reception in the September following their fourth birthday. All Saints, Datchworth operates a single Reception intake policy.
To aid this transition, children attend the morning session only in the first week of the school year, until the end of lunchtime in the second week and then commence full-time school days in the third week of term.
This has worked extremely well in previous years, but if you have any concerns specific to your child, please do come and speak to staff.

In-Year Admissions (anytime other than the main point of intake above):

Due to changes in your circumstances, you may need to change the school your child attends. We have a maximum admission number of 30 children in any class throughout the school. Please call the school first to see if we actually have any spaces available and, if places are available, arrange to visit the school.

If you are unsure at all, please call the school office for help and advice or to arrange an opportunity to visit the school.

A welcome to new families to All Saints, Datchworth

We always look forward to welcoming new children and their families to All Saints C of E Primary School.

We are keen to offer you a virtual welcome and provide you with as much information as we can, ahead of you joining our school. In addition to the admissions pack and the school handbook, please view our 20-minute YouTube video, introducing our school and some of the key staff members and routines, which will be useful to know before starting at All Saints.

We’re not the most comfortable in front of the camera, so do forgive us if we do not come across as stars of the silver screen! But we hope this helps children become familiar with some of the faces and names in our school, helps parents/carers visualise how daily routines will work in school and that it gives you all an insight into life in our lovely village school.

All Saints C of E Primary Welcome Video

In-Year Admissions

All Saints Primary School is its own Admission Authority and is responsible for its own in-year admissions. This means that all in-year applications (for admissions to all year groups other than Reception for a September start) are coordinated by school and its Governing Body. Applications for an in-year admission should be made directly to the school by completing and submitting the school’s SIF.

Parents will then be notified by the Governors’ admissions sub-committee of the outcome within 10 school days of receipt of their completed application and informed of this decision in writing within 15 school days. Where an applicant is offered a school place, arrangements should be made for the child to start as soon as possible and ideally within 2 weeks of being offered the place.

If you have been unsuccessful, parents wishing to appeal should contact the school directly in the first instance.

Continuing Interest (waiting list) & in-year applications

After places have been offered and in the event of more applications than available places, the Governors will maintain a Continuing Interest (waiting) list. A child’s position on a Continuing Interest list will be determined by the admission criteria outlined in the school’s Admissions Policy and a child’s place on the list can change as other children join or leave it. The school will contact parents/carers if a vacancy becomes available and it can be offered to a child. Continuing Interest lists will be maintained for every year group until the May half term. To retain a Continuing Interest application after this time, parents must make an in-year application. As a school which has opted out of the HCC in-year coordinated scheme, all in-year applications are coordinated by the school’s Governing Body and in-year applications should be made to the school directly by completing the school’s SIF.