Children can be admitted to Okehampton Primary School in the September following their fourth birthday. At Okehampton Primary School, we currently have three Reception classes, known as Bray Tor, Bee Tor and Bell Tor.
Local Authorities are legally required to make the admissions process fairer for all children and to make sure that all children who need a Primary School place are offered one, but only one, school place. To do this, local authorities must operate a co-ordinated admissions scheme which requires all schools, academies and authorities responsible for making decisions about admissions to work together.
This scheme enables YOU to register YOUR child at an appropriate school. You are required to express a preference for up to three schools in the order in which you would most like a place for your child. Every preference for a particular school will be considered equally, whether it was your first, second or third preference. It may be that a place could be offered at more than one of your preferences - if so, you will be offered a place at the school you ranked highest.
Where there are more places than there are applications, no application will be refused. Where there are more applications than there are places, priority will be determined by the over-subscription criteria for the school. You can find this information at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionarrangements
If you move to Devon during the school year there are separate arrangements that you will need to follow to request a school place straightaway. You should ask for a copy of the Devon In-Year Admissions booklet which is available from the Education Helpline on 0845 155 1019. Alternatively you can get information from www.devon.gov.uk/admissions on the Admission of Children moving to Devon page.
You must apply for a school place:
No places are held in reserve in case you are not offered a place at another school or for late applications.
If you are not successful with any application, you cannot assume that there will still be a vacancy at your designated school. It may be full.
If you do not put a particular school on your form, it will not be considered for you unless it is the nearest one to home with a vacancy after every application has been dealt with.
DO:
DON'T:
Your child must be in full-time education by the start of the term following their fifth birthday. Children do not legally have to be education before then. At Okehampton Primary School, we offer parents the following options when your child has been allocated a place for September:
As a parent, you have the right to defer your child's admission until the statutory school age; the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. This is a decision for you as a parent to make. If you wish to defer admission, you MUST inform the school which has been allocated as soon as possible. That place will be held open up to the start of the term after your child's fifth birthday within that academic year and will not be offered to another child. If you do not inform the school and your child does not start on the date offered, the place may be withdrawn and offered to another child. Summer born children cannot automatically defer admission and enter school in a Reception class in the following September. Parents must make an application for a Year 1 place after the summer half term in May. It is possible that this class may have been filled during the Reception year and a place will not have been reserved.
You will be notified in mid April if you have been allocated a place at Okehampton Primary School. You will receive a welcome letter and induction plan, usually about a month later, This letter will invite you to a range of induction activities and we highly recommend that you attend all of these events in order to best support and prepare your child for starting school.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding admission into school, please do not hesitate to contact the Devon Education Helpline on 0845 155 1019 or www.devon.gov.uk/admissions. All of the above information has been sourced from Devon County Council's "The First Step" booklet.
Once your child has been allocated a place at Okehampton Primary School, please do not hesitate to contact our school office, asking for Mrs Suzie Whittle, our Early Years Foundation Stage Leader, who will be delighted to support you with your enquiries.