Admissions
If you would like your child to attend our School, please click the link below to see full details of Walsall Council's Admission Arrangements.
You can also view St. Bernadette's Admissions Policy by clicking on the Key Information tab on our Home Page, then choosing Policies then Admissions Policy.
If you would like to take a look around our School please call the School Office who will be happy to assist.
APPLYING FOR A PRIMARY PLACE AT OUR SCHOOL
It's important that you include three Schools on your application. This will increase your chance of getting a place at one of your preferred choices. If you only put your top choice down, there is a risk you might not get a place at that School. You may be offered a School that you’re not happy with instead.
School Admissions always aim to offer you a place at your highest ranked school.
If you live outside Walsall, you should complete an application from your home local authority (even if you are applying for a Walsall School).
IN YEAR/MID YEAR ADMISSIONS
An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. An application should be made via the local authority by completing the in-year admissions application form which is available from Walsall Council – please click on the Primary School Place link below. As a Catholic School, parent will also need to complete a Supplementary Information Form in addition to the standard application form that is submitted to the local authority. Supplementary Information Forms can be obtained from the Admissions Tab on the school’s website, www.stbernadette.walsall.sch.uk or a hard copy can be provided on request by contacting the school office on 01543 452921. Supplementary Information Forms must be returned directly to the school at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, Narrow Lane, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6HX or to postbox@stbernadette.walsall.sch.uk If a Supplementary Information Form is not submitted directly to the school this may affect the priority given to the application and could affect the likelihood of your child being offered a place.
The local authority will forward your application to the school for consideration by the governors.
Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements for 2023/2024, will be applied. The full admission arrangements can be accessed from on this page or by contacting the school office to request a hard copy. Parents are advised to read the admission arrangements carefully before making their application.
If there are no places available, the local authority will notify you of this decision on behalf of the governors and the child will be added to the waiting list. Please see the admission arrangements for more details regarding waiting lists.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible. Applicants must be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days of its receipt, but the aim is to notify applicants of the outcome of their application within 10 school days of its receipt.
You have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if your application is unsuccessful.
If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions please contact Mrs. Siobhan Moran, Head Teacher. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority.
RECEPTION
Children born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 are due to start Reception in September 2023.
DECIDING ON YOUR SCHOOL PREFERENCES
You can apply for a place at up to three Schools for your child, and list them in order of preference.
If any of your preferred Schools are outside Walsall Borough, you still apply in the same way. Walsall Council runs a co-ordinated Admissions Scheme with neighbouring Councils and Admission Authorities, so you only have to complete one application.
Walsall Council has a duty to offer your child a place in a School. They always try to meet your first choice, but sometimes they receive more applications than the School has places available. They will then try to offer your next highest preference. If they cannot meet any of your preferences, they will offer you a place in the nearest School to your home address with available places.
The schemes for co-ordinated admissions document tells you more about:
- when key decisions are made
- evidence for late applications
- what to do if you live near a borough boundary and want to apply for a school in another authority
- which schools are their own admissions authority
The determined admission arrangements document tells you about:
- class sizes
- oversubscription criteria
- priority applications from siblings
- paired infant and junior schools
Please click below to apply for a Primary School Place:-
A MESSAGE FROM WALSALL COUNCIL ADMISSIONS - DECEMBER 2023
We ask that you please inform all parents and carers, of Nursery age children, of the opportunity to join our Admissions Team at the following locations where we will be able to provide guidance and support with submitting Reception applications.
We have the following sessions available;
Location: Blakenall Village Centre
Date: Wednesday, 6th December 2023
Time: 12:30pm until 4 pm
Address: 79 Thames Rd, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 1LZ
Location: Lichfield Street Hub
Date: Tuesday, 12th December 2023
Time: 9am until 4pm
Address: Lichfield St, Walsall, WS1 1TR
Location: Willenhall Library
Date: Friday, 15th December 2023
Time: : 9:30am until 12:30pm
Address: 1 Walsall St, Willenhall, WV13 2EX
Location: Darlaston Library
Date: Friday, 15th December 2023
Time: : 1pm until 4pm
Address: 1 King St, Darlaston, Wednesbury WS10 8DE
APPLYING FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE
Below is some helpful information for when you need to start looking for a Secondary School place for your child.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
You should:
- explore School Websites, read School Admissions Policies and entry criteria. This will help you understand how Schools make their admissions decisions
- try to attend School Open Evenings. Speak to staff, and ask about the admissions criteria they used last year. Some schools may be holding their Open Evenings virtually. Individual school websites will have the most up-to-date information
- think about how your child will travel to and from School
OUR FEEDER SCHOOLS
The Secondary Schools our children usually apply to are:-
Brownhills Ormiston Academy
Shire Oak Academy
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic College
Erasmus Darwin Academy
Norton Canes High School
DECIDING ON YOUR SCHOOL PREFERENCES
You should include five Schools on your application, and list them in order of preference. If you only express a preference for a single School, you risk being offered a place that you are unhappy with. You should also choose Schools that your child has a realistic chance of getting in to.
Walsall Council has a duty to offer your child a School place. They will always try to meet your first choice, but sometimes they receive more applications than the School has places available. They'll then try to offer your next highest preference. If they cannot meet any of your preferences, they will offer you a place in the nearest School to your home address with available places. They will will also put your child’s name on the waiting list for your preferred Schools.
Please click below to apply for a Secondary School place:-