Admission Arrangements

Bure Valley School is a non-selective, state-funded junior school, serving children of all abilities. Children are admitted at the beginning of the academic year in which they become seven years old (Year 3).

How do I apply?

You can apply online during the three transfer rounds at:

www.admissionsonline.norfolk.gov.uk

Alternatively, complete a paper application available from the Norfolk County Council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/admissions or from the school office.

Parents/carers who are considering sending their child/ren to Bure Valley are encouraged to arrange an appointment to look around the school and meet the Head Teacher. We host an open evening for prospective parents every autumn to coincide with the transfer to junior school timetable.

During the summer term of Year 2, the parents/carers of pupils joining the school in the following September are invited to attend a transition information evening at the school.

New children have the opportunity to visit the school on several occasions during the summer term to familiarise themselves with the surroundings and to meet their new teachers.

Current Priorities for Admission

If there are more applications for places than there are places available, Pupil Admissions will give preference to children living nearest to the school, according to the following rules in this order of priority:

1. Children with an ECHP or statement of special educational needs naming the school;
2. Children who are in public care or who have been adopted from public care who are due to transfer;
3. Children who are eligible to transfer with a brother or sister attending the school at the time of admission;
4. Children who are eligible to transfer and live in the area served by the school who do not have a brother or sister at the school. The ‘area served by the school’ is defined as the area that makes up the catchment area of: John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery;
5. Children who attend the above but live outside the catchment;
6. Children who live outside the catchment, based on proximity of the child’s home to the school, with those living nearer being accorded the higher priority.

Our definition of siblings - ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ means: brothers or sisters living at the same address including adopted children, step-brothers, step-sisters and children in foster care within a family unit.

If all children within any of the above rules cannot be offered a place, the highest priority will be given to children living nearest to the applicable school within that rule.

To determine who lives nearest, distance will be measured on a straight line “crow fly” basis, using Ordnance Survey data. The address will be measured from the post office address point on the property.

In the unlikely event that distance does not separate the final two or more pupils/students seeking the last remaining place, a random allocation will be used to determine who is offered the final place.

Parents/carers may appeal to the admissions authority against a decision not to admit a child.

As a Foundation school the Governing Board is the admissions authority. The Governing Board will use the local authority (LA) appeals procedure for any admissions appeal.