Admissions Information
Welcome
Welcome to St. Mary’s Horsforth Catholic Voluntary Academy.
The first video above shows our 2022 Reception class towards the end of their first year in our school. We want the children at St Mary’s to grow into confident, happy, independent, resilient, curious, life long learners and we think this video shows that off brilliantly. Please take a look.
The second video shows a wonderful range of children talking about what they like about St Mary’s in October 2023. Please have a look to see what our children think about St Mary’s.
We are very pleased that you are taking time to find out about our school. We hope the information given in this website will be helpful in providing you with an insight into issues which we consider to be important. This website will give you lots of information about our school, but you are also very welcome to visit us to look around and ask any questions which are not answered on the website.
The Governors and staff aim to create a caring Christian community where children can flourish in a stimulating environment. Developing children’s faith is a central part of the school’s mission; children are given opportunities to pray, reflect and worship throughout the school day. We have high expectations of all our pupils and we are committed to developing every child to the best of their ability.
Our school is a very happy, safe place to learn, a place where children are encouraged to thrive and develop into young people, in a school community where learning, both academic and personal, will continue regardless of age, ability level, race, gender or physical ability.
We are very proud of our school. We hope you will take time to look through our website. If you have any questions or would like to visit the school please contact the school and arrange an appointment.
Yours sincerely,
Father Michael Doody
Parish Priest
Mrs Aoibheann Kelly-Edwards and Mr Chris Barnes
Co Chair of Governors
Mrs Sarah Hurley
Headteacher
The admission number for Reception to Year 6 is 30 pupils per class.
Children born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 are due to start primary school in September 2024.
You can apply from 1 November 2023. The deadline to apply is 15 January 2024.
Offer day is 16 April 2024.
Parents can find out about our school’s admission arrangements through the local authority.
If parents/carers feel that their child should be in a specific category i.e. Baptised Catholic, then they are required to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and provide the required evidence. The Supplementary Information Form can be downloaded from the admission policies and must be submitted to the school, St. Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Broadgate Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5AB. Therefore, failure to provide a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) could affect the category your application is placed in.
Please note that it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to complete all forms and supply evidence – reminders will not be sent.
Parents or carers will be advised by Leeds City Council of the outcome of their applications on 17 April 2023. Unsuccessful applicants will be given reasons related to the over-subscription criteria listed above and advised of their right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Important information
See below information from Admissions, please read this before refusing an offer:
· If you turn down a place, it will be allocated to another child and we cannot guarantee a place will become available at a closer school to home – they could be left without a Reception place in September
· understand accepting an offer doesn’t impact the chances of being offered a place from the waiting list or increase the chances of success at an appeal hearing
· any family who refuses an offer must confirm this in writing to startingprimary@leeds.gov.uk and will be asked to confirm where they will be educating their child in September.
Appeals:
You can appeal to an independent panel if you did not get a place at your preferred school. Please see admissions appeals for more information.
A standard application form, known as the Common Preference Form must be completed and returned to the Local Authority; Leeds City Council, PO Box 837, Admissions, Leeds LS1 9PZ . Failure to provide a Common Preference Form (CPF) would mean that the application is not valid. Information regarding Leeds admissions can be found by clicking on this link: