Admissions

Martham Academy is a progressive and innovative school which has a strong emphasis on the high academic standards and creativity across the curriculum. Martham Academy is also an Academy Trust.

The governing body, as the admissions Authority for the school, has agreed that the Planned Admissions Number (the maximum number of intended admissions) for the year commencing 2017 will be 60. This complies with the statutory class size limit for Key Stage 1.

Parents must apply for a place at the school using the common preference form which must be returned as specified on the form. Alternatively, parents may apply directly to the local authority online. One application can be made per academic year.

For the admissions to the 2017 school year, and subsequent years, all children will be eligible for admission to Martham Primary School full time in September following their fourth birthday.

Children who will reach their fifth birthday between 1st March and 31st August are able to attend five part-time sessions (mornings only) throughout the autumn term. This will be at the parents' discretion.

Children with a statement of special educational needs naming the school will be admitted.

Oversubscription

If there are more application for places than there are places available, the Governing Body will give preference to children in this order of priority:

1. Looked after children living in the catchment area*. This includes children who are currently or who were in public care and have since been adopted or fostered by relatives.

2. Children currently attending the school's nursery.

3. Children with siblings currently attending the school**.

4. Children of staff - provided they have been employed for a minimum of two years and/or are recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage***.

5. Children living with the school's catchment area*.

6. The proximity of the child's home to the school (using Norfolk County Council's "as the crow flies" data).

Please note that even if you meet the over-subscription criteria there can be no guarantee of a place for your child.

Ultimate tie-breaker

The proximity of the child's home to the Martham Academy main entrance using a straight-line distance with those living nearest to the school being given priority will be used as a 'tie-breaker' for any oversubscribed criterion.

If after applying the distance tie-breaker there are more applications than places available from the apartment block furthest away, a further tie-breaker of Random Allocation will be used for the three applications from this block. The process detailed in the current Admissions Code will be followed if this tie-breaker is needed.

Applications from outside the defined admission area will then be considered using the same criteria.

Notification of Places

This will be done through the LA co-ordination scheme and will be in accordance with the agreed timescale or statutory offer day. You have the right to appeal if you child is not offered a place. Appeals are heard by schools admission appeals panels, which act independently of the school.

Late applications are considered a lower priority than all on time applications when offers are made on the offer data and for the mini admission round. However, after these initial allocations, applications will then be prioritised solely on the basis of the over-subscription criteria.

The process is including further offers and late applications are fully covered by Norfolk's coordination scheme.

Waiting List

A waiting list will be maintained by the school and the LA as part of the co-ordinated scheme of those unsuccessful in their initial application. Names are placed on the waiting list in the priority set out in our admissions over-subscription criteria. This lists will be maintained until the last day of the Autumn term 2017. For further information about waiting lists please refer to the relevant page in the schools for Norfolk 2017 - 2018 booklet published by Norfolk County Council.

In some years the annual intake of children will be considerably less than 60. In these circumstances, the school will need to set mixed year classes. These will have class size limits as set out in the relevant statutory guidance. When the school has mid-year applications for a year group where the PAN has not been reached bu the class sizes are full, the school will follow the guidelines as set out in the relevant statutory guidance.

In-Year Admissions

Applications for In-Year admissions are administered by the school and not the local authority. If a place is available and there are no waiting lists, then the school will communicate with the governors' offer of a place to the family. If more applications are received than there are places available or the school is full, then applications will be ranked by the governing body in accordance with the over-subscription criteria. If a place cannot be offered at this time you will be referred back to the Local Authority to find another school. You may ask us for the reasons, and you will be informed of your right to appeal. You will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained by the governing body in the order of over-subscription criteria, and not in the order in which the applications are received. Names are removed from the list at the end of each academic year. When a place becomes available the governing body will decide who is at the top of the list so that the school can inform the parent.

Appeals

If you child is unsuccessful in gaining a place at Martham Academy, you have the right to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel set up in accordance with the Admissions Code.

Martham Academy participates in the Local Authority co-ordinated scheme and all deadlines will be adhered to.

Definitions

* catchment area as defined by Norfolk Admissions. Details can be found by visiting Norfolk County Council

** siblings refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister or the child of the parent/carer's partner where the child for whom the school place is sought.

*** this is subject to the draft Code on which DfE consulted in 2011 coming into force.