Consultation on admissions oversubscription criteria from September 2026
The Pinnacle Learning Trust Board is currently determining proposed oversubscription criteria for our school for admissions in September 2026.
The School Admissions Code requires us to consult on our academy oversubscription criteria where there have been any proposed changes or where there has been no consultation for seven years.
Since joining The Pinnacle Learning Trust on 1 April 2024, Alexandra Park Junior School’s oversubscription criteria has mirrored that of the local authority. The trust would now like to include a criterion (criterion 4) that relates to priority admission for children of school staff. This is in line with the trust’s other primary schools’ admission oversubscription criteria.
There are no other proposed changes and all children that attend Alexandra Park Junior School’s linked infant school, Glodwick Infant and Nursery School, will continue to automatically progress to a Y3 place at the school, should they wish. If Alexandra Park Junior School is oversubscribed, those attending Glodwick Infants will be admitted first.
The proposed over subscription criteria are detailed below.
Criterion 1
Children who are looked after, i.e. in public care, giving priority, if necessary, to the youngest child(ren) and children who were previously looked after, including those who appear to the Admissions Authority to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care having been adopted will be given the highest priority for admission. Evidence of the previously looked after status and/or the adoption will be requested.
Criterion 2
Those children who are considered to have exceptional medical or social reasons as to why they should attend a particular school. Parents will be required to submit evidence to support their application under this criterion.
Criterion 3
Those children who already have a sibling at the school and who will still be attending when their brother/sister starts in Year 3.
Criterion 4
Children of staff employed at Alexandra Park Junior School who permanently reside with that member of staff. That member of staff must have been employed for a minimum of two years at the time of application or have been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage.
Criterion 5
Children living in closest geographical proximity to school, with those families living next nearest to the school having higher priority.
Distance Tie-breaker
Within each criterion, if there is oversubscription, remaining places will be allocated according to distance.
The Pinnacle Learning Trust Board has agreed to the draft criteria, subject to formal consultation.
The period of formal consultation opens on Monday 11 November 2024 and ends on Monday 23rd December 2024. After this period, the trust board will consider any consultation responses and determine the final oversubscription arrangements which will then be published on the academy website, by 28th February 2025.
The trust board would welcome responses to the proposed arrangements from local parents, staff, local community members, relevant bodies and admission authorities.
A copy of the proposed criteria is available here: Proposed Alex Park Admission Policy 2026-27.
And also on our trust website: www.pinnaclelearningtrust.org.
Alternatively, a hard copy can be requested from Danielle Hunt danielle.hunt@pinnacleLT.ac.uk
If you wish to comment on any of the proposed arrangements, please send your response in writing for the attention of Danielle Hunt to the email address above or alternatively to our registered office address:
The Pinnacle Learning Trust
C/O Oldham Sixth Form College
Union Street West,
Oldham
OL8 1XU
Comments should be received no later than 3pm on Monday 23rd December 2024.
There is no proposal to change the PAN which will remain at 90 and comments are not sought on this.
