Admissions

Reception to Year 6

Lyndhurst Primary School is a large school for pupils aged 3-11. Our Academy is part of the Focus-Trust and caters for 472 pupils. We are a vibrant and inclusive community, and our skilled and dedicated staff work hard to provide a wide range of educational experiences for the children in a safe and stimulating environment.

Focus Academy Trust is the overall admissions authority for the Academy with decision making delegated to the Academy’s Governing Body.

The Academy is part of the co-ordinated admissions arrangements operated by Oldham Council (the Local Authority) and the Local Fair Access Protocol. The Local Authority co-ordinates admissions, allocates places to the Academy and informs families.

The Academy will comply with the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeal Code. This policy is based on the current codes but will be reviewed in the light of any future changes in the law.

An Independent Appeals Panel hears any appeals from parents whose child has not been allocated a place at Lyndhurst Primary School, and who lodges an appeal in accordance with the procedure specified by the Local Authority. 

Nursery applications

Please contact the school office to apply for a place in Nursery.

Links to Oldham Council Admissions

To apply for a place in our reception you will need to complete an online admission form.

Please click below for how to do this including key dates.

Oldham School Admissions 

 Changing school (In Year Transfer)

To apply for a place during the school year you need to complete an online admissions form with the local authority. please click below to the relevant Oldham Council webpage.

In Year Transfer

Lyndhurst Admissions Appeals Timetable

Overview

What is an appeal?

If you applied for a place at the school and were not offered one, you have the right to appeal against this decision. Please note however that appeals must be submitted in writing and are only upheld in very specific circumstances. For full information about school admissions appeals, please refer to the DfE Advice for parents and guardians on school admissions appeals.

Why was my child not offered a place?

If we could not offer your child a place, this means that the children who were offered a place had greater priority, as set out in the oversubscription criteria in our Admissions Policy. For example, they may have a sibling at the school, or live closer. The letter you received confirming that you were not offered a place should include information on why.

If you have made an in-year application and this has been refused, it will be because the year group to which you have applied is full, therefore no spaces are available.

Find out more…

It is the local authority’s responsibility to ensure that every child has a school place, and we strongly advise you to contact your local authority to enquire about vacancies at other schools.

How appeals work

Appeals for children refused admission will be heard according to the regulations in the School Admission Appeals Code (October 2022).

All appeals must be submitted in writing.

Your appeal will be heard by an independent panel of three people who will consider two main questions:

1. Was the school’s decision made properly according to admissions law and its own policy?
2. Are your child’s individual circumstances so exceptional that it would be worse for them not to have a place at a specific school than it would for that school to accept an additional child? This is called the balance of prejudice test.

How to submit an appeal

Your appeal is made in writing, following the process explained on Oldham Council’s website.  

School appeals | Appeals - What to do if you haven't got your choice of school | Oldham Council

An independent clerk will then manage the case and will write to you with further information about how the process will work. Appeal hearings may take place in person or via video conferencing.

Appeals Timetable

Main round appeals

Primary Offer Date: 16^th April 2025            

Deadline for submitting appeal: 9^th May 2025

Appeal panel hearings will take place within 40 school days of the deadline date for submitting an appeal. The independent appeal panel clerk will notify parents/carers of the date of their appeal at least 10 school days prior to the hearing date and will include whether the hearing will be held in person or virtually.

Appeals for late applications will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline date for appeals, where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being submitted.

In year appeals

Appeals for an in-year admission, for example to year groups other than Reception, must be submitted within 20 school days of notification that a place has not been offered.

Appeals for children refused an in-year admission will be heard within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal. Parents/carers will be notified of their appeal hearing date by an independent appeal panel clerk.

 Key Documents:

• Lyndhurst Admissions Policy 2024-25
• Lyndhurst Admissions Policy 2025-26
• Lyndhurst Admissions Policy 2026-27
• Nursery Admissions Policy 2024-2025
• Nursery Admissions Policy 2025-2026