St Francis CE (Aided) Junior School provides education for children aged 7-11 years old. We pride ourselves on being very inclusive and will endeavour to support every child to reach their full potential.

The Governing Body of St Francis' is the Admissions Authority for the school. There is an admissions limit of 41 pupils per year group.

We are committed to meeting the needs of all children including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We would ask parents to discuss the identified needs with the school prior to starting so that appropriate intervention and support can be planned and implemented. Advice from the LA or other agencies may be requested to ensure the school can meet any needs appropriately.

In summary the Admissions Criteria are:

• Looked after children or children who were previously looked after

• Faith Criteria - Children of one or both parents who have are attached to the Great Aycliffe Churches

• Family Links -  Pupils who have a sibling already attending the preferred school

• Medical or Social criteria 

• Other children

The admission policy can be found by clicking on the link at the top of this page or in the School Policies section.

If your child is due to start school in Y3, applications forms (either on-line or paper versions) are available from about the October prior to the school year they are due to start. The Admissions section at County Hall, administer our applications for us and so any application should be returned to them – although we do welcome visits and are happy to answer any questions prior to any application.

If your child is already at school, and you wish them to transfer to St. Francis’s, please contact Admissions at County Hall and they will send you the necessary forms to complete. If there are no places available, please contact school for further information regarding appeals.

Visit the Durham County Council website for information regarding the school admission process and primary school admissions.

Waiting Lists

If St Francis' is full parents may contact the school to add their child to the waiting list. If you could e-mail stfrancis@durhamlearning.net 

Appeals

If it has not been possible for St. Francis' to offer a family a place for their child then the parents have the right to appeal against the decision of the Authority. To appeal against an admission decision visit: School admissions-appeals.

Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school.  Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school.  You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs.  The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.

The majority of children with Special Educational Needs can be supported at any primary school.

Primary provision is also available in special schools. Support for individual pupils is determined by Durham Local Authority through Education, Health and Care Assessment.

Our Admissions Policy gives the criteria by which the children are offered a place. However, children identified with Special Educational Needs who have an Education, Health and Care Plan, naming our school are given priority. If you feel that your child has additional needs that we need to consider and that may entitle them to be given priority during the admission process, please let us know when you submit their application form.

If you would like to discuss anything further please contact the school to arrange an appointment on 01325 300236.