In year school application

Parents or carers who wish to apply for a Bracknell Forest school, for an in-year admission, must use this process.

Before making an application parents should make sure that their child is able to start at the school within 20 school days from the date of application. A minimum of 5 school days from the date of offer will be given.

Details about the in-year admissions process can be found in our guide to in year admissions 2023 to 2024. You must read this before applying.

Make an in-year school application

Additional forms

Make sure you read the admissions arrangements for the schools you wish to apply for and submit any relevant additional forms according to these.

For voluntary aided schools and academies, where the forms are not included below, these can be found on the school’s website if applicable.

To be considered, any relevant additional forms should be emailed to school.admissions@bracknell-forest.gov.uk at the same time with your in-year application.

After you apply to change schools

Offer of a place

If the School Admissions Team is able to offer your child a place, an offer letter will be sent telling you to contact the school where a start date will then be agreed.

If your child fails to start by the date agreed by the school, or unless we have been made aware of alternative start arrangements, your details will be passed to Education Welfare. This is because a child of statutory school age must be receiving full-time education.

Refusal of a place

If you are a Bracknell Forest resident and have been refused a place at your preferred schools and your child does not attend a local school and you have stated on your application form that your child will not continue at their current school, the School Admissions Team will offer your child an alternative school. This will be the nearest school to your home address with vacancies. The refusal letter will include information on the right to appeal.

If you have been refused a place at your preferred schools and your child attends a local school but you would like an alternative school, you must contact the School Admissions Team to arrange this.

If you are not a Bracknell Forest resident and have been refused a Bracknell Forest school place, you will be required to contact your home local authority to find an alternative school place.

Your child’s name will be added to any Bracknell Forest school waiting list for preferences named higher on the application than the one offered. Your child cannot remain out of education while their name is held on a waiting list or you are waiting for an appeal.

Reason for refusal

There are 2 different grounds for refusing a school place. These are:

• infant class size grounds
• ordinary prejudice grounds

The ground for refusal will depend on the school that you have applied for, the school’s admission number and the class organisation.

Infant class size grounds

Admissions Authorities in Bracknell Forest fully recognise the need to meet parental preference where possible. However, the relevant year group within the school is currently full and the law states that Key Stage 1 pupils (children in reception, years 1 and 2) cannot be taught in classes of more than 30 pupils to one fully qualified teacher.

For this reason, a place has not been offered because to do so would be in breach of the duty to comply with the infant class size limit which is set at 30. The application has, therefore, been refused.

Looked after children and Service families

Where your child is considered a looked after child or a previously looked after child or a member of a Service family, the infant class size prejudice grounds do not apply. In this case, your application has been refused under the ordinary prejudice grounds.

Ordinary prejudice grounds

Admissions Authorities in Bracknell Forest fully recognise the need to meet parental preference where possible. However, the relevant year group within the school is currently full and the point has been reached where considerations of parental preference have become outweighed by the adverse financial and accommodation consequences of admitting further pupils over the planned admission number.

It would place pressure on staff and existing pupils and have an impact on successful teaching and learning. It will prejudice the provision of efficient education and the efficient use of resources in terms of Section 86(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. In this case, it is not possible to accede to parental preference and the application has been refused.

Primary schools

Reception, Year 1 or Year 2

If your child has been refused a place at one of the following schools in years Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 the grounds that apply are infant class size grounds:

• Ascot Heath
• Binfield CE
• Birch Hill
• College Town
• Cranbourne
• Crown Wood
• Crowthorne CE
• Fox Hill
• Great Hollands
• Harmans Water
• Holly Spring
• Jennett’s Park CE
• King’s Academy Binfield
• King’s Academy Oakwood
• Meadow Vale
• New Scotland Hill
• St Joseph’s RC
• St Margaret Clitherow RC
• St Michael's Sandhurst CE
• The Pines
• Uplands
• Warfield CE
• Whitegrove
• Wildmoor Heath
• Wildridings
• Winkfield St Mary's
• Wooden Hill

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

If your child has been refused a place at one of the following schools in years 3, 4, 5 or 6 the grounds that apply are ordinary prejudice grounds:

• Ascot Heath
• Binfield CE
• Birch Hill
• College Town
• Cranbourne
• Crown Wood
• Crowthorne CE
• Fox Hill
• Great Hollands
• Harmans Water
• Holly Spring
• Jennett’s Park CE
• King’s Academy Binfield
• King’s Academy Oakwood
• Meadow Vale
• New Scotland Hill
• St Joseph’s RC
• St Margaret Clitherow RC
• St Michael's Easthampstead CE
• St Michael's Sandhurst CE
• The Pines
• Uplands
• Warfield CE
• Whitegrove
• Wildmoor Heath
• Wildridings
• Winkfield St Mary's
• Wooden Hill

Secondary schools

If your child has been refused a place at one of the following schools in Years 7 to 11 the grounds that apply are ordinary prejudice grounds:

• Brakenhale
• Easthampstead Park
• Edgbarrow
• Garth Hill College
• King’s Academy Binfield
• Ranelagh CE School
• Sandhurst