Guide to in-year admissions - Primary education in Bracknell Forest

Published: 6 June 2025
Updated: 26 September 2025

Primary schools are for pupils aged 4 to 11. This is reception through to year 6.

Types of Bracknell Forest primary schools

Community schools

Community schools are maintained and run by the local authority and have to follow the national curriculum.

The local authority is the admission authority for these schools. This means they set the criteria that determines how school places are allocated. 

Voluntary controlled schools

Voluntary controlled schools are maintained by the local authority. They also employ the staff.

The school land and buildings are owned by a charity, often a church. They will appoint some members of the governing body.

The local authority is the admission authority for these schools. This means they set the criteria that determines how school places are allocated.

Voluntary aided schools

Voluntary aided schools are maintained by the local authority.

However, the school buildings and land are usually owned by a charity, often a church.

The governing body employs the staff and they are the admission authority for these schools. This means they set the criteria that determines how school places are allocated.

Academies

Academies are schools that receive funding directly from the government.  

They are run by an academy trust who is also the admission authority. This means they sets the criteria that determines how school places are allocated.

Special school

Primary education is also provided at the borough’s special school, Kennel Lane School. Applications for this school are processed separately through the special educational needs team

Community primary schools - admission arrangements

Bracknell Forest is the admission authority for community schools and sets the admissions arrangements (or oversubscription criteria) for these schools. These can be found on our admissions arrangements page

If you wish to apply for a community school under the social and medical criterion, you can download a copy of the required supplementary form from our in-year application page

The following Bracknell Forest schools are community schools:

  • Ascot Heath Primary
  • College Town Primary
  • Cranbourne Primary
  • Fox Hill Primary
  • Harmans Water Primary
  • Holly Spring Primary
  • New Scotland Hill Primary
  • The Pines Primary
  • Whitegrove Primary
  • Wildridings Primary

Voluntary controlled primary schools - admission arrangements

Bracknell Forest is the admission authority for voluntary controlled schools and sets the admissions arrangements (or oversubscription criteria) for these schools. These can be found on our admissions arrangements page

If you wish to apply for a community school under the social and medical criterion, you can download a copy of the required supplementary form from our in-year application page

The following Bracknell Forest schools are voluntary controlled schools:

  • Crowthorne CE Primary - you can download a copy of the Crowthorne church attendance form from our in-year application page
  • Warfield CE Primary
  • Winkfield St Mary's Primary

Voluntary aided primary schools - admissions arrangements

The admissions criteria for Voluntary Aided schools are set by the Governing Body of each school. For some of these schools an additional form may need to be completed as part of the application process.

Please contact the relevant school or check their website for any supplementary forms that might need to be submitted with your application.

The following Bracknell Forest schools are voluntary aided:

  • Binfield CE Primary
  • St Joseph's RC Primary
  • St Michael's Easthampstead CE Primary

Binfield CE Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Binfield CE Primary School website.

St Joseph’s RC Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process in this guide applies.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school are set by the school governing body and can be found on the St Joseph's School website.

St Michael's Easthampstead CE Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process in this guide applies.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school are set by the school governing body and can be found on the St Michael's Easthampstead Primary School website.

Academy schools - admission arrangements

The admissions criteria for academies are set by each school’s trust. For some of these schools an additional form may need to be completed as part of the application process.

Contact the relevant school or check their website for any supplementary forms that might need to be submitted with your application.

The following Bracknell Forest schools are academies:

  • Birch Hill Primary
  • Crown Wood Primary
  • Great Hollands Primary
  • Jennett's Park CE Primary
  • King's Academy Binfield
  • King's Academy Meadow Vale
  • King's Academy Oakwood
  • Owlsmoor Primary
  • Sandy Lane Primary
  • St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary
  • St Michael's CE Primary (Sandhurst)
  • Uplands Primary
  • Wildmoor Heath Primary
  • Wooden Hill Primary

Birch Hill Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on the Birch Hill Primary School website.

Crown Wood Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Crown Wood Primary School website.

Great Hollands Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on the Great Hollands Primary School website.

Jennett’s Park CE Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.  

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by Bonitas Academy Trust can be found on the Jennett's Park Primary School website.

King’s Academy, Binfield

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.  

Any supplementary information forms required for this school can be found on our in-year school application page.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by King’s Group Academies Trust and can be found on the King's Academy Binfield website.

King’s Academy Meadow Vale

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.

Any supplementary information forms required for this school can be found on our in-year school application page.

The school converted into an academy on 1 November 2024 and for the academic year 2025 to 2026 King’s Academies Trust adopted the admissions arrangements set by Bracknell Forest Council. These are explained in our community primary schools - admission arrangements section.

King’s Academy Oakwood

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.

Any supplementary information forms required for this school can be found on our in-year school application page.

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by King’s Group Academies Trust and can be found on King's Academy Binfield website.

Owlsmoor Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Owlsmoor Primary School website.

Sandy Lane Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Sandy Lane Primary School website.

St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.  

The admissions arrangements (criteria) for this school have been set by the Catholic Academy Trust and can be found on the St Margaret Clitherow Primary School website.

St Michael's CE Primary (Sandhurst)

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the St Michael's Primary School website.

Uplands Primary

This school is part of Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme and the in-year application process detailed within this guide applies.

Any supplementary information forms required for this school can be found on our in-year school application page.

The school converted into an academy on 1 June 2024 and for the academic year 2025 to 2026 Key Academy Trust adopted the admissions arrangements set by Bracknell Forest Council. These are explained in our community primary schools - admission arrangements section.

Wildmoor Heath Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Wildmoor Heath Primary School website.

Wooden Hill Primary

This school is not part of the Bracknell Forest in-year co-ordinated scheme.

You must contact the school for information about applying. You can find contact details on the Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School website