Admissions
Admissions to Whiston Willis Primary Academy are managed through Knowsley Local Authority. Please contact Knowsley Admission Department for further information 0151-443-5143. Parents and carers are very welcome to visit our school and see what we have to offer. You can gain information and guidance on this by telephoning Knowsley Admissions Team on 0151-443-5143.
The Authority will apply any requirements of the agreed Knowsley co-ordinated admission scheme. Where more applications are received than places available, the oversubscription criteria below will be used. As this is an equal preference scheme, all preferences will be considered against the following criteria:
- Children who are cared for by the Local Authority or who were, in certain circumstances previously looked after by the Local Authority.
- Children for whom the Local Authority accepts there are exceptionally strong medical or welfare reasons for admission.
- Children with a brother or sister already attending the preferred school and who will still be attending at the time of admission.
- Distance from the child's home to be measured in a straight line. Those living nearest to the school have priority.
Please note: In line with the Knowsley co-ordinated admissions scheme for primary school, proof of date of birth and home address may be requested following the initial allocation of places. If false information has been given, a place may be withdrawn. Parents/carers are reminded that they have a duty to inform The Inclusion Service of any change during the allocation process.
School Admissions Policy
The admission policy for 2020/21 is printed in the local authority’s admission booklet which is available by clicking here.
If you require paper copies, they are available from school or from Knowsley School Admissions by contacting 0151-443-5143. The booklet gives you all the information you’ll need to apply for school places.
Reception class
NEWS: PRIMARY ADMISSIONS - SEPTEMBER 2020
The primary admissions allocation day will take place on Thursday 16th April. All applicants, whether online or postal, will receive a letter with confirmation of their allocated primary school.
All allocation letters are being sent out, by 1st class post, on Wednesday 15th April and therefore applicants should receive confirmation of their allocation on Thursday 16th April.
Online applicants will also receive an allocation confirmation email on the 16th April, as well as their letter.
We urge parents not to call the Admissions Team until they have received their email or letter and/or have been to the website below to see if their query can be answered there.
A lot of information and FAQs, for example regarding the appeals process, can be found on the webpage https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/education-and-schools/apply-for-a-school-place/annual-school-admission-procedures-september-2020, which has now been fully updated and expanded in light of the current situation.
Additional information regarding transition arrangements cannot be finalised at this moment.
Finally, please also note that due to social distancing measures, there are less staff available to take phone calls and respond to emails, therefore we are trying to alleviate the number of calls/emails the school receives by posting information via the school website and main Twitter account @whistonwillis1 and recommend checking these first for further updates.
PLEASE REFER TO UPDATED INFORMATION IN LETTER BELOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 ADMISSIONS
Applications for places in the reception class are made between September and the 15th January each year. So applications for September 2020 should be made no later than 15th January 2020. It is really important to apply on time. Details of how to apply and other useful information are given in the admission booklet.
Please note that there is no automatic transfer from our Nursery to reception class. Attending or nursery class does not give your child priority for a place in our reception class. If you want a place in our reception class, you must complete the formal Local Authority application form during the relevant application period. Application booklets are also available from school at the beginning of the school year on request.
(If you live in another borough, contact your home authority for details of which form to use.)
Applications at other times
If you are moving to this area and are interested in a place for your child, please get in touch with the school. There is an In-Year application form to complete which gives you notes and contact details. This is also available from Knowsley School admissions Team by telephoning 0151-443-3372.
Nursery Admissions
We take pupils into the nursery on a termly basis – usually the term following the child’s third birthday. There is information which includes the application form available from the school or on the Knowsley Council website http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/residents/education-and-schools. (You can use this form wherever you live.)
Please note: Obtaining a place in the nursery does not give your child any priority for admission to reception class – you still need to apply for a reception place at the right time.
Admission Arrangements
When your child is allocated a place at our school, there is a full induction process. All new Nursery and Reception parents are invited to attend induction events. These will give you an opportunity to meet teaching staff and to find out all about our school. Every new parent will receive a comprehensive pack containing all the necessary information. All new Nursery children will receive a visit at their home setting by members of the Nursery staff. Reception children are invited to sessions during the summer term prior to them starting, where they will work and play in small groups with their new teacher so they feel more secure and happy when they start school.
For children who are new to Whiston Willis during an academic year, who may have transferred from another school, there is a full induction programme involving both parents and children. New parents will meet with the Head Teacher and Learning Mentor to discuss concerns, expectations and gain an insight into any needs that your child may have.
ADMISSIONS CONSULTATION PROPOSAL TO RAISE PUPIL ADMISSION NUMBER SEPT 2021
ADMISSIONS STATEMENT OF INTENT WWPA/WADE DEACON TRUST SEPT 2019/SEPT 2020
