St Peter & St Paul CE VA Primary School

St Peter & St Paul CE Voluntary Aided Primary School (the ‘Admissions Authority’), is a Church Aided school and therefore the Governing Body is the Admissions Authority and is responsible for setting the School Admissions Criteria and School Admissions Arrangements, in compliance with the School Admissions Code and the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (Part 3).  The admission authority is consulting on the school’s proposed Admission Arrangements for 2026-2027 in accordance with paragraph 1.45 of the School Admissions Code (September 2021)

Duration of the Consultation

The consultation process is open for a 6 week period from 6^th November 2024 to 20^th December 2024.  If you wish to comment on the proposal you must submit your response in writing during this period.  Details of how to submit your views are set out below (see ‘How to respond to the Consultation’)

Who is involved in the Consultation?

• Parents of children between the ages of 2 and 18;
• Other persons in the area who in the opinion of the Admission Authority have an interest in the proposal;
• All other primary admission authorities in the local area;
• The local authority; and
• The Diocese of Chichester.

The Proposal

The Admission Authority proposes the changes detailed below:

1. Over Subscription Criteria – the school is proposing the removal of the requirement that the Anglican church or Christian church is in the town of Bexhill.  This means that families who live in Bexhill, but worship in an Anglican or Christian church not in Bexhill will be considered under this category.                    Children whose parent(s)/carers** live in the civil parish of Bexhill (see map) and are frequently*** involved in the worship in any other Anglican church or Christian church which is designated under the Ecumenical Relations Measure nationally by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York or locally by the diocesan bishop, or is a member of Churches Together in England, or the Evangelical Alliance, or a partner church of Affinity.

** Reference to parents includes legal guardians and applies to either or both parents or a sole parent.  Reference to carers means any person who is not a parent but has parental responsibility for a child, and any person who has full time care of a child and lives with them at the same address.

*** Frequently is defined as attendance at least once a month for 18 months, prior to the closing date of the application.

2. Fraudulent or Misleading Applications – this is a proposed addition to the Admission Arrangements.

False information – where the Governing Body has made an offer of a place on the basis of a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application from a parent which has effectively denied a place to a child with a stronger claim to a place, the offer of a place will be withdrawn.  The application will then be considered afresh and a right of appeal offered if an offer is refused.

3. Multiple Births - this is a proposed addition to the Admission Arrangements.

Where possible, the Governors will admit all the children of a multiple birth (ie: twins, triplets, etc) 

A copy of the proposed Admission Arrangements for 2026-27 can be found here.

How to respond to the Consultation

You are invited to send any comments in relation to the proposal in writing to Mrs Hamill via email (office@stpeterstpaul.e-sussex.sch.uk) or via post for the attention of Mrs Hamill, St Peter and St Paul CE VA Primary School, Buckhurst Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1QE.

What happens next?

Following the consultation period, the Admission Authority will consider any comments received and determine how to proceed.

The Admission Authority will determine the final Admission Arrangements for the school by 28^th February 2025.  A copy of the Admission Arrangements will be published on the School’s website by 15^th March 2025.