Admissions
Lancashire County Council Determined admission arrangements 2025-26 (click here)
Schools' admissions policies are not decided at a national level. They are set at a local level so that they can take into account the specific needs of their communities.
Barrowford St Thomas is a voluntary aided school. In Voluntary Aided schools the Governing body is the admissions authority. As such, it is the governing body that draws up the admissions policy in consultation with Blackburn Diocese, the Lancashire Local Authority and all other admissions authorities in the area.
Admissions policies must conform to the Government's Admissions Code and have regard to the school's Trust deed.
If you have any queries about a school's specific admissions policy please begin by contacting your diocesan education office.
If you want to know whether or not you live within the parish boundary of Barrowford St Thomas, we would suggest putting your postcode into this website:
Admissions Policy: For September 2025
Admissions Policy: For September 2024
Lancashire County Council Admissions to Primary and Secondary School 2024 - 2025 Information for Parents
In Year Applications
APPLYING FOR A PLACE AT OUR SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR (IN YEAR ADMISSIONS)
In Year Admissions are admissions to school which take place outside the normal admissions rounds.
If you are new to the area and require a school place or if you already reside in the area and you want to move your child from their current local school to our school, your application should be made directly to our school and we will advise if there are places available.
To apply for a place, please complete our In-Year Admissions form and return to ohaines@st-thomas-pri.lancs.sch.uk
If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions, please contact Oliver Haines either by email at ohaines@st-thomas-pri.lancs.sch.uk or by phone 01282 614462.
Your application will be acknowledged upon receipt, and we will advise you of the outcome within a maximum of 15 school days.
Where places are available, but we have more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria will be applied, to ensure the correct child/children are offered the places.
Further information on how to apply for a local school can be found on the Lancashire County Council website: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/changing-schools-during-the-school-year/
If there are no places available, then you have the right of appeal. Please see below for appeal information
APPEALS
The school’s admission appeals are supported by Lancashire County Council. If the Governing body cannot offer a school place, parents have the right to make an appeal.
This appeal should be submitted using the link below within twenty days of refusal of admission. The appeal provides you with an opportunity to explain why you wish to register your child at our school. The appeal forms and advice on how to complete them is available on the Lancashire County Council website:
Lancashire County Council will contact you in respect of your appeal application and inform you of the arrangements. The outcome of the appeal will be notified to you in writing.
The decision of the Independent Appeal Panel is binding to all parties, ie the family and the school.
Please note that this right of appeal against the Governors’ decision does not prevent you from making an appeal in respect of any other school.
Getting Ready for Starting School
Starting school is a big moment for children (as well as their parents and/or carers) – and it can be both an exciting and nervous time. There is so much information to be given and absorb and lots of things to remember. In Lancashire we want to help encourage and support families so that our children are supported to have a better start in life, to support their futures.
To help raise the importance of children being ready for school by 5, information has been made available by Lancashire County Council Public Health Team for families living in or moving into Lancashire. This information shares ways in which parents/carers can show, support and encourage involvement and responsibility for their children being school ready. It follows families playing out the school day together in a school setting, highlighting short messages related to the messages of communication, encouraging independence and making friends and interacting with others in a new environment. Signposting information for families where they will be able to find out more information is also provided.
Click here to view the video and top tips leaflet: www.lancashire.gov.uk/childcare. Both of which are available to be used and shared with families to help everyone get ready for school.
