Primary Admissions

Considering a CELT academy for your child?

Our family of academies are focused on helping your child achieve more. Every one of our academies is different and maintains a unique character, culture and ethos. Every one of our academies, however, focuses consistently on:

  • Academic excellence
  • Character development
  • Whole child education
  • Acquisition of skills for learning
We strongly recommend that you contact the academy you are interested in and arrange a visit. Talk to the headteacher and, if possible, to some of the teachers – they will be the adults closest to your child, and you will want to feel happy that they are well prepared, dedicated and happy in their work.

Don’t forget, however, that you, as a parent, play a crucial role working in partnership with us to support your child’s learning.
 
Admissions policy for CELT academies 

How to apply for a Reception place
The admission window for September 2025 Reception places is open.

If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, then it’s time to start planning their next education adventure and apply for a school place for September 2025.

The closing date for applications for a Reception place is 15 January 2025.   To apply for a Reception place at any one of our academies, you will need to complete and submit the Common Application Form to Cornwall Council’s Local Authority.

This can be found, along with further information, on the admissions pages of Cornwall Council’s website.   Please note that there is no advantage in applying early. All applications received by the deadline are considered equally in the allocation process. However, there is a disadvantage in applying after the deadline. This is because it is possible that some schools will already be full.  

How to transfer to a junior school (Newquay Junior Academy)
The admission window for September 2025 junior school places is open.

If your child was born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 (attending an infant school in Cornwall), then it’s time to start planning their next education adventure and apply for a school place for September 2025.

The closing date for applications for a place in year 3 at a junior school for September 2025 is 15 January 2025.   To apply to transfer your child to Newquay Junior Academy, you will need to complete and submit the Common Application Form to Cornwall Council’s Local Authority.

This can be found, along with further information, on the admissions pages of Cornwall Council’s website.   Please note that there is no advantage in applying early. All applications received by the deadline are considered equally in the allocation process. However, there is a disadvantage in applying after the deadline. This is because it is possible that some schools will already be full.  

How to appeal

If it has not been possible for a place to be allocated to your child at a CELT academy you may wish to consider submitting an appeal. You have a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel constituted and operated in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code.

Independent appeals are arranged by Cornwall Council’s Education Appeals Team. They can be contacted on 01209 614361 or by emailing educationappeals@cornwall.gov.uk

Further information and guidance on the appeals process including the School Admission Appeal Form can be found on the Cornwall Council website.
 
How to make an in-year application

You can make an ‘in-year application’ to change schools or join a school in during the school year. For more information on how this process works, please visit the Cornwall Council website.

How to defer a child’s start date
The preferred pattern of entry to reception classes should be the September immediately following your child’s fourth birthday. However, in a small number of cases parents believe that starting part-time or starting later in the school year would be more appropriate for their child, for example where their child was born prematurely and would otherwise have been due to start school a year later.

Parents offered a place in Reception for their child have a right to defer the date their child is admitted, or to take the place up part-time, until the child reaches compulsory school age. Children reach compulsory school age on the prescribed day following their 5th birthday. The prescribed days are 31 August, 31 December and 31 March.

Parents may choose deferred or part-time entry to the reception year for their child or request delayed entry to reception (i.e., holding their child back a year) and each case must be considered individually and with the best interests of the child in mind.

Places cannot be deferred beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year for which the offer was made.

More detailed information and guidance on deferred entry can be viewed here.