Admissions – Starting school & moving on

Admissions

• Our current standard admission number is 60. We can accommodate up to approximately 420 children all together, depending on the age and pupil distribution across the school. We accept children from the September following their 4th birthday, until 11 years old.
• Parents wishing to apply for a place at our school should contact school admissions at Northamptonshire County Council (www.northamptonshire.gov.uk or 0300 126 1000). Our admissions policy follows the county guidance where children with a statement of special educational need who express a preference for our school and children looked after are given priority followed by those children living in the village.

Starting school

• Parents considering which school to apply for can attend an Open Day in the autumn term or may make an appointment to view the school on our specified tour dates. We have close liaison with Irchester ABC Playgroup and other pre-school providers who bring the children for visits. In the term before children start school, we hold a ‘New Intake’ meeting with all parents to help prepare for admission. At this meeting parents receive an induction booklet containing additional information. Children attend induction sessions in July, to meet staff and to help them to feel comfortable about their new school. Individual consultations with parents, when the Foundation Stage teachers undertake home visits, take place in September, a few days before the children start school.

Class organisation

• Class structure across the school is two classes per year group. The Foundation Stage classes are the first year in school then the children move into Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2). At the start of Key Stage 2 (Year 3) the children move into the old junior school building; moving up through Years 4, 5, then 6. Although the children spend most of their time with their class teacher in the classes, for older children we group into ability sets for some lessons.

Transition within school

• We are aware that moving between key stages, even within the same school, can be an unsettling time for children and parents. Therefore, at the end of the academic year we ensure a thorough handover between teachers to allow for a smooth transition. There will also be an opportunity for the new teachers to introduce themselves to the children and parents, including ‘Transition Days’ where the children spend time in their new classes. We may mix the classes up between year groups, this allows children to develop a range of friendships and also to allow us to find the right mix of children to ensure optimum learning can take place.

Moving on to secondary school

• At the end of Year 6, (aged 11) children transfer to secondary school. Irchester is in the catchment area for Wollaston Secondary School, with which we have close links. Parents will receive all the information they need in the autumn term preceding transfer to help make choices. All local secondary schools hold open evenings for prospective students, usually in October.