Admissions
Acorn Multi Academy Trust is the admissions authority for its member schools, responsible for the admissions policies and decisions on applications for admission.
We have an admissions policy for each academic year and they will be published on this page when they are proposed for consultation and after they have been determined annually. They are written to comply with the School Admissions Code 2021 and School Admissions Appeals Code 2022.
The local governing body plays an active part in the admissions process.
Come and visit us
We welcome prospective parents to come and have a look around our school and meet up with the Head of School and the staff. Appointments can be easily arranged by calling the school office on 01460 220534 or emailing chardstockoffice@acornacademy.org
Pre-school Provision
We have our own purpose built pre-school on site that is part of the school. We admit children from their second birthday, and are open daily from 9.00-3.30pm. This enables a very smooth transition into the Reception class.
How to apply
Most children join our school at the normal round, the main intake into school from the start of September in Reception. As a parent, you can apply for a place to the Local Authority.
There are different options for parents of children starting school in Reception. This includes part-time education and deferring or delaying admission until later in the Reception year or, for children with birthdays in the summer term, to the following September. Come and talk to us if you are considering this. Do come and talk with us if you are interested in a place in a different year group for any reason.
Applications for residents of Devon are made between 15 November and 15 January for primary schools at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline.
If your child lives in another LA, including Cornwall, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay you should apply through that council. The closing dates are the same nationally.
For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk Devon publishes guides to the admissions process: the Step by Step Guide and the In-Year Guide at http://devon.cc/prospectus
In Year Admissions
If you are planning to move your child during the year then all applications must be made in line with Devon LA's In Year co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. Further information and application forms are available from the school or the Local Authority admissions team (0845 1551019). We welcome visits from prospective parents. Please contact the school office on 01460 220534 to arrange a convenient time.
The Governors will usually accept applications for children to join the school in-year up to the advertised admission limit for the Year Group for that Academic Year subject to KS1 class size legislation. The Devon Fair Access In-Year Protocol may be applied. The Governors can change the advertised admission limits at any time to reflect changes in circumstances at the school. All applications received on a particular day will be considered on the next school day. If there are more applications for a year group than there are spaces available then the applications will be considered by the Admissions Committee who will apply the oversubscription criteria in the Admissions Policy. Any applications received over the admissions limit for that year group will be considered on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee. A waiting list will be kept by the Admissions Committee for each Year Group. Waiting lists will be kept in order of the oversubscription criteria in the admissions policy. Places on lists will not be prioritised according to how long a child's name has been on the list.
Entry to Secondary School
Children from St Andrew’s transfer to The Axe Valley Community College, Axminster and Holyrood Academy, Chard, although some children transfer to Colyton Grammar School or The Woodroffe School. We have close links with Axe Valley and Holyrood schools and a full transition programme is planned. Parents will need to complete a Common Application form from the local authority for transfer to Secondary School. For Devon residents, this is the D-CAF3, available from Devon Application Page or by calling 0845 155 1019. Somerset residents can find more information by clicking here. Please see our admissions policy below for full details regarding admissions, including in-year admissions.
Admission Appeals
Link to Devon County Council Admissions Appeals Timetable
The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2024
Appeals at the normal round of admissions will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals on 31 May 2024. Where the application was not made in time for a decision to be made on 16 April 2024, they will be heard within that 40-day period or, if that is not possible, within 30 days of the appeal being lodged. In-year admission appeals must be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
The Local Authority
We take part in the co-ordinated admissions schemes of Devon County Council. Devon County Council publishes information about admissions and their own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. The links are at:
Devon County Council Admissions
Applications to Devon can be made online at: www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonlineor or by using the forms available at: http://devon.cc/applicationforms
Admissions Policies
You can find our admissions policies below and through the county council website. We review the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this would be in the best interests of the school and our community. Each academic year has its own policy document, with details about how to apply for a place in school from the start of Reception through to Year 6.
Devon County Council Admission Arrangements & Admissions Policies
School admissions policy 2024-25
See our determined policy below. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
St Andrew's Admissions Policy 2024 -25
School admissions policy 2025-26
See our determined policy below. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk