admissions FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a place for my child at St Catherine's?
Nursery places: applications are made directly to the school.
Reception and in-year places: applications must be made through your home local authority using the Common Application Form (CAF).
For families living in Newcastle, applications are made via Newcastle City Council.
For in-year applications outside the main admissions round:
- If your child does not currently attend a Newcastle school, contact the Newcastle City Council Admissions Team for guidance (email: admissions.information@newcastle.gov.uk or telephone: 0191 278 7878).
- If your child already attends a Newcastle school, applications are usually made directly to St Catherine’s using the school’s in-year application process.
Can I apply for a place outside the normal admissions round?
Yes. You can apply for an in-year transfer at any time if you are moving school or moving into the area. Places are offered if spaces are available. If the year group is full, you may request to be added to the waiting list and will have the right of appeal.
Does my child have to be Catholic to attend St Catherines?
No. St Catherine’s is a Catholic school, and priority is given to Catholic children if the school is oversubscribed. However, children of other Christian denominations, other faiths, and families of no faith are very welcome to apply.
All families are asked to support and respect the Catholic ethos and values of the school.
Does it matter where we live?
Yes, but only if the school is oversubscribed.
St Catherine’s serves the parishes of St Dominic’s, Shieldfield and The Holy Name, Jesmond. When there are more applications than places available, children living within these parishes may be given priority in line with the school’s published admissions criteria.
If the school is not oversubscribed, children may be admitted regardless of where they live. In practice, families typically live within a reasonable travelling distance of the school.
Does it matter how I rank St Catherine's on my application form?
Yes. You should list schools on your application in your true order of preference. If your child is eligible for more than one school and more than one school can offer a place, the local authority will offer the school you ranked highest.
Your order of preference is confidential and is not shared with schools.
If my child already has a sibling at the school, does that give them an advantage?
Yes. If your child has a sibling attending St Catherine’s at the time of admission, this increases priority within each admissions category. Sibling priority does not override the admissions criteria, but it is taken into account when places are allocated.
How many places are available each year?
The school’s Nursery has a capacity for 26 full-time equivalent places.
The school’s Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils in Reception.
Classes from Reception to Year 6 are organised with a maximum of 30 children per class, in line with infant class size regulations.
The school’s total capacity is 210 pupils.
Will I have to pay anything towards my child's education at St Catherine's?
No. There are no tuition fees at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School.
Like all schools, there may be optional costs for things such as school lunches, uniform, wraparound childcare, or contributions towards trips and enrichment activities. Some residential or overseas trips (for example, an upper key stage visit to France) may also involve a parental contribution.
The school receives Pupil Premium funding for children who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), which is used to help support learning and wider opportunities. No child will ever be excluded from school life because of financial circumstances, and families are encouraged to speak to the school confidentially if cost is ever a concern.
When do applications open and close?
- Applications usually open in the autumn term
- Closing dates are in January
- National Offer Day is 16 April, or the next working day if this falls on a weekend or bank holiday
Exact dates are confirmed each year by the local authority and are set out in the school’s published admissions policy.
When do children start nursery?
Children are typically admitted to Nursery in the September after their third birthday.
The Nursery has a capacity of 26 full-time equivalent places. Admissions outside of the September intake may be considered where spaces are available, but this cannot be guaranteed and is at the discretion of the Governing Committee.
Attendance at the Nursery does not automatically guarantee a place in Reception.
How are places allocated if the school is oversubscribed?
Places are allocated in line with the school’s published admissions policy, which prioritises:
- Looked after and previously looked after children
- Catholic children (particularly those living in the parish)
- Siblings of children already attending the school
- Children of other faiths and families of no faith
Where necessary, distance from the school is used as a tie-breaker.
Who decides the admissions policy?
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is the admissions authority and is responsible for determining the admission policy. The Local Authority coordinates the admissions process on behalf of the Trust. The administration and operation of the admission policy is delegated by the Trust to the Local Governing Committee.
