Current arrangements and proposals – school admission arrangements for 2026 to 2027
Consultation closed: 29 January 2025
Consultation opened: 18 December 2024
We operate a standard admissions policy for community and voluntary controlled schools within Central Bedfordshire. The current oversubscription criteria are applied in the event that the number of applications exceeds the available school places.
We are now consulting on proposed changes to admission arrangements for several schools for the academic year 2026/27. These changes reflect the educational restructuring within certain areas and aim to ensure equity of access to school places, consistent family access, and operational efficiency in local schools.
Proposed changes to admission arrangements for 2026 to 2027
Wrestlingworth CofE Infant School and Dunton CofE Junior School
As part of the ongoing reorganisation of schools in the Biggleswade area, Wrestlingworth Lower School has transitioned to an infant school (key stage 1), and Dunton Lower School has become a junior school (key stage 2). To ensure a seamless transition for families and children between these schools, an amalgamation of the catchment areas is proposed. This will prioritise all children living in the current catchment areas for either school, which includes the parishes of Dunton, Eyeworth, Wrestlingworth, and Cockayne Hatley.
The proposed oversubscription criteria for Wrestlingworth CofE Infant School and Dunton CofE Junior School will prioritise:
- looked-after and previously looked-after children
- children of staff
- children with siblings attending either school
- catchment area children
There will be an amalgamation of the catchment areas for Wrestlingworth Infant School and Dunton Junior School so all children living in the current catchment areas for either school, which include the parishes of Dunton, Eyeworth, Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley have priority for a place at Wrestlingworth Infant School for their key stage 1 education and Dunton Junior School for their key stage 2 education.
Wrestlingworth 2024–2025 criterion
All looked-after children and all previously looked-after children, including those children who appear to us to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Wrestlingworth proposed 2026–2027 criterion
All looked-after children and all previously looked-after children, including those children who appear to us to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Children of staff.
Children of staff.
Children living in the catchment area with siblings at the school.
Children living in the catchment area with a sibling at either Wrestlingworth Infant School or Dunton Junior School.
Priority given to children living in the catchment.
Children living in the catchment.
Children living outside the catchment area with siblings at the school.
Children living outside the catchment area with a sibling at either Wrestlingworth Infant School or Dunton Junior School.
Children, one or more of whose parents/carers have, at the time of application, shown commitment to the Church of England or another Christian church by attending a service at least once a month for the year prior to an application being made.
Children, one or more of whose parents/carers have, at the time of application, shown commitment to the Church of England or another Christian church by attending a service at least once a month for the year prior to an application being made.
Any other children.
Any other children.
These proposed criteria are to ensure children with siblings at either school can access a school place at either the infant or junior school with the two schools now being linked as an infant and junior school which enables families to be kept together with equal educational access in the same locality.
Dunton 2024–2025 criterion
All looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear to us to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Dunton proposed 2026–2027 criterion
All looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear to us to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
Children of staff.
Children of staff.
Children living in the catchment area with siblings at the school.
Children who are currently attending Wrestlingworth Infant School.
Children living in the catchment area.
Children living in the catchment area with a sibling at either Wrestlingworth Infant School or Dunton Junior School.
Children living outside the catchment area with sibling at the school.
Children living in the catchment area.
Children, one or more of whose parents/carers have, at the time of application, shown commitment to the Church of England or another Christian church be attending a service at least once a month for the year prior to an application being made.
Children living outside the catchment area with a sibling at either Wrestlingworth Infant School or Dunton Junior School.
Any other children.
Children, one or more of whose parents/carers have, at the time of application, shown commitment to the Church of England or another Christian church by attending a service at least once a month for the year prior to an application being made.
Didn't exist.
Any other children.
The proposed criteria above is to ensure children at Wrestlingworth Infant School can access a place at Dunton Junior School and therefore access their key stage 2 education by this being prioritised as criterion 3 in the school’s oversubscription criteria. Siblings of children at either school are then prioritised to enables families to be kept together with equal educational access in the same locality now the two schools are linked as an infant and junior school.
Edward Peake CofE VC Secondary School, Biggleswade
Due to the conversion of local lower schools to primary schools, Edward Peake Secondary School will amend its oversubscription criteria to reflect the removal of Wrestlingworth CofE Infant School as a feeder school. This is necessary as Wrestlingworth now only educates students up to year 2, while Edward Peake Secondary School starts from year 7. All other oversubscription criteria remain unchanged.
Kingsmoor Lower School, Flitwick
We propose a reduction in the published admission number (PAN) for Kingsmoor Lower School from 45 to 30. This change is based on a review of school place forecasts and is supported by the school’s governing body to ensure operational efficiency and appropriate staffing levels. The admission number of 45 meant that the school would operate mixed aged teaching in years 1 to 4, by having year 1 and year 2 together and mixed over 3 classes of 30 and the same again with year 3 and year 4. Reception would start off in two smaller classes. However, the school has had year groups of below 30 children, therefore mixed age teaching isn’t required and a PAN of 30 would therefore not only be better operationally but also beneficial to children to receive single age teaching.
Schools with proposed changes for 2026 to 2027
Wrestlingworth CofE Infant School
Published Admission Number (PAN): 30
Dunton CofE Junior School
Published Admission Number (PAN): 30
Edward Peake CofE VC Secondary School
Published Admission Number (PAN): 180
Kingsmoor Lower School
Published Admission Number (PAN): 30 (reduced from 45)