Current and proposed admission arrangements for Leighton Middle School
We have a standard admissions policy which is used by the majority of community and voluntary-controlled schools in Central Bedfordshire.
School places are typically allocated in the following order of priority:
- all ‘looked after’ children or children who were previously ‘looked after’ including those children who appear to us to have been instate care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted
- children of staff
- children living in the catchment area with siblings at the school
- children living in the catchment area
- children living outside the catchment area with siblings at the school
- any other children
View schools with the standard admissions policy
View schools with a variation of the standard admissions policy
Proposed changes to admission arrangements
It is proposed that the admissions arrangements for the academic year 2023/24 remain the same as last year for all Community and Voluntary controlled schools, except for one change for Leighton Middle School.
Proposed change to the admissions criteria for Leighton Middle School
Leighton Middle School requested a change to its admissions criteria. The proposed change was that its oversubscription criteria be amended to include priority for children who attend Pulford CofE Lower School and The Mary Bassett Lower School. The preferred model had the feeder criterion included above catchment criterion.
We will only consult on a proposal that positions feeder school criterion below catchment because, if positioned above catchment, there is the potential for catchment children not to gain a place at their catchment school. Whilst it is not guaranteed that a child in catchment will gain a place at their catchment school, it is a long-held belief by parents that being in catchment increases the likelihood that they will. Similarly, children who fall into the ‘sibling, non-catchment’ criterion may also be affected by the proposed change. Therefore, we will only consult on a proposal that positions feeder school criterion below catchment and siblings.
Leighton Middle School’s current admissions model
- looked-after or previously looked-after children, including those who were in state care outside of England prior to being adopted
- children of staff
- catchment with siblings
- catchment
- siblings (non-catchment)
- any other children
Proposed admissions model (which is being consulted on)
- looked-after or previously looked-after children, including those who were in state care outside of England prior to being adopted
- children of staff
- catchment with siblings
- catchment
- siblings (non-catchment)
- feeder: attendance at Pulford CofE Lower School and The Mary Bassett Lower School
- any other children
If the change is agreed it will only apply to Leighton Middle School, and be effective from September 2023. There will be no change to any other community and voluntary-controlled schools in Central Bedfordshire.