Gwaunfarren Primary School

The entry of children to schools is controlled and administered by an ‘Admissions Authority’. In the case of Gwaunfarren Primary School, the admissions authority is Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council also known as the Local Authority (LA). In the case of church voluntary aided schools, the admissions authority is the governing body of the individual school.

Within the County Borough each school has its own designated catchment area. Most parents/carers send their child to the ‘local’ school, but some parents/carers exercise their right to state a preference for a different school. In all cases parents/carers of pupils who are due to change schools in September will need to indicate, on the official application form, their preferred school. No-one has an automatic right to attend a school but all of the official applications, submitted before the closing date will be considered. On-line admissions will be open for all relevant parents/carers in the week commencing 09th September. Hard copy applications will be availbale upon request and will need to be returned to, School Admissions Team, Schools Department, Unit 5, Triangle Business Park, Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 4TQ in order to match parents’/carers’ preferences with the availability of places at the school of their choice.

An application for a place at a particular school must be made officially via the On-Line portal to the local authority or direct to the governing body of a voluntary aided school. The published criteria in respect of “What Happens When Too Many Children Apply for Places?” will place all applicants in order of priority for admissions. The local authority offers admission places during the term before a child is due to start school. Parents/carers should apply by 26th October for admission to secondary school in September and by 26th October for admission to reception class in primary schools in September ; and by 21st December for admission to nursery class in Septembe. The authority will inform parents/carers whether or not it is possible for a child to attend the preferred school. Parents/carers should not hesitate to discuss their request with the headteacher who will, if appropriate, arrange for parents/carers to visit the school. 

Parents/carers need to apply for a place:

• For admission to a pre nursery class;
• For admission to a nursery class/school;
• For admission to a reception class;
• For transfer from primary school to secondary school; and
• At any time they wish to transfer their child from one school to another.

A pupil who attends a school outside his/her local designated catchment area and subsequently makes an application to attend the local area school will not have an automatic right of admission to that school. The decision regarding admission will depend upon the admission number of the school and the number of pupils in the particular year group i.e. whether there is room.