Guide to Admissions

The entry of children into primary schools is controlled and administered by an 'Admissions Authority'. For Community and Voluntary controlled schools this is the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Voluntary Aided and Foundation Schools the Admission Authority is the Governing Body of the school.

Admissions to primary schools will normally be granted provided a schools admission number is not exceeded. Where the number of applications for admission to a school exceeds the number of places available, i.e. where an admission number has been reached, places will be allocated applying recognised admissions criteria.

Co-ordinated Admissions Arrangements Pilot Scheme

Following a consultation to introduce a pilot scheme for co-ordinated admission arrangements for the Reception age group for the 2019-20 academic year, the governing bodies of Llansannor C.W Primary, St Andrew’s Major C.W Primary, St Bride’s Major C.W Primary, St David’s C.W Primary and Wick & Marcross C.W Primary have agreed to participate in the scheme. In addition to Vale of Glamorgan Community Schools you can now also apply for places in these schools by using the online application service as detailed above. Please ensure that you have read and clearly understood the admission criteria for each school that you are applying for.

• Llansannor C.W Primary

• St Andrew’s Major C.W Primary

• St Bride’s Major C.W Primary

• St David’s C.W Primary

• Wick & Marcross C.W Primary

Where the appropriate Admissions Authority is the Governing Body of a School, parents are advised to contact the school direct for details.  In the Vale of Glamorgan these schools are St Helens R.C Primary , St Josephs, All Saints C/W, Pendoylan C/W.

Check Catchment Area

Within the Council, each school has an area that it traditionally serves, called the Catchment Area.  

In line with current legislation, parents are required to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend, even if it is their catchment school. Pupils who reside within a defined catchment area will therefore have no automatic right to attend that school. A formal application must be made.

Please Note: Failure to apply by the closing date could lead to some parents/carers being denied a place for their child at their local/chosen school.  If demand exceeds the number of places available, it must be noted that catchment children will always take priority over applications from outside the catchment area however there is no guarantee that any child will be admitted to their chosen school.

Barry Waterfront Development

A significant new housing development is underway at Barry Waterfront to build 1600 houses over the next 10 year period. A new primary school is planned to serve the development as part of the Band B Projects but until the new school is built the catchment area primary schools for the development are as follows;

• English medium education - High Street Primary School

• Welsh medium education - Ysgol St Baruc for primary provision

• Denominational education - All Saints Primary School for Church in Wales provision, St Helens Infant and Junior for Roman Catholic provision

Parents are able to express a preference to attend a school of their choice, either their catchment area school or other local schools in the area where there are places available. There are several options for English medium primary education, High Street (your catchment school subject to a postcode check once your purchase is finalised), Barry Island, Gladstone and Holton are all nearby and have nurseries attached.

There are also Welsh medium primary options of Ysgol Sant Baruc (your catchment school) and Ysgol Sant Curig that is nearby. Denominational primary education is available at All saints and St Helens Schools. The council has ensured that there would be sufficient places around locally to manage the needs of families purchasing homes in the new development.