Sherford Vale School & Nursery – New Admissions
The Trust Board of Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is the admissions authority for our school, responsible for the admissions policies and decisions when there is an application for admission. We have an admissions policy for each academic year. Policies are written to comply with the School Admissions Code 2021 and the School Admissions Appeals Code 2022. We take part in the normal round and the in-year co-ordinated admissions schemes of Devon County Council.
Come and visit us
If you are interested in your child attending our school, you are welcome to come in and visit us. You can arrange a visit by contacting our office on 01752 8916795.
Applying to come here
Once you decide you would like a place you must make a formal application. You can do this by applying to the Local Authority (Devon County Council).
If your child is due to start Reception (Foundation Stage) children are offered places to start in Reception at the beginning of the September term after their fourth birthday, even if they intend to defer admission until later in the academic year. For admission at the start of the Foundation year, parents of children living in Devon (not Plymouth or Torbay) should apply to Devon County Council, likewise if the children live in the Plymouth City Council area they should apply to Plymouth.
The Local Authority
Devon County Council publishes information about admissions and its own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. This is at www.devon.gov.uk/admissions
Applications can be made online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline or by using the forms available at http://devon.cc/applicationforms
There is an appeals process if an application is refused; this is detailed at www.devon.gov.uk/school-appeals
For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk.
Our Admissions Policies
You can find our admissions policies below - we review the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this would be in the best interests of the school and our community.
Each academic year has its own policy document, with details about how to apply for a place in school from the start of Reception through to Year 6.
School admissions policy 2024-25
This is our determined policy. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
You can view this policy http://devon.cc/schoolpolicy
School admissions policy 2025-26
School admissions policy 2026-27
We will consult on an admissions policy between November 2024 and 10 January 2025. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
From November, you can view this policy http://devon.cc/schoolpolicy
After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2025. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2025.
Objections can be made up to 15 May 2025 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator.
The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2025
The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.
Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2024
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2024
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 26 July 2024
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 26 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
Allocation date for the normal round new Year 7: 1 March 2024
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 22 April 2024
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 26 June 2024
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 22 April will be heard by 26 June. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.
The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2026
Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2025
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2025
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 25 July 2025
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 25 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
Admissions policy for 2026-27: Annual Consultation
Along with all other schools and academies in Devon, we are consulting on an admission policy for 2026-27. The Local Authority is also consulting on its admission arrangements. You are invited to look at the proposal new policies which are based on policies for this year and next year and to have your say on them.
Our proposed policy is on our admission page https://www.sherfordvaleschool.co.uk/page/?title=Admissions+Policy&pid=23 and you can see all policies at http://devon.cc/schoolpolicy Further information is here: www.devon.gov.uk/admissionarrangements
The consultation runs until 10 January 2025. Policies will be determined by the end of February and published in the same places by 15 March next year. You can comment at schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk or by emailing the school.
Plymouth City Council publishes information about admissions and its own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. This is at Starting School in Plymouth Booklet
Applications can be made online at www.plymouth.gov.uk/schooladmissions or by using the forms available by calling the LA.
For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Plymouth City School Admissions Service on 01752 307469 or by emailing school.admissions@plymouth.gov.uk
Nursery: currently, there is space for 30 children in each Nursery session and there are 60 places available in Foundation. For the main school, children are offered places to start in Foundation at the beginning of the September term after their fourth birthday. Children who are admitted to a vacancy at any time after this point are called 'In-Year' Admissions.
