Every school has a limit set for admissions during the year in accordance with the Education Reform Act 1988. This is called the planned admissions number (PAN). For St. Mary’s CE Primary School a limit of 15 places has been set for the Reception group.
St. Mary’s CE Primary School has mostly mixed-year classes therefore classes may accommodate children over PAN if this would not adversely affect the provision for children in the class or in the school as a whole. A KS1 class will not exceed 30 at the beginning of an academic year.
The Local Authority operates a timetabled co-ordinated admissions procedure for all primary schools in line with Government legislation. The LA co-ordinates the admissions process on behalf of the school according to the scheme published in their Admissions Booklet for that year – however, it is still the Governing Body for this school which will allocate the available places in line with this policy.
The parents of each child approaching school age and living in the catchment area will receive an admissions pack from the Local Authority which will contain information about the admission process and the forms that are required to be completed. The information booklet will help you complete the application form and will provide the dates for notification to parents of admission decisions and the closing date for accepting places or for lodging any appeals.
An application from a family with a child who has a statement of special educational needs that names St. Mary’s CE School will be accepted in line with the statutory requirements to do so.
The governing body ranks applicants by the following criteria:
1. Looked After children/children in care
2. Children with social or medical needs supported by evidence from a health care professional or social worker
3. Children whose parents make an application on grounds of faith supported by the appropriate Vicar/Rector/Minister of a Church in the Diocese. Faith in this context is defined as being an adherent to the doctrine of the Christian Trinity.
4. Pupils whose home address is within the catchment area of the school as defined by the LA and who have sibling/s in school at the time of entry.
5. Children whose main address is within catchment as defined by the map provided by the LA Admissions section
6. Children with sibling/s who are in school at the time of the application
7. Children with sibling/s who previously attended St. Mary’s
8. Children who attend Pre-school Playgroup on the school site
Children who live outside catchment, ranked by distance /the shortest available walking route to school
Link to Herefordshire Council school admissions
Download a copy of our prospectus here
We encourage a sense of belonging in addition to pride in children’s own appearance.
Winter uniform
Winter uniform is worn from October half-term to the Summer term after Easter.
- Navy blue jumper/cardigan with school badge.
- Pale blue shirt with collar, may be long or short-sleeved
- School tie
- Grey trousers/skirt, girls may wear trousers
- Navy/Grey or plain dark socks/ navy or grey tights
- Flat or low-heeled black or navy shoes, no trainers or boots
(except wellies in snowy weather) - In Class 1 we recognise it is difficult to manage a tie and so Reception children may wear elasticated school ties.
Summer uniform
Summer uniform may be worn during the Summer term and up to October half-termwhen it can still be fairly warm!
- In Summer pale blue polo shirts and light blue gingham dresses may be worn. Children may also wear sandals with secure straps, not slip on styles
We do expect children to be able to dress and undress independently; including tying ties once in Year 1, and encourage parents to practise with children in preparation for PE lessons. It is also very helpful if your child can put on his or her own coat, fasten it and recognise their own belongings.
PE Kit
Children have 2-3 sessions of PE each week and may also take part in after school sports.
Indoor kit
- Badged Navy School PE top
- Plain navy or black shorts
- Pumps for some indoor lessons
- Change of socks
- Hairband to tie back long hair
Outdoor kit – we do continue outdoors in Winter.
- Top, socks and shorts as for indoors
- Trainers/football boots when required (pumps are not robust enough for winter outdoor use)
- Navy warm top and navy tracksuit bottoms/leggings
- Hat/gloves on very cold days
- Shinpads for some sports
Swimming Kit
If your child swims s/he will need a hat, towel and costume.
The Pool prefer trunks, not Bermuda style swimshorts and one piece costumes rather than bikinis.
If your child has a verruca, a waterproof plaster or verruca sock may be worn
ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE NAMED!
We do have a pupil named “Poly Esther” whose clothing gets left around school and seems to multiply!
Where to buy St. Mary's School uniform
- All badged school uniform (jumpers, cardigans, fleeces, showerproof coats, hats and PE Polo shirts)
and ties, may be purchased from:
The School Uniform Shop, Maylord Orchards, Hereford
Telephone: 01432 344103
The school kitchen starts the day by providing breakfast to children and parents alike who wish to use the Breakfast Club as a means of making an early start each day. The mid-day meal is also prepared in our own well equipped kitchen and the majority of the pupils take advantage of the high standard of food available each day.
The varied menus are prepared from fresh, locally sourced produce. Care is taken to present the dishes attractively which has encouraged children to enjoy a wider range of healthy food.
Special dietary needs are catered for on request.
The security of the children whilst at school is taken very seriously. Our school site is entirely surrounded by secure fencing and hedging. The pupil entrance gate is unlocked at 08.40 to allow the children into the playground where they assemble in class order when the bell is rung at 08.50. After the children have entered the school building and any accompanying parents have left, the gate is locked again at 09.00. Any child arriving after this time will need to enter school through the main reception which has an internal security door between reception and the rest of the building.
The pupil entrance gate is unlocked at 15.10 to enable those picking up to wait for the children outside the classrooms. Each class teacher waits and ensures that their class members are met by a known adult. If a child is being picked up by somebody other than his or her parent or usual carer a message with the details needs to be passed to the school secretary who will in turn let the teacher know.
No child is permitted to leave the site unaccompanied unless permission has been given to the school by a parent or guardian.
