Admissions
Moorlands Learning Trust (MLT) is responsible for the admission of children into Ashlands Primary School. Whilst we are happy to help with any queries, those specific to the admission process should be directed to Bradford Council who operate on behalf of MLT.
Contact details can be found at the bottom of this page.
Ashlands is a two form entry state primary school set in the heart of Ilkley. Two form entry means that we have the capacity for 2 classes of 30 in each year group.
We have Open Days in November of each year but prospective parents are always welcome to make an appointment to view our school, please contact the school office to arrange a suitable time.
Admission Arrangements
Children are admitted to Nursery the term after their third birthday and to Reception in the September of the school year in which they reach the age of five. Children attending the school’s nursery are not guaranteed a place in the Reception class and a separate application must be made.
Parents can request that the date their child is admitted to the school is deferred until later in the year or until the term in which the child reaches compulsory school age. The admission criteria will apply to all children seeking a school place, whatever their term of entry. The place offered will be reserved on the condition that it is taken within the same school year.
Completed paperwork, which is normally done online, should be returned to the Admissions Team will liaise with schools as to the availability of places for the appropriate year group. School and parents will be notified if an offer of a place is made and once accepted arrangements can then be made for the admission to take place.
The below links take you to the Bradford Council admission arrangements webpage where you will find admission documents for the current academic year 2023 – 2024 and also the next academic year 2024 – 2025.
Admission arrangements | Bradford Council
School priority admission area maps
School Policies and Supplementary Information Forms
Applying for a Primary School Place September 2024
You need to apply for a place in a primary school if you have a child starting school from 1 September 2024. This includes children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020. You need to apply to the local authority where your child lives. If your child lives in the Bradford District, you should apply through the online admissions system which opens on 13st November until 15th January 2024.
Guidance can be found below:
If your child has a formal offset agreed and is therefore not born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 please contact the Admissions Team for a paper application form. You will be unable to apply through the online system.
Some schools require you to fill in a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) directly as well. This may have an earlier closing date than the council application.
Further information can be found here: Apply for a place at one of Bradford District’s schools | Bradford Council
Can I choose what primary school my child goes to?
You can make a preference for up to five schools, these should be listed in your order of preference
What help is available for me to decide which schools to apply for?
Before you decide on a particular school, you should arrange to visit the schools in your area. Schools welcome visitors and most hold Open Days in the Autumn Term to help parents make their decision. In addition to this visit the school websites where you will get lots of useful information including a link to their their most recent OFSTED report. Alternatively you can visit Ofsted – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). You can find information on the school’s Key Stage Tow results on the DFE website at Search for schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts – Compare school and college performance data in England – GOV.UK (compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk)
When do I find out that my child’s reception school place?
For entry into Reception in September 2024 if you apply online for a primary school place, you will receive an email from Bradford Admissions on 16 April 2024 telling you which school your child has been offered (unless you opted out of this service). Emails will be sent out from 8am on 16 April.
All online applicants can also view their child’s school place offer from midnight on 16 April by logging onto their account.
Parents and carers who applied on a paper form or opted not to receive an email will have their child’s allocation letter sent out by Royal Mail, first class post, on 16 April.
Summer Born Children
All parents (including those whose children are summer-born) are expected to apply for and take up a reception place in the school year in which their child will reach the age of five (rising fives). All children are entitled to a full time place in the September following their fourth birthday. However, the legal starting age for full time education is the start of the term following the child’s fifth birthday.
Further information can be accessed from here: Admission of summer born children
In-Year Applications and Transfers
All in-year admission requests, including transfers from other schools are dealt with by the LA. Schools are not permitted to offer places even if there is space in the year groups.
Full details can be found below, including access to an online and paper application form:
In-year applications
The Admission Team at Bradford will liaise with schools as to the availability of place for the appropriate year group and offer a place via letter. The parent / carer should take their acceptance slip to the school office and discuss a potential start date.
Appeals
All Appeals are dealt with by Bradford Council, further information can be found here: Make an appeal
Applying for a place at Ashlands Nursery
Children are able to join Ashlands Nursery from the age of three, normally at the beginning of the term after their third birthday when they are eligible for free early year’s education provision of 15 hours / 30 extended hours per week.
Ashlands nursery is open from 9.00am – 3.30pm and children are able to attend our before and after school club that runs from 7.30am and until 6.00pm.
Cut off dates for eligibility and free early years education provision are:
Autumn Term: your child must have turned 3 on or by 31st August.
Spring Term: your child must have turned 3 on or by 31st December.
Summer Term: your child must have turned 3 on or by 31st March.
If you would like to be put on the nursery waiting list please contact the school office. Letters will be sent out during the term before the child is eligible to start to those children on the waiting list. Once the closing date has passed places will be allocated in line with the nursery criteria. Please refer to the Nursery Terms and Conditions on the school policy page here: Policies – Ashlands Primary School
If we are unable to accommodate your request we will contact you to discuss other options / availability.
Transfer to Secondary School
Children leave Ashlands to transfer to Secondary School at the end of the school year in which they have their eleventh birthday. There is a good liaison at both Headteacher and Curriculum co-ordinator level between all schools in the Ilkley Partnership of Schools. Staff work together closely to ensure the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is as smooth as possible.
During the Autumn Term parents with children in Year 6 are offered the opportunity to visit local Secondary Schools before making their choice.
The application process for Year 7 entry in 2024 opens on Tuesday 12 September.
The below links provide further information for parents and carers.
www.bradford.gov.uk/admissions
www.bradford.gov.uk/education-and-skills/school-admissions/guide-for-parents
applying-for-secondary-school-detailed-guide-for-september-2024-entry.pdf (bradford.gov.uk)
Parents are encouraged to make their application to secondary school online. Where parents cannot make their application on-line they should contact the school office for assistance.
Places are allocated by Bradford Admissions who will write to each parent who has completed an application to inform them of the allocated school place.
When do I find out that my child’s secondary school place?
All parents and carers who applied online will receive their child’s offer letter with any additional information required by email from Bradford Admissions on 1 March (unless they opted out of this service). Emails will be sent out from 8am on 1 March.
All online applicants can also view their child’s school place offer from midnight on 1 March by logging onto their account.
Parents and carers who applied on a paper form or opted not to receive an email will have their child’s allocation letter sent out by Royal Mail, first class post, on 1 March.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) please do not apply through the online system. You will be sent a seperate letter and preference form by the SEN team. For futher information please contact SEN@bradford.co.uk.
Contact details for Bradford Admissions
You can contact the School Admissions Monday to Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm team on:
Tel: 01274 439200
Annual Year 7 admissions queries (to transfer from primary to secondary school)
secondaryadmissions@bradford.gov.uk
Annual Reception admissions queries (to start primary school for the first time)
primaryadmissions@bradford.gov.uk
Queries relating to in year applications
schooladmissions@bradford.gov.uk
Queries relating to appeals
school.appeals@bradford.gov.uk
This page is updated in September of each year when information and dates for reception and secondary school application information are received. Further updates are made throughout the academic year.
Useful Links:
Apply for a place at one of Bradford District’s schools | Bradford Council
Guide for parents
