School Admissions
Applying for Reception Class/Junior School (Y3)
For children born between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022, the online school admissions portal for September 2026 entry is open until 15th January 2026.
Click to apply for September 2026 entry
For information about the admissions process (including additional support, if required) or to contact the School Admissions Team, please call 0300 1234 101 or click on the link below:
Cornwall Council / School Admissions
Deferred/Delayed Admission to Reception Year
The majority of children start school full-time in the September following their fourth birthday. However, in some cases parents believe that starting part-time or starting later in the school year would be more appropriate for their child, particularly where their child was born prematurely and would otherwise have been due to start school a year later.
Parents can request a meeting with the head of the school where they have been allocated, or are hoping to gain, a place to discuss further.
Changing school or joining a school during the school year ('in year')
You can make an ‘in-year application' to change schools or join a school in Cornwall during the school year. In-year applications include joining an existing year group at the start of a new school year. Click on the link below for more information:
In-Year Admissions
Waiting Lists
As an admission authority, all Aspire academies have waiting lists and these are managed by the Cornwall Council School Admissions Team. From 1 September 2023, children are automatically added to the waiting list for a school (for the remainder of the academic year) where they have been refused a place. For further information, please click on the link below:
Appeals
School Places Appeals Process
Reception Class Appeals: Infant classes must not contain more than 30 pupils with a single school teacher. If your child has been refused a place due to the infant class size being reached, you can still appeal, however please be aware most infant class appeals are unsuccessful.
Aspire Admission Policies & Consultation Documents
AAT Arrangements 2027-28 Draft for Consultation*
AAT Arrangements 2026-27 Determined
AAT Arrangements 2025-26 Determined
*In accordance with the School Admissions Code 2021 and associated regulations, the Directors of Aspire Academy Trust (AAT) are consulting on their proposed admission arrangements for the 2027/28 school year with regard to the academies within AAT.
We are consulting on the following academies who are seeking to amend their Published Admissions Number (PAN):
- Biscovey Nursery and Infants’ Academy
- Biscovey Academy
- Bugle School
- Connor Downs Academy
- Cubert Primary School
- Delabole Primary School
- Indian Queens Primary School
- Padstow School
- Penryn Primary Academy
- Shortlanesend School
- St Stephen Churchtown Academy
- Summercourt Academy
- Tintagel Primary School
- Tregolls Academy
- Treverbyn Academy
- Whitemoor Academy
The following persons are invited to comment:
- Parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen
- Other admission authorities in the “relevant area” (i.e. the Local Authority and the governing bodies of primary schools/academies within a five mile radius which are their own admission authority)
- Other persons living in the relevant area who, in the opinion of the Directors, have an interest in the proposed admission arrangements
- Cornwall Council
- Any adjoining neighbouring local authorities (within 3 miles) where the admission authority is the local authority
If any of the persons or bodies above should wish to request a paper or electronic copy of these proposals, or if any of the persons or bodies above should wish to comment on these proposals, please contact: Victoria Edwards, Business & Compliance Manager, Aspire Academy Trust, Unit 20, St Austell Business Park, Carclaze, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4FD or via email: aspire@iaspire.net
The consultation will be for 6 weeks inclusive of the Christmas period. The closing date for receipt of comments is 30th January 2026.