Notice is hereby given in accordance with legislation that the Xavier Catholic Education Trust as the admission authority for ST. POLYCARP’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL is formally consulting on its proposed admission arrangements for the school year 2027-28 and would like to know your views.

As an admission authority, the Trust is required to consult the following:

1. Parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen;
2. Other persons in the ‘relevant area’ (set by the Local Authority) who in the opinion of the school have an interest in the proposed admissions (e.g. local priests, other deanery Catholic schools, etc);
3. All other admission authorities within the ‘relevant area’;
4. The Local Authority (LA);
5. The Education Service of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton;  

In summary the proposed changes being made to admission arrangements are to accommodate new policies that align with the national Catholic Education Service models and wording, including:

• Making admission criteria clearer and reducing unnecessary criteria
• Ensuring notes are more succinct
• Adding consideration for children of staff employed at this school
• Reintroducing a category for children of other faiths

The six-week (minimum) consultation will begin on 17.12.2025 with the closing date for submitting comments being 30.01.2026.

Comments on the proposed admission arrangements should be sent to St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School in writing by the closing date (latest midnight on 30.01.2026) via:

Email: admissions@stpolycarps.surrey.sch.uk

Post: The Chair of Governors (Admissions Consultation), St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School, Waverley Lane, Farnham GU9 8BQ

Please include your name and address with any comments.

After the consultation period closes, all responses received will be collated and presented to the Xavier Catholic Education Trust trustees and the school’s Governing Body. The Board and trustees will then decide whether to proceed with the proposed arrangements.

Once approved, the final determined arrangements will be published on our school website.