Scarcroft Primary School

Scarcroft Primary School is a Community Primary day school for children aged four to eleven. The Maximum Admission Limit is 45 in any one year group. The Reception and Key Stage 1 (infant) class size limit is 30 and Key Stage 2 (junior) class size limit is 35, as agreed by the Governing Body.

In line with the City of York, our Admission Policy changed in September 2003. We admit children into a Reception class in the year in which they are five:

• Children with birthdays between 1st September and 31st December will enter school full-time in the September, at the start of the term in which they are five.
• Children with birthdays between 1st January and 31st August will be offered a full-time place in January of the year in which they are five. These younger children also have the option of a part-time place in the preceding September if Parents wish. Most of our parents take up this part-time option. Alternatively, Parents may choose to defer their child’s entry, as long as the child is in school by the term following their fifth birthday. There are currently 320 pupils on roll in 11 classes.

Scarcroft Primary School normally takes children who live in the school’s catchment area. In the event of the school being over-subscribed, the City of York Education Authority will allocate places according to its Admission criteria. Parents who are unable to obtain a place at Scarcroft School have a right of appeal via the local education office. Where spaces are available, they can be offered to children outside the catchment area.

Parents need to be aware that we have been oversubscribed for the last few years due to our popularity. While this is good news for the school, it is always upsetting to hear that people who want a place are turned away. Please be aware that if you live outside the catchment area you may not automatically get a place for your child. It is also worth noting that if you have a child in school and you then move out of the catchment area, having a sibling in the school does not guarantee your younger child a place.

Pupils arriving at any time after the start of their Reception year will be allocated a place in the appropriate class for their age if places are available, up to a maximum of 45 places in a year group. These children will be offered a ‘buddy’ who will show them around and help them to settle in.

In all cases, we encourage you to make an appointment to visit the school, meet the Headteacher and have a look round, when these admission arrangements can be discussed in more detail.