Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy, part of Archway Learning Trust, is consulting on its proposed admission arrangements for 2027/28.
Under the School Admissions Code (2021), schools must consult on their admission arrangements at least once every seven years or whenever changes are proposed. This consultation will run for six weeks, from 9 December 2025 to 20 January 2026.
The consultation gives parents, carers, staff, local schools, and other members of the community the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes to the academy’s admission arrangements. All responses will be carefully considered by the Board of Trustees before the final arrangements are confirmed and published in line with statutory requirements.
Summary of Proposed Changes
Since joining Archway Learning Trust in recent years, Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy has taken this opportunity to review its existing admission arrangements. While the Academy’s core admissions criteria remain unchanged, this consultation sets out three proposed updates to ensure clarity, fairness, and alignment with best practice.
The key proposed changes are outlined below.
Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy is proposing to introduce a “Children of Staff” criterion as part of the main oversubscription criteria, in line with section 1.39 of the School Admissions Code 2014. Under this proposal, priority would be given to children of staff after looked-after and previously looked-after children. A clear definition of “Children of Staff” is included in the ‘Notes’ section of the admission arrangements to ensure transparency and consistency.
Proposed wording:
Children of staff, specifically teaching or support staff, full- or part-time, on the payroll of Archway Learning Trust working at Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy at the time of admission, where:
- the member of staff has been employed at the Academy for two or more years at the time the application for admission is made, and/or
- the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
Rationale:
- Retention and recruitment: This criterion helps the Academy attract and retain high-quality staff by offering priority to their children.
- Fairness: The criteria are clear and apply only to staff with a genuine connection to the Academy, either through long-term service or recruitment into a post with a proven skill shortage.
Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy proposes a small but important change to amend the order of its oversubscription criteria so that children with a sibling already attending the Academy are prioritised before children who live within the catchment area but do not have a sibling.
Current approach:
- Children living within the catchment area are considered before children who have a sibling at the school but live outside catchment.
Proposed change:
- Children who have a sibling already attending the school will now be considered before children who live in the catchment area but do not have a sibling.
The Academy proposes to formally clarify in the notes section under the sibling criterion that:
“Where applications are received for twins, triplets, or other children of multiple births, if one child from the multiple birth is allocated a place, all children from the same multiple birth will be offered a place. This may result in the Academy admitting above the published admission number. If their admission creates an infant class of more than 30 pupils, the additional child/children would be admitted as an ‘excepted pupil’ under the infant class size rule.”
This change reflects current practice but is being added to the published arrangements to ensure transparency and compliance with the School Admissions Code (2021).
Full Proposed Admissions Arrangements 2027/28
You can view the full proposed admissions arrangements in two ways:
View Online: Read the arrangements directly on this page. This version is fully accessible, easy to navigate, and suitable for all devices.
Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy Proposed Admission Arrangements 2027/28 (Web Page)
Download PDF: Download a copy to save or print. This version contains all the details in the same format as the online version.
Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy Proposed Admission Arrangements 2027/28 (PDF)
How to Respond
Comments can be submitted in the following ways:
Online Consultation Form: Archway Learning Trust – Admission Arrangements Consultation 2027/28 – Online form
Email: admissions@archwaytrust.co.uk
Post: Admissions Services Lead, Archway Learning Trust, Aspley Lane, Nottingham, NG8 5GY
Please clearly state on your response that it relates to Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy. All responses must be received by 5:00pm on 20 January 2026.