Admission to Secondary School (2026)
St Thomas More Catholic School - Admission policy 2026/27
St Thomas More Catholic School was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families. Whenever there are more applications than places available, priority will be given to Catholic children in accordance with the oversubscription criteria listed below. The school is conducted by the Catholic Education Trust as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its trust deed and articles of association, and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ.
As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeate every aspect of the school's activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school's education be fully supported by all families in the school. We, therefore, hope that all parents will give their full, unreserved and positive support for the aims and ethos of the school. This does not affect the right of an applicant who is not Catholic to apply for and be admitted to a place at the school in accordance with the admission arrangements.
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is the Admission Authority and has responsibility for admissions to this school. The Local Authority undertakes the co-ordination of admission arrangements during the normal admission round excluding admission to year 12.
Catholic feeder primary schools
- St Joseph's, Blaydon
- St Agnes', Crawcrook
- SS Mary and Thomas Aquinas, Stella
- St Philip Neri, Dunston
- St Mary's, Whickham
- St Joseph's, Highfield
- Corpus Christi, Gateshead
- Sacred Heart, Byermoor
- St Matthew's, Prudhoe
Published Admission Number
The Admission Authority has set the school's Published Admissions Number ("PAN") at 235, but enhanced to 250 subject to completion of building works for pupils to year 7 in the school year which begins in September 2026. The school will use its enhanced PAN at the point of admission and initial appeals. For all in year transfers the school will use its statutory PAN.
The Admission Authority will, where logistically possible, admit twins and all siblings from multiple births where one of the children is the last child ranked within the school's PAN.
Children with an Education, Health and Care plan or a statement of Special Educational Need
The admission of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of Educational Needs is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan or a Statement of Special Educational Needs that names the school must be admitted. Where this takes place before the allocation of places under these arrangements this will reduce the number of places available to other children.
Oversubscription Criteria
Where there are more applications for places than the number of places available, places will be offered according to the following order of priority.
Order of priority | Oversubscription criteria |
|---|---|
1 | Catholic looked after and previously looked after children - see note 2 and 3 |
2 | Catholic Children who attended a catholic feeder primary school - see note 3 |
3a | Other Catholic Children - see note 2 |
4 | Other looked after and previously looked after children - see note 2 |
5 | Catechumens and members of an eastern Christian Church - see note 4 and 5 |
| 6 | Other children who attend a catholic feeder primary school |
| 7 | Children of a member of school staff who has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which application for admission to the school is made - see note 10 and 12 |
| 8 | Children of other Christian denominations whose membership is evidence by a minister or faith leader - see note 6 and 7 |
| 9 | Children of other faiths whose memberships is evidenced by a minister or faith leader - see note 8 |
| 10 | All other children |
Within each of the categories listed above, the following provisions will be applied in the following order.
- Where evidence is provided at the time of application of an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need of the child which can be most appropriately met at this school, the application will be placed at the top of the category in which the application is made (see note 111).
- The attendance of a sibling at the school at the time of enrolment will increase the priority of an application within each category so that the application will be placed at the top of the category in which the application is made after children in (1) above (see note 9).
Tie breaker
Where there are places available for some, but not all applicants within a particular criterion priority will be given to children living closest to the school determined by the shortest distance. Distance will be measured in a straight line (as the crow flies) from the front door of the child's address (including flats) to the main entrance of the school, (using the Local Authority's computerised measuring system) with those living closer to the school receiving the higher priority.
In the event of distances being the same for two or more children where this would determine the last place to be allocated, random allocation will be carried out in a public place and supervised by a person independent of the school.
Application Procedures and Timetable
To apply for a place at this school in the normal admission round, you must complete a Common Application Form, excluding admission to year 12, available from the Local Authority in which you live.
If you are required to provide supplemental evidence to support the application (e.g. a baptismal certificate), this evidence should be provided at the time of application. If not provided, evidence may be sought by the admissions authority following the closing date for applications. This information must have been correct at the date of closing for applications. If you do not provide the supplemental evidence, this may affect your child's chance of being offered a place.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application on 1 March 2026 or the next working day, by the Local Authority on our behalf. If you are unsuccessful (unless your child gained a place at a school you ranked higher) you will be informed of the reasons, related to the oversubscription criteria listed above, and you have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
All applications which are submitted on time will be considered at the same time and after the closing date for admissions which is 31 October 2025.
Late Applications
Late applications will be administered in accordance with your home Local Authority Secondary Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. You are encouraged to ensure that your application is received on time
Admission of children outside their normal age group
A request may be made for a child to be admitted outside of their normal age group, for example, if the child is gifted and talented or has experienced problems such as ill health. Any such request should be made in writing to the Head Teacher of the school. The admissions authority will make its decision about the request based on the circumstances of each case and in the best interests of the child. In addition to taking into account the views of the Head Teacher who has statutory responsibility for the internal organisation, management and control of the school, the admissions authority will take into account the views of the parents and of appropriate medical and education professionals.
Waiting list
In addition to their right of appeal, unsuccessful children will be offered the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list. This waiting list will be maintained in order of the oversubscription criteria set out above and not in the order in which applications are received or added to the list. Waiting lists for admission will operate throughout the school year. The waiting list will be held open until the last day of the summer term.
Inclusion in the school's waiting list does not mean that a place will eventually become available.
In year applications
An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. Applications should be made to the school by contacting the Admissions Officer at the school. Parents will be advised of the outcome of their application in writing.
Fair access protocol
The school is committed to taking its fair share of children who are vulnerable and/or hard to place, as set out in locally agreed protocols. Accordingly, outside the normal admission round the admissions authority is empowered to give absolute priority to a child where admission is requested under any local protocol that has been agreed by both the Diocese and the admissions authority for the current school year. The admissions authority has this power, even when admitting the child would mean exceeding the published admission number.
False evidence
The Admission Authority reserves the right to withdraw the offer of a place or, where the child is already attending the school the place itself, where it is satisfied that the offer or the place was obtained by deception.
Notes and definitions
Read the relevant notes and definitions for this policy.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the local authority's admission guidance for parents.