Introduction

This information outlines Trafford’s policies and the arrangements for the intake of children to Trafford Primary Schools for September 2023. The procedures and rules for deciding admissions to Trafford schools apply equally to Trafford and non-Trafford resident children.

Trafford is responsible for admission arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, and the governing body or trust of a Voluntary Aided School (a faith school) or Academy determine the admissions for these schools.

The admissions policies for Trafford primary/infant schools; Academies, Community, Voluntary Controlled and Voluntary Aided schools are provided. More information about Trafford primary schools is included in the Trafford schools directory.

We try to make sure that as many pupils as possible are offered places at one of their preferred schools, but in some instances this will not be possible. Trafford schools are extremely popular and most are oversubscribed.

To maximise the likelihood of achieving a place at a local school, parents are advised to list their catchment area school(s) amongst their preferences. A place cannot be automatically reserved for your child at a catchment area school(s) as all the available places may be allocated to children who apply for a place at the school.

A catchment area school is one that gives priority to applicants living in a defined catchment area. Find your catchment area school.

Faith schools may also have a catchment area, but this will usually be a parish or parishes. Details of the catchment areas for faith schools are included in the relevant schools’ policies.

Parents should note that places are not allocated on a “first come, first served” basis and that early application does not guarantee a place in a preferred school. Admission depends on meeting the criteria for each school.

It is most important that you submit your application by the closing date of 15 January 2023.

Read the information carefully before making your application, even if you have already decided which schools you prefer, as the arrangements for admission to different primary schools in Trafford vary considerably.

At all stages of the process the Admissions Team will do everything they can to provide you with further information and support.

PLEASE NOTE: The information on these pages is for the 2023/2024 school year and is correct at the time of writing but policies are constantly kept under review and there may well be further changes within the education system which affect this policy statement arising from national legislation. In cases of doubt, contact should be made with the Trafford School Admissions Team.

Compulsory school age

A child reaches compulsory school age on the prescribed day following his or her fifth birthday (or on his or her fifth birthday if it falls on a prescribed day). The prescribed days are 31 December, 31 March and 31 August.

Trafford Council provides for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. Children who were born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019, will be eligible to be admitted to a school from 1 September 2023.

Processing your data

Our core data protection obligations and commitments are set out in the council’s school admissions service privacy notice.

Next: Application process