Admissions and New Starters
​We are delighted that you are considering applying for a place at Woodham Burn Community Primary School. Most children start school full-time in the September after their fourth birthday. This means they will turn 5 during their first school year. Applications for places at Woodham Burn Community Primary School will be made in accordance with the LA’s co-ordinated admission arrangements. If you would like your child to attend our school you must apply for a school place. (Please note that a place in the nursery does not ensure your child a place in school).
The Woodham Burn Community Primary School is part of Lingfield Education Trust. The Trust has decided to follow the Local Authority’s (Durham County Council) Admissions Policy and is part of the Coordinated Admissions Scheme.
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Further information about the admissions process and how to apply for a school place can be found at Primary school places - Durham County Council and in the Trust’s Admissions Policy https://lingfieldeducationtrust.com/governance-policy/trust-policies (for admissions in September 2025 and September 2026).
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Information about how to apply for a place for children starting Reception in September 2026 - click here
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Appropriate entry forms in accordance with the admission policy of the LA will then be completed by the parent and returned online in accordance with LA policy.
Parents are welcome to visit the school during the school day, prior to their child’s admission. It is necessary to contact the school office.
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Mid-year transfer requests are applications for school places outside the usual primary school (Reception class) admissions processes. This includes children moving between schools within County Durham, or children moving into County Durham from another area or another country for example. Please see the following policy for further details – https://lingfieldeducationtrust.com/governance-policy/trust-policies.
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If you want to discuss or apply for a mid-year transfer, please contact Durham County Council’s School Admissions Team (03000 265 896 or see Apply to change school during the school year - Durham County Council) for an application form. You may also contact the school to enquire about the availability of place.
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If we do, the best advice is to make an appointment to visit the school either with or without your child. You will have the opportunity to meet a senior member of staff, discuss your child's needs and have a look around the school.
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Once a formal offer of a place has been made by the Local Authority final arrangements for a start date will be made. At Woodham Burn we feel that it is preferable for a child to start on a natural break in school time, for example at the beginning of a new half term or new week.
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Nursery
Below is a link for parents to apply for 2-year funding now called play and learn funding. It can be used in our nursery from the day of the child's 3rd. birthday (known as a rising 3-year placement). If parent/parents are not eligible for this, they receive will their child's 15 hours funding, the term after their child's 3rd birthday.
A parent can check eligibility through the Parent Portal here: https://education.durham.gov.uk/SynergyWeb/Parents/default.aspx
Once an account is created and child's details have been added, the parent can carry out an EY check – the system will let the parent know immediately whether or not their child is eligible.
Below is the link for parents to follow if they think they may be eligible for 30-hour childcare.
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Applying for a school place if your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (or Statement of Special Education Needs) follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
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Appeals Guidance for School
If the school receives more applications from parents/carers than it has places available, not every child can be successful in securing a school place. The Trust will use its admissions criteria, also known as oversubscription criteria, to decide which children to allocate places to.
Parents/carers have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel if they are dissatisfied with an admissions decision of the Trust. The appeal panel will be independent of the Trust. The arrangements for appeals will be in line with the School Admission Appeals Code published by the Department for Education. The decision of the panel is binding on all parties.
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Parents can only appeal once for any academic year unless there has been a change in circumstances relevant to the application.
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September 2025 entry
Appeals for children refused a place at a preferred school for admission to Reception class in September 2025 will be heard according to the following statutory timescales:
Offer Appeals lodged by Appeals heard by
16/04/2025 by 20 May 2025 within 40 school days
after 20 May 2025 within 30 school days
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What happens after primary school offer day on Wednesday 16 April 2025
Durham County Council Appeal against the offer of a school place - Durham County Council
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Lingfield Trust Admissions Policies can be found here.