Admissions
Forward As One CE Academy Trust Board of Trustees are the admissions authority for all schools within the trust. Admissions to schools within Forward As One CE Academy Trust are administered by the Local Authority in which each school is located, as part of the Coordinated Admissions Scheme.
To apply for a school place (Reception class), please see the information on Admissions on the school's website and/or the Local Authority's website Admissions page. If you have any queries, please contact the school office at the school of your choice.
Admissions Arrangements for the Reception class 2025/26 (current academic year)
- Applications opened on 6th Nov 2024.
- The deadline application date for primary admissions for the September 2025 intake was midnight on 15th January 2024 (National Closing Date)
- The offer date for the September 2025 intake is 16th April 2025 (National Offer Day) or the next working day if the date falls on a weekend or bank holiday. If you have provided your email address, your offer will be emailed to you. You may also be able to log on to the local authority portal from this date to view/accept your offer. If you don't have an email address, your offer will be posted second class on 16th April 2024
Admissions Arrangements 2026/27
Applications open in early Nov 2025 (Local Authorities vary so please see the school specific information on the school website or the Local Authority Admissions page on the LA website).
The deadline application date for primary admissions for the September 2026 intake is midnight on 15th January 2025 (National Closing Date)
The offer date for the September 2026 intake is 16th April 2026 (National Offer Day) or the next working day if the date falls on a weekend or bank holiday. If you have provided your email address, your offer will be emailed to you. You may also be able to log on to the local authority portal from this date to view/accept your offer. If you don't have an email address, your offer will be posted second class on 16th April 2026
Determined Admissions Policies, 2027-28
Forward As One CE Multi Academy Trust Board determined admissions arrangements for all Trust schools for 2027-28 at their meeting on Wednesday 11th February 2026, following the consultation undertaken between December 2025 and January 2026, in accordance with the Admissions Code 2021. The Board carefully considered all stakeholder responses and the potential implications for schools, communities, and compliance, and determined not to implement the changes consulted upon.
The consultation received 223 responses in total, with the majority for St Chad’s CE Primary School. Most respondents were not in favour of the proposed changes, particularly regarding the introduction of faith-based oversubscription criteria in church schools where such criteria had not previously been applied. The Trust Board considered all responses received during the statutory consultation period including common themes, concerns, and suggestions, and potential effect on local schools and the wider community. The Board assessed the validity and relevance of objections raised and how proposed changes could affect different groups. They considered whether oversubscription criteria were clear, objective, and procedurally fair, and whether the proposed arrangements and the process of consultation undertaken complied with the Admissions Code and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
As admissions authority, taking into account all feedback received, the Christian Distinctiveness of the Church Schools within the Trust and the importance of maintaining fair, clear and compliant admissions arrangements, the Trust Board determined to retain the existing admissions policies (2026-27) for all Trust schools in the 2027–28 admissions cycle, rather than implementing the proposed changes consulted upon. As required, the only updates made to these 2027-28 policies would be technical amendments to maintain compliance with the School Admissions Code 2021. These arrangements would be shared with all appropriate bodies as required by the Admissions Code and published on the school and Trust website by 15th March 2026.
Any objections to determined admission arrangements can be referred to the schools adjudicator by 15th May 2026.
Late OR In-Year Admissions
If you want to make a late application or an application for an in-year admission to one of our schools you will need to make an application through the Local Authority which administers our admissions process. More information is available on the school website. (See links below)
Appeals
Any applicant refused a place at one of our schools has a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel. Please contact the school or the local authority admissions team in the first instance.
Further information about admission appeals can be found on GOV.UK.
Please see below for the admission policies for all of our schools:
Admissions for September 2026
Bolton
Beacon Primary Bolton - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. Paul's CE Primary Bolton - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11.
St. Peter's Smithills Dean CE Bolton - Published Admission Number (PAN) 30 pupils age 4-11
Bury
Greenhill Bury - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
Gorsefield Bury - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 60 pupils age 4-11
St Paul's CE Bury - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
Lancashire
St. John with St. Michael CE Shawforth - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 15 pupils age 4-11
Oldham
St. Anne's CE Lydgate - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. Chad's CE Oldham - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. John's CE Oldham - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
Rochdale
St. Thomas' CE Rochdale - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 21 pupils age 4-11
Middleton Parish Rochdale - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 60 pupils age 4-11
Tameside
Canon Johnson CE Tameside - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. George's Mossley - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. James' CE Tameside - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
Parochial CE Tameside - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11
St. Stephen's CE Tameside - Published Admission Number (PAN) is 30 pupils age 4-11