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Admissions

Choosing a school which will provide the best education and personal happiness for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent has to make. We are proud to offer a calm and caring environment which will help your child settle in very quickly.  Our staff are dedicated and committed to ensuring each child is supported individually, ensuring they have the opportunity to flourish as they progress through the school. We value the parent/school partnership greatly and encourage your involvement as parents in your child’s learning.

There is so much to think about when choosing a school, hopefully the information on our website can provide you with a clear picture of what is on offer at Derry Hill Primary School.  We welcome prospective families to our school and would be delighted to show you around.

For In Year admissions please contact Mrs Norton or Mrs Prater in our school office on 01249 812139 or email admin@derryhill.wilts.sch.uk to arrange a visit.

Admission into Reception Class

We operate a one-term entry policy at Derry Hill Primary School. Those children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 September and 31 August start in the previous September. During the previous summer term we invite children to join us for a range of visits before they come to us full time in September. They spend their time getting to know their future teacher, getting accustomed to their new surroundings and meeting their new friends. As a result, we have no tearful faces on the first morning! (Although we do keep tissues handy for parents!). A meeting for new parents is held in the Summer term and the admission procedure is explained in detail to new parents prior to their children starting school. If you are requiring a primary school place in September 2026, visits to our school are warmly welcomed.  Please contact our admin team on 01249 812139 for an appointment. Our team of Early Years professionals ensure that your child will transfer with ease from their pre-school setting to our very welcoming school, through a very effective induction process.

Any child living within the Derry Hill catchment will be allocated a place at the school, providing we are not oversubscribed. We also welcome children from outside our catchment area, and at present a number of children come from the surrounding areas. Any parent or guardian wishing for their child to come to our school should complete an online application.  Where demand for places exceeds the number of places available the over-subscription criteria within our admissions policy will be applied.  Our over-subscription criteria can be found in our admissions policy attached below:

Admissions Timetable 2025 - 2026

Date Action
1st September 2025

Please read our parents guide to applying for a primary school place in Wiltshire on Forms, guides and policy documents before making your application.

  • Some foundation and aided schools with religious admissions criteria will ask you to complete a supplementary application form

  • These forms are available from the schools directly and must be returned to them by the closing date

  • Completing a supplementary form does not mean that you have made an application

You must still make an application to Wiltshire Council
15 January 2026

Deadline

  • All paper and online applications must be received by midnight.
  • If you apply after this time your application will not be considered until all those received before the deadline date have been processed. 
This means that the outcome of your application may not be decided until the end of May 2026
January - April 2026 The School Admissions Team will liaise with schools and other authorities to make sure that, where possible, parents get a single offer for the highest preference school. If we are unable to offer you a place at any of your preferred schools, and you live in Wiltshire, an alternative place will be allocated for your child at the next nearest school to the home address with available places.
16 April 2026

Offer day

  • Letters are posted out to all parents who applied by the 15 January 2026 deadline offering them a place at one school
  • Parents who apply online will be able to log back on to the online system on national offer day to view the outcome of their application, you will require your username and password which was created at the time of application. It is important that you keep these details safe as the school admissions team are not able to send duplicate emails to you confirming these details.

Decisions on applications will not be given out over the telephone
30 April 2026

Deadline

  • For parents to accept the place they have been offered
  • If you have been refused a place at your preferred school you can appeal: Appealing against a decision
  • Waiting lists are set up

Further information will be contained in the decision letter that will be posted out to you on national offer day
22 May 2026

Second round offers 

  • Late applicants (second round applications received between 16 January 2026 and 24 April 2026) will be considered alongside any applicants who were refused in the first round
  • All applications will be considered in line with the schools individual over subscription criterion and any spare place and places that have become available after the 16 April offer day, will be reallocated

For further information about the process for allocation places please view 'Determined Co-ordinated Scheme for Primary Schools' which can be found in the Forms, guides and policy documents
June/July 2026

Third round offers 

  • Late applicants (third round applications received after 24 April 2026) will be considered alongside any applicants who were refused in the first round and second round
  • All applications will be considered in line with the schools individual over subscription criterion and any spare place and places that have become available after the 22 May second round offer day, will be reallocated

For further information about the process for allocation places please view 'Determined Co-ordinated Scheme for Primary Schools' in the Forms, guides and policy documents
June/July 2026

Appeals are heard
31 August 2026

Deadline

Any applications received after this date will be considered as in-year transfer applications
September 2026

Your child starts primary school
Last day of summer term 2027 Waiting lists are closed

 

Wiltshire Council process all in year admissions, if you would like to make an application then please use the link below:

Wilthire Council

Applying for a place at Secondary School

Applying for a place at Secondary School
There are four main secondary schools where children from Derry Hill school go on to attend. Please click on the links to explore our feeder schools.

Sheldon

Sheldon School

Abbeyfield

Abbeyfield School

Hardenhuish

Hardenhuish School

Kingsbury Green Academy