Admissions

Admission to Reception 2026 Tour Information Poster

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Applying to come here

Once you decide you would like a place at Bickleigh Down, you must make a formal application. This is the same for all new admissions, including children who have a sibling with us, children who have been a pupil here before. You can do this by applying to the Local Authority (Devon County Council).

If your child is due to start in Reception (Foundation Stage), children are offered places to start in Reception at the beginning of the September term after their fourth birthday, even if they intend to defer admission until later in the academic year.

The Local Authority

Devon County Council publishes information about admissions and its own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. This is at www.devon.gov.uk/admissions where you can read about the admission process in the Step by Step and In-Year Admissions booklets.

Applications can be made online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline or by using the forms available at http://devon.cc/applicationforms 

There is an appeals process if an application is refused; this is detailed at www.devon.gov.uk/school-appeals

For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please do not hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk.

Local Authority Admission Procedures:

https://www.devon.gov.uk/admissions

School admissions | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK

The admissions policies for all state-funded mainstream schools in Devon can also be found at http://devon.cc/schoolpolicy

Our Admissions Policies

You can find our admissions arrangements below - we review the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this is in the best interests of the school and our community.

Each academic year has its own policy document, with details about how to apply for a place in school from the start of Reception through to Year Six.

School admissions policy 2025-26

This is our determined policy. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.    

We amended our policy to remove a time limitation on when in-year applications could be made for children of Crown Servants or UK Service personnel.

School admissions policy 2026-27

This is our determined policy.  If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.  

We amended our policy to remove a time limitation on when in-year applications could be made for children of Crown Servants or UK Service personnel.

Proposed Admissions Policy 2027-2028 (see below)

We will consult on an admissions policy between November 2025 and 16 January 2026. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.  

After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2026. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2026.

Objections can be made up to 15 May 2026 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator.

Please see the separate link below for the proposed policy.

The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2026

The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.

Allocation date for Reception or junior school Year Three:  16 April 2026

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2026

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 24 July 2026

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 24 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted

In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.

Allocation date for Year 7 intake or studio school / UTC Year 10: 2 March 2026

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 20 April 2026

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 23 June 2026

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 20 April will be heard by 23 June. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.

In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 March 2026

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 15 June 2026

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 March will be heard by 15 June. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.

The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2027

Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2027

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2027

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 23 July 2027

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 23 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.

In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.

Allocation date for Year 7 intake or studio school / UTC Year 10: 1 March 2027

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 19 April 2027

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 21 June 2027

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 19 April will be heard by 21 June. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.

In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 March 227

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 14 June 2027

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 March will be heard by 14 June. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.