2025/6 Admissions Policy Consultation

The Good Shepherd Trust is the Admissions Authority for Walsh Church of England Junior School, Ash St, Ash, Aldershot GU12 6LT.

The Trust is consulting on a proposed change to the 2025/6 admissions policy for Walsh Church of England Junior School. The Trust has a statutory duty to consult on admissions arrangements if we intend to make a change.

The consultation period will run from the 17th July 2024 to 30th August 2024.

Information about the consultation will be provided on the Trust and school websites during the consultation period.

What is the proposed change?

The proposed change to the policy is:

Removal of the following criteria:

6. Children attending St Paul’s CofE Infant School (Tongham)

Comments are not being sought on any other area of the policy.

Rationale and potential impact

St Paul’s Church of England (Controlled) School, Tongham has recently changed from an Infant School to a Primary School (Year Reception to Year 6) and will therefore not need to be an official ‘feeder’ school to Walsh Junior School.

The GST has been advised that this change is required in order for our admissions policy to comply with the School Admission Code.

How can I respond to the consultation?

If you would like to submit a response to the consultation, please email Mr Paul Kennedy on: admissions@goodshepherdtrust.org.uk or write to: Mr Paul Kennedy, The Good Shepherd Trust, Academies Office, Larch Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1JY.

Please ensure that your response is entitled: 2025/6 Admissions Policy Consultation.

You are able to submit a free text response.

However, the Trust Board would find it helpful if you could include your name and the name of the school to which you are submitting a response. Also, if you are able to indicate whether you will be affected by the proposed change and if so, in what way.

Further details on the admissions consultation process can be found in the School Admissions Code: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file /1001050/School_admissions_code_2021.pdf

What happens next?

Please note that you will not receive an individual response to your submission and no changes to the proposed policies will be made during the consultation period. After the consultation has closed, all responses will be collated and presented to Department for Education Regional Director, they will then decide whether to proceed with the proposed change. Once determined the final admission arrangements for all schools will be placed on the websites of the individual schools and sent to the Local Authority and Diocese.

As a Church of England Junior School in The Good Shepherd Trust, Walsh CE Junior school welcomes applications not only from parents who respect this faith, but also from parents of other faiths or of no faith.

The Good Shepherd Trust is the Admission Authority for the school and has agreed a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 64 children at the age of 7+, with the Local Authority.  In addition, it has determined the following admission criteria in consultation with the Diocese of Guildford and the Local Authority, which will be strictly applied in the order below, as soon as the school is over-subscribed.

To find up to date information about the school's admission arrangements and details on how to apply for a Year 3 place, please use this link:

To visit the Good Shepherd Trust Admission policy, please visit the following link

If you wish for your child to join our school outside of the normal admissions round, you should apply to Walsh Junior School directly. 

In-Year Admission Arrangements at Walsh Junior School - we co-ordinate our own in-year admission arrangements. Therefore, if you would like your child to attend our school outside the normal admissions round (i.e. for requesting a place in Year 3 you should apply directly to us. Information on how to apply is provided below.

Please contact the school if you would like any of this information, including the application form, to be provided in a hard copy format.

To apply:

• Please complete the in-year admission form that can be found below and if applicable a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). Please email your form/s to: school@walsh-junior.surrey.sch.uk

• In addition to the form/s, you should also provide evidence of your address. The following documents are permissible: Council Tax Bill, Signed Tenancy Agreement or Solicitor’s letter confirming completion of purchase AND one of the following – Recent Utility Bill, Benefits Statement, or Bank Statement.

• If your child is new to the UK, please provide the date they arrived on pg.1 of the form and attach evidence of this. If your child is a British Citizen, please attach evidence of their passport, any visas, and relevant Home Office documentation. Outcome of the application:

• You will be notified of the outcome of your application within 10 schools days if possible, but 15 at the latest. If you application is unsuccessful, we will provide the reasons for refusal and the process for making an appeal.

• We will notify the Local Authority of every application and outcome as soon as possible but within 2 working days at the latest.

• Please note that your child cannot be placed onto a waiting list without making an application.