Thank you for your interest in our very special school!

We hope to help you a little more by describing our admissions process which we understand, can be a daunting process to navigate - we are here to support you!

Our school's Published Admission Number (PAN) of 98 is decided by our Governing Body and is in line with our DFE Net Capacity Assessment - a process which follows a structured framework mandated by the Department of Education Admissions Code. 

All children and young people attending Montacute School must have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), without which a place cannot be offered. 

Placement Priority Criteria

When the Academy receives more consultation requests than there are available places, priority will be given to pupils who meet the criteria below, listed in order of priority:

• Looked After Children (LAC) and Previously Looked After Children (PLAC): Pupils who are currently in the care of a local authority, or who were previously in care but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order.

• Suitability of Provision (Critical Match): Pupils whose EHC plan demonstrates that their specific, complex needs match the exact specialist expertise, therapeutic interventions, and physical environment of the Academy, and where no other appropriate provision can be reasonably identified.

• Compatibility with Existing Cohort: Pupils whose placement will not compromise the efficient education, safety, or well-being of the existing pupils already enrolled in the specific class or year group.

• Siblings: Pupils who have a sibling (including foster, step, or half-siblings residing at the same address) currently attending the Academy at the time of intended admission.

• Distance / Proximity: Pupils who live closest to the Academy, measured in a straight line from the school’s main entrance to the child’s primary home address. This is used to minimize exceptionally long travel times, which can negatively impact a pupil’s readiness to learn.

Parents who wish to either explore a place at the school or select to secure a place with us can make arrangements to visit us by contacting the Montacute Team on 01202 693239 or Office@montacute.poole.sch.uk and by alerting the local authority via your named allocated caseworker. Alternatively, please visit your home local authority webpage:

BCP -  School admissions | BCP 

or Dorset -  Synergy - Enquiry 

We look forward to meeting you!

Regards,

The Montacute Team