Admissions Guide
Securing a secondary school place can be a stressful time for parents. As a non-selective school, Oak Academy does not select pupils based on academic ability or entrance exams. Instead, the admissions process is managed through the coordinated admissions scheme run by the local authority, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
The BCP Coordinated Admissions Process
If you wish your child to attend Oak Academy for Year 7, you must apply through your home local authority—even if you live outside the BCP area. The standard national timeline applies:
- Application Deadline: Applications for Year 7 entry must typically be submitted by the 31st of October when your child is in Year 6.
- National Offer Day: You will find out which school your child has been allocated on the 1st of March (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend).
- Appeals: If you are not offered a place at your preferred school, you have the statutory right to appeal. The appeals process usually takes place during the spring and summer terms.
Oversubscription and Catchment
With a total capacity of 1200 pupils and an intake spanning ages 11 to 16, the school has a set Published Admission Number (PAN) for each year group. When a school receives more applications than it has places available, it is deemed 'oversubscribed'.
In the event of oversubscription, Oak Academy will apply its specific oversubscription criteria to determine who gets a place. While these criteria are standard across many non-selective schools, they generally prioritise:
- Looked After Children (LAC) and Previously Looked After Children (PLAC).
- Children with a sibling already attending the school.
- Children living within a defined catchment area or closest to the school by straight-line distance.
- Other specific criteria defined by the AUTHENTIC EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED trust.
It is important to note that the information provided here outlines the general framework for BCP schools. We do not publish the exact, down-to-the-metre catchment boundaries or detailed, year-specific oversubscription rules, as these can change annually and depend heavily on local cohort sizes. For the most accurate, up-to-date admission policies, exact catchment maps, and specific PAN details, you must consult the official Oak Academy website or the BCP Council School Admissions portal.