Admissions
Prospectus
Click here to download a copy of our school prospectus.
Admissions Policy
St Thomas the Apostle College is a Voluntary Aided Secondary School in the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its trust deed and instrument of government.
Catholic families will be admitted above all others but, the College does have a considerable number of practising Christians, those of other faiths and those of no faith on its roll.
We pride ourselves on the inclusive nature of our school and celebrate diversity. We welcome boys of all faiths and religions and strive to provide a first-rate education to all, irrespective of race, creed, colour, culture or special need. All applicants must declare their positive support for the College aims and ethos. This does not affect the right of parents who are not of the faith of this school to apply for and be considered for a place here.
The governing body has responsibility for admissions to the College and intends to admit 152 (PAN) pupils in Year 7.
If there are more applications than places available, we will always give priority to applicants in accordance with the published over-subscription criteria.
Our admissions policy for 2025-2026 can be found here.
Our admissions policy for 2024-2025 can be found here.
Application Procedures and Timetable
A Common Application Form (CAF) from the parents’ home LA must be completed and returned to that LA by Thursday 31st October 2024. All Southwark residents must apply online at www.southwark.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Parents applying for a school place based upon our faith criteria MUST ensure they are able to provide Baptismal certificates and a Certificate of Catholic Practice COP please refer to the published policy for further guidance.
Parents will be advised of the outcome of their applications by their home LA on the set date in March 2025 once published.
Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of their right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Over-subscription Criteria
At any time where there are more applications for places than the number of places available, places will be offered according to the following order of priority:
1. Looked after Catholic children or looked after children in the care of Catholic families and previously looked after Catholic children who ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangement/residence or special guardianship order).
2. Baptised Catholic children in possession of a Certificate of Catholic Practice and a baptismal certificate or evidence of reception into the Catholic church.
3. Applicants who are baptised members of the Catholic Church.
4. Other looked after children and other previously looked after children.
5. Applicants who have a sibling currently attending the school.
6. Applicants from other denominations of the Christian faith.
7. Any other applicants.
If the offer of places to all the applicants in any of the categories listed above leads to over-subscription, we will consider the frequency of church attendance by the applicant, together with one or both parents, the number of years the family has been attending church regularly and the age of the applicant at baptism and First Holy Communion.
Tie-Breaks
If the offer of places to all the applicants in any of the categories listed above would still lead to over-subscription, we will offer places up to the admission number to those living nearest the College. The distance will be measured in a straight line from the main School entrance. Where the last remaining place is to be allocated and two or more children are deemed to live at the same distance from the school the place will be decided by the drawing of lots. Evidence of residence may be required.
In the event of parents who share parental responsibility, evidence of the child’s permanent addresses will be required.
Waiting Lists
Parents of children who have not been offered a place at the school may ask for their child’s name to be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list, which will be maintained for a minimum of one term, will be operated using the same admissions criteria listed above. Placing a child’s name on the waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become available. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place. It is possible that when a child is directed under the local authority’s fair access protocol they will take precedence over those children already on the list.
In-Year Applications
An in year application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. Application should be made to the school by contacting the Admissions Officer at the school. Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out above, will be applied. If there are no places available, the child will be added to the waiting list (see above). You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing within 10 school days and you have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.
Admissions for children outside of normal age group
The college does accept applications under these circumstances with each application being considered upon its individual merits, for further details of this please see the relevant section of our school policy.