Admissions
The Academy has an agreed Admission Policy which complies with the law on admissions. Admissions to Old Trafford Community Academy are managed by Trafford Local Authority. Details of the application process can be found at www.trafford.gov.uk – follow the links to school admissions.
Over-subscription criteria
Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, the following over-subscription criteria will apply:
1. A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence, or special guardianship order. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989).
2. Children who have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society.
3.Children who live in the catchment area of the academy who will have a sibling attending the academy at the time of the applicant’s proposed admission. (This includes half/step/adopted/foster brothers or sisters, and any other children who are living at the same address as part of the same family unit).
4.Children who live in the catchment area of the academy.
5.Children who live outside the catchment area of the academy, with a sibling attending the academy at the time of the applicant’s proposed admission. (This includes half/step/adopted/foster brothers or sisters, and any other children who are living at the same address as part of the same family unit).
6.Children who live nearest to the academy, calculated in a direct straight line from the child’s permanent place of residence to the school, using property co-ordinates provided through a combination of the Trafford Local Land and Property Gazatteer (BS7666) and Royal Mail Postal Address Information. In the case of a child living in a block of flats, the distance will be measured in the same way.
Admissions appeals, September 2024
Click the link below for the timetable for appeals against admissions decisions relating to September 2024. Please contact school direct if you wish to appeal.
OTCA Admissions Appeals Timetable September 2024
Admission to the reception class in September 2024
Children born between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020 will start reception in September 2024. Applications must be made to the local authority in which the child is usually resident. Applications can be submitted from 12/9/23. The closing date for applications for 2024 is 15th January 2024. Applications received after the closing deadline of 15/1/24 will only be considered after all other applications received on time have been processed.
Decisions regarding the allocation of places for September 2024 will be published online and/or posted to parents on 16th April 2024. The closing date for acceptance of offers is 30/4/24.
Further information from Trafford Council’s school admissions team can be found here.
If your child is resident in another Local Authority you can still apply for Trafford schools, but you must apply to your own home Local Authority, that is the authority where you pay Council Tax.
Further information from Manchester Council’s school admissions team can be found here.
In-Year admissions
Applications may be made direct to the academy, or to Trafford local authority. Applications can be made at any time. Admissions will be determined using the over-subscription criteria listed above.
Nursery admissions
Applications must be made direct to the academy. Please contact us for an application form. Please note that allocation of a nursery place does not give a child any additional priority when applying for a place in the reception class of the academy.