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Clandon C of E School

Clandon C of E School A caring community where all can THRIVE

    Consultation on changes to the Admissions Policies for 2026-2027

    Clandon CofE Primary School, The Street, West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7ST

    Shere CofE Infant School, Gomshall Lane, Shere, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9HB

    The Newlands CofE School Federation Governing Body of Clandon CofE Primary School and Shere CofE Infant School is formally consulting on proposed admissions arrangements for Clandon and Shere for 2026 admission.  The changes are proposed in order that the Admissions Policies for both schools in the Newlands Federation should mirror each other and be fairer, clearer and easier to understand for prospective parents.  The order of priority for both schools’ admissions policies is Family, Community, Church.

    Governors propose new over-subscription criterion 3 in the Clandon policy, giving priority to siblings wherever they live, thus mirroring Shere’s current over-subscription criterion 3. 

    They also propose removing Clandon’s differentiation between children living within or outside the parish boundaries of East or West Clandon, so that new over-subscription criterion 4 would extend priority for children living in the immediate local ecclesiastical parish of each school, to children living within the ecclesiastical parishes of either school.  This is to ensure that children living locally to either school can apply to either their local school or to the sister school in the Newlands Federation.

    Governors also propose new over-subscription criterion 5, extending the priority to children with one or both parents regularly worshipping at any of the following churches local to either school: St James’, Shere, St Mark’s, Peaslake, St Thomas of Canterbury, East Clandon or St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon. 

    Governors are proposing a new over-subscription criterion 6 for Clandon and Shere Reception admissions / criterion 7 Clandon Junior admissions, to extend priority for worshippers at other Christian churches.

    The definition of ‘Regular Worshipping’ in the Shere policy is proposed to mirror the current definition in the Clandon policy ie. from ‘the child and/or their parent worshipping at least six times in the twelve months preceding the date of application…’ to ‘one or both parents worshipping at least once a month over a period of twelve months preceding the date of application…”.

    Governors believe that the proposed changes could only enhance the two schools’ admission arrangements and that no child would be disadvantaged from their adoption.

    Summary of Changes to Clandon Year R Over-Subscription Criteria 2026-2027

    All applicants will be admitted to the school until the number exceeds 15, when Governors will apply the following over-subscription criteria which have been determined in consultation with the Diocese of Guildford and Surrey County Council, in the order shown below:

    1.

    Looked after children and previously looked after children.

    Remains as 1st priority

    2.

    Exceptional circumstances.

    Remains as 2nd priority

    3.

    Children with a sibling on roll at Clandon Primary School at the time of admission. 

    Priority for siblings wherever they live

    4.

    Children who live within the ecclesiastical parishes of East and West Clandon or within the ecclesiastical parishes of Shere and Albury. 

    Priority is extended to the ecclesiastical parishes where either Clandon or Shere School is situated.

    5.

    Children with one or both parents regularly worshipping at any of the following churches: St Thomas of Canterbury, East Clandon, St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon, St James’, Shere, or St Mark’s, Peaslake. 

    Priority is extended to include the CofE churches situated in the parishes of Clandon and Shere Schools.

    6.

    Children where one or both parents are regular worshippers at a Christian church.

    Priority is further extended to include other Christian churches.

    7.

    Any other children whose parents wish them to attend this Church of England school. 

    Remains as 7th priority.

    Summary of Changes to Clandon Year 3 Over-Subscription Criteria 2026-2027

    All applicants will be admitted to the school until the number exceeds 2, when Governors will apply the same over-subscription criteria as above, with the exception of the addition of new criterion 4 below.

    4.

    Children with a sibling on roll at Clandon Primary School at the time of admission. 

    Priority for a sibling at Clandon wherever they live

    Summary of Changes to Shere Over-subscription Criteria 2026-2027

    All applicants will be admitted to the school until the number exceeds 30, when Governors will apply the following over-subscription criteria which have been determined in consultation with the Diocese of Guildford and Surrey County Council, in the order shown below:

    1.

    Looked after children and previously looked after children. 

    Remains as 1st priority.

    2.

    Exceptional circumstances.  

    Remains as 2nd priority.

    3.

    Children with a sibling on roll at Shere Infant School at the time of admission. 

    Remains as 3rd priority.

    4.

    Children who live within the ecclesiastical parishes of Shere and Albury or within the ecclesiastical parishes of East and West Clandon. 

    Priority for local children raised and extended to include the ecclesiastical parishes where either Clandon or Shere School is situated.

    5.

    Children with one or both parents regularly worshipping at any of the following churches: St James’, Shere, St Mark’s, Peaslake, St Thomas of Canterbury, East Clandon or St Peter and St Paul, West Clandon.  

    Priority moved from 4 but extended to include the CofE churches situated in the parishes of Clandon and Shere Schools. ‘Regular worshipping’ changed to reflect Clandon’s definition of once a month over a period of 12 months preceding the date of application. 

    6.

    Children with one or both parents regularly worshipping at a Christian church. 

    Moved from 4 but retained to continue priority for other Christian churches.    ‘Regular worshipping’ definition changed as above at criterion 5.

    7.

    Any other children whose parents wish them to attend this Church of England school. 

    Moved due to new priority 6.

    In the event of over-subscription within any of the above criteria, priority will be given to applicants who live closest to the school.

    The proposed arrangements are available to view on the schools’ websites:  www.clandon.surrey.sch.uk / www.shere.surrey.sch.uk

    The consultation period will begin on Tuesday 19th November 2024 and the closing date for submission of any comments will be Tuesday 14th January 2025. 

    All comments should be made in writing to Mrs F McGowan, School Secretary at Clandon CofE Primary School, The Street, West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7ST or by email to info@clandon.surrey.sch.uk.