Admissions

To apply for a place at Briar Hill Primary School for 2027/28 you must apply through West Northamptonshire County Council and not through the school direct.

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We know it is not an easy decision, and below we have some support to follow about who can apply to our school. Deciding which school, you would prefer is one of the most important decisions parents and children have to make.

It is important to have all of the information available to enable you, with your child, to take a considered view of the school you would prefer them to attend.

Please click on our admissions policy below, to find out more about applying to our school.

Places are allocated through the Local Authority.

However, the administration team at Briar Hill Primary School are always happy to advise and help, so please do not hesitate to contact the school.

After your application has been submitted to Northamptonshire County Council their Admissions Team will co-ordinate the application process and advise parents, by letter, of the outcome of their application. They will require a confirmed address and moving date before we can process the application.

Our New Prospectus is coming soon...

Applying for a place to start in our Reception Class in September

A child will start school in the Reception class in the September following their fourth birthday.

When a school receives more applications than it has places available (this is usually called its published admissions number), the school’s oversubscription admission criteria are used to decide which applicants are offered places.

In each case the criteria are applied in the order of priority stated. In many cases when the published admission number is reached within one of the criteria groups, the admissions team at Northamptonshire County Council use a ‘tie-breaker’ based on distance. Places will be allocated to pupils who have Statement of Special Educational Needs that names the school as appropriate provision.

New application deadlines for September 2027 admissions:

Primary – midnight on 15th January 2027
Secondary – midnight on 31th October 2026

National Offer Day (Primary) – 16th April 2027
National Offer Day (Secondary) – 1st March 2027

When there are more applicants for places than there are places available, priority will be given in the following order:

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Children in public care.
Children with specific medical and social needs, supported by written evidence from an appropriate professional person.
Pupils with an older brother or sister continuing at the school at the same time of admission of the younger child.
Pupils who live closer to the preferred school than any other school.
Other pupils.

Joining Briar Hill Primary School

If you are interested in your child joining Briar Hill Primary School then you are very welcome to make an appointment to meet the Head Teacher, look around the school and discuss your child’s needs.

If you would like to apply for a place for your child at Briar Hill Primary School, please follow the link below:

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/admissions

Selection and Oversubscription Criteria

Places will be allocated to pupils who have a statement of SEN that names the school as appropriate provision.

When there are more applications for places than there are places available, priority will be given in the following order:

i. Children in public care or previously in public care but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order – see page 186 for full definition.

ii. Pupils with an older brother or sister continuing at the school at the time of admission of the younger child.

iii. Pupils who live closer to the preferred school than any other school.

iv. Other pupils.

If the admission number is exceeded within criterion (iii) priority will be given to those who live furthest from the nearest alternative school. If the admission number is exceeded within any other criterion priority will be given to those who live closest to the school.

Appeals

If you have been refused a place at one or more of your preferred schools, you are entitled to appeal against that decision.

You are required to fill out an appeals form, details of which can be found on the Northamptonshire County Council website. Please click here to be transferred to the School Appeals page.

Transition

At Briar Hill Primary School, we want to ensure that every pupil who leaves us in Year 6 are ready and prepared for what Secondary School has to offer.

Year 6 to Secondary School: Transition Guide

Welcome to the next chapter

Moving from primary school to secondary school is an exciting milestone. It is also a big change, and it is completely normal for children and families to have questions or feel a mixture of excitement and nerves.

At Briar Hill Primary School and Nursery, we work closely with children and families to help make the move to secondary school as positive, smooth and successful as possible.

This guide provides practical advice to help your child prepare for their new school and feel confident about the transition.

What will be different?

Secondary school is likely to feel different from primary school in several ways. Your child may:

Have different teachers for different subjects.
Move between classrooms and buildings throughout the day.
Have a larger school site and more pupils.
Have a different timetable each day.
Be expected to take greater responsibility for equipment, homework and organisation.
Meet lots of new people and make new friendships.
Have opportunities to study subjects they have not experienced before.
Become increasingly independent.

Although this can seem daunting initially, most children quickly become familiar with their new routines.

Helping your child prepare

There are lots of simple things you can do at home to help your child develop the independence they will need.

Encourage independence

Before September, encourage your child to:

Organise their own school bag.
Check that they have everything they need for the next day.
Look after their own belongings.
Remember important information and instructions.
Manage their own uniform and PE kit.
Use a watch or school timetable to understand when they need to be somewhere.
Ask for help when they are unsure about something.

The aim is not for your child to get everything right immediately. It is about helping them develop confidence in managing things for themselves.

Practise the journey

If your child will travel to secondary school independently, practise the journey together before September.

Talk about:

Where they need to go.
How long the journey takes.
What time they need to leave home.
What to do if they miss a bus or train.
What they should do if they become lost or delayed.
Who they can contact if there is a problem.

If they are walking or cycling, discuss road safety and safe routes.

Preparing for the school day

A good morning routine can make a huge difference.

Encourage your child to:

Get enough sleep.
Have breakfast before school.
Prepare their uniform and bag the night before.
Check their timetable and equipment.
Arrive at school on time.
Bring the correct books and equipment.
Drink plenty of water during the day.

These small habits will help your child feel organised and ready to learn.

Uniform and equipment

Make sure you check your child's new school's requirements carefully. Every secondary school has its own uniform and equipment expectations.

It can be helpful to label:

Blazers and coats
Jumpers
PE kit
Shoes
Bags
Water bottles
Stationery and other equipment

Children can easily lose items when they are moving around a large secondary school, so clearly labelled belongings are much easier to identify and return.

Homework and organisation

Homework may become more frequent and your child will need to keep track of different subjects and deadlines.

Help them develop good habits rather than completing work for them.

You can encourage them to:

Check what homework they have been given.
Record deadlines carefully.
Break larger tasks into smaller sections.
Complete work before the deadline.
Pack completed work ready for school.
Ask their teacher for help if they do not understand the task.

A quiet, suitable place to work at home can also help.

Friendships and relationships

Friendships can change during the transition to secondary school. Some children will move with lots of friends, while others may know very few people.

Reassure your child that it takes time to settle in.

Talk to them about:

Being friendly and welcoming to others.
Joining clubs and activities.
Being themselves rather than trying to impress others.
Treating people with respect.
Walking away from arguments or disagreements.
Speaking to an adult if they are worried about something.

Remind them that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

Bullying and online safety

Your child's secondary school will have systems for dealing with bullying and concerns about behaviour.

Make sure your child knows who they can talk to if something is worrying them.

At home, continue to talk openly about online safety. Children may become more independent online as they move to secondary school, so it is important to discuss:

Group chats and social media.
Sharing photographs and personal information.
Online friendships.
Appropriate language and behaviour.
What to do if someone sends something upsetting.
Blocking and reporting inappropriate content.
Keeping passwords private.

Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult if something online makes them uncomfortable.

Emotional wellbeing

It is normal for children to experience a range of emotions during transition.

Your child might feel:

Excited – about new subjects, friends and opportunities.

Nervous – about getting lost, meeting new people or making mistakes.

Worried – about homework, behaviour, friendship groups or fitting in.

Proud – about becoming more independent.

Try to give your child opportunities to talk without immediately trying to solve every problem.

Questions such as:

What are you looking forward to?
Is there anything you're worried about?
What do you think will be different?
What would help you feel more confident?

can help start useful conversations.

Academic transition

Your child's teachers will share relevant information with their secondary school to support a successful transition.

At Briar Hill, we want every child to leave Year 6 with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their education.

We encourage children to:

Read regularly.
Practise their times tables and key number facts.
Continue developing their spelling and vocabulary.
Take pride in the presentation of their work.
Ask questions when they do not understand.
Think independently.
Learn from mistakes.
Take responsibility for their learning.

The most important thing is that children understand that learning does not stop at the end of Year 6 – it is the beginning of their next stage.

The first few weeks

The first few weeks may feel tiring. Your child is learning new routines, navigating a new environment and meeting lots of people.

Don't worry if they come home exhausted!

Try to:

Give them time to talk about their day.
Keep routines consistent.
Encourage an appropriate bedtime.
Check that they have everything they need.
Celebrate small successes.
Contact the secondary school if you have a genuine concern.

Remember that settling in takes time.

Questions to ask your child

Rather than simply asking "How was school?", try questions such as:

What was the best thing about today?
What was the funniest thing that happened?
Who did you spend time with?
Did you learn anything interesting?
Did you get lost at all?
Was there anything you found difficult?
Is there anything you need help with?
What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

These questions can encourage a much more detailed conversation.

A simple transition checklist

Before September

Remember...

Your child does not need to know everything before they start secondary school.

They will learn new routines, meet new people and become increasingly independent as they settle in.

Our role at Briar Hill is to make sure that every child leaves us ready for their next adventure – academically, socially and emotionally.

We are proud of our Year 6 children and everything they have achieved.

Believe in yourself. Be brave. Ask for help. Have a go.

Your secondary school journey is just beginning!

Is your child worried about Secondary School? Here are a couple of children who have gone through the experience and have kindly shared this with their old school.

You will be amazing, remember that everyone is in the same position as you, so just be yourself and remember to ask for help if you need anything.

My advice is to join in with the extra-curricular clubs. It doesn't have to be sport, their is drama, chess and even a games club at my school.

Briar Hill Primary School

DRET