Admissions

Holy Cross is a Catholic School under the trusteeship of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It has maintained status within St Helens Local Authority.  As a Voluntary Aided School, the Governing Body is the Admissions Authority and is responsible for taking decisions on applications for admissions.  The coordination of admissions is undertaken by the Local Authority. 

The Admission Number for the 2024-2025 reception year intake is 30.

To apply parents must complete a local authority preference form.  This can be done online at: https://parentportal.sthelens.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/home 

If you require a paper copy of this application booklet please ask at the school office.

All enquiries about school admissions should be made through the Local Authority School Admissions Section 01744 671035

Applying On-line for a School Place

Applying for primary school for September 2025

Apply through www.sthelens.gov.uk

Applying for a Reception Year Place - click here.

The form will invite parents of St Helens children to express three preferences for schools both in and outside St Helens LA. They will also be asked to rank their preferences and, if they wish, the reason for these. Parents can return completed forms to any primary school in St Helens or directly to the Local Authority. A tear off slip will be attached to the bottom of the application form and be given to the parent as proof of receipt. For those parents who submit an online application an email receipt will be provided. The closing date for applications will be January 2025.

Parents living outside St Helens LA can obtain a copy of the booklet from St Helens People’s Services Dept or St Helens Council’s website. They will, however, be advised to complete their home local authority’s application form.

Applying for a Place in Nursery

Click the link below to access information regarding admissions for Nursery

January, April and September admission

If your child turns three after 31 August 2024 and you wish to apply for admission  the week of their third birthday then please complete the form and send directly to the school office where our EYFS staff will be able to provide you with a starting date for your child to join Nursery. 

Alternatively, for a January, April or September admission, the online application system has now opened. 

Before you apply

• Clarify any issues you are not sure about with staff in the School Admissions team on 01744 671035 or email [email protected].

30 hours' funded childcare

Some working parents are eligible for up to 30 hours of funded childcare/early education per week (for three to four-year-olds). As a result this may have an impact on the number of pupils that maintained schools can offer places to.

The places allocated by the local authority are for the universal 15 hours of funded early education that all three and four-year-olds are entitled to. If you are interested in taking up the 30 hours' funded childcare, you should contact the nursery to find out if they will be offering 30-hour places and whether there is any availability. You should apply for an extended entitlement place through the nursery after you have secured the 30 hours' free childcare eligibility code from the Childcare Choices website.

Applying for a Secondary School Place

Click the link below to see the arrangements for admissions from St. Helens Council

Arrangements for admissions to secondary school 2025

School Admission Appeals for St Helens Council

Click here to be take to the St. Helens council admission appeals page that has information regarding tthe process and timescales.

If your child is not offered a place at your preferred school, you have a right to appeal against that decision to an Independent Appeals Panel. Information on how you can appeal will be sent in the decision letter. Appeal hearings are held during the working day but they are not held during the school holidays. You will receive written notification of the date, time and arrangements for your appeal no later than 10 school days before the hearing. 

Year 7 September 2024 Appeals Timetable

The National Offer Day (when decisions were emailed or posted to parents) was 1 March 2023. The deadline for lodging appeals is 2 April 2023 (appeals will be heard within 40 school days of this deadline). Appeals not received by the deadline may have to be heard in September.  

Reception Year 2023 Appeals Timetable

The National Offer Day (when decisions are emailed or posted to parents) is 16 April 2023. The deadline for lodging appeals is 21 May 2023 (appeals will be heard within 40 school days of this deadline). Appeal hearings will be scheduled throughout June and July. Appeals not received by the deadline may have to be heard in September. 

School Admission Appeals from Liverpool Archdiocese

Click here to be take to the Admission Appeals page that has information regarding the process and timescales

To Submit an Appeal

School appeals should be submitted online via our website wherever possible, by completing the form at: http://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/education/Appealing-For-A-School-Place.  

If this is not possible please send an email to [email protected] to include your name, address, telephone number and the school for which you wish to appeal and we will issue a form to you via email.
 

If neither of the above is possible please call 0151 522 1071 and leave a message.  We will contact you as soon as possible but there may be a delay in doing so.
  

General Enquiries on School Admissions

Please email [email protected] and we will respond as soon as is possible.

General Information
Where a parent is unsuccessful in obtaining a place for their child at a school to which they have applied they have a legal right to appeal that decision.  This appeal is heard by an independent appeal panel. The Education Department at the Archdiocese arranges admission appeals for primary and secondary schools for the following local authority areas:

If you wish to appeal a decision regarding the offer of a school place please contact the Liverpool Archdiocese by completing the online form via this link.

Appeals Timetable

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