New guidance has been published and is in force from 24 April to 31 Jan 2021
We welcome prospective parents to come and have a look around our school and meet up with the Head of School and the staff. Appointments can be easily arranged by calling the School Office on 01308 423418 or emailing lodersoffice@acornacademy.org The school has an Open Day once a year – usually in October – when we welcome all visitors to see our school in action, meet the staff, governors, members of our PTFA and enjoy a cuppa.
You can view our Admissions policy on this website or contact Dorset Local Authority for more information about the admissions process.
We take pupils from the age of 2 at Little Acorns which means that the transition to formal schooling is seamless. Children come to our Foundation Stage Unit from a variety of settings and prior to their admission our Early Years staff will visit local pre-school groups to introduce themselves. We welcome application for Reception from all settings or none and parents or carers will need to complete their application for a place here, regardless of pupils already attending Little Acorns:
Click here for the Dorset admissions website
We have a programme of induction for pupils new to our Reception class in the summer term before they start school. Children are welcomed for a series of taster sessions, enabling them to familiarise themselves with the classroom and the school, meet their teacher and the teaching assistant and have a chance to play with their new classmates.
Click to download our Early Years brochure
Most of our children transfer to The Sir John Colfox School, but some choose to transfer to Beaminster School, Woodroffe School and Colyton Grammar School. We have close links with The Sir John Colfox School and a full transition programme exists to enable children to make the move with ease and confidence. Parents will need to complete their secondary school application here: Dorset transferring to secondary school or call the admissions team at Dorset County Council on 01305.
If you are planning to move your child during the year then all applications must be made in line with Dorset LA’s admission scheme. Further information and application forms are available from Local Authority admissions team on 01305 or on their website:
Click Here To View Dorset in-year applications
The admission limit for each year group is 12. Where the number of applicants exceeds places available, the allocation of those places is made according to the criteria set out in our Admissions Policy.
Local Authority to publish appeals: 28 February
Must always be heard by a properly trained, competent, experienced and knowledgeable, independent panel
Have an independent Clerk to the Appeal Panel present, who has a clear understanding and knowledge of the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code and can offer Guidance to the panel.
Loders Admission Policy 2019-20.pdf
Loders Admissions Policy 2020-21
The Trust Board of Acorn Multi Academy Trust has agreed to submit a request for a variation to be made to the Admissions arrangements for Loders CE Primary Academy for 2021-22, in respect of the over-subscription criteria relating to church attendance.
The variation requested is that " In the event that during the period specified for attendance at worship the church has been closed for public worship and has not provided alternative premises for that worship, the requirements of these [admissions] arrangements in relation to attendance will only apply to the period when the church or alternative premises have been available for public worship". Please follow this link to the amended 2021 Admissions Policy and Supplementary Information Form (SIF).