Admissions/Appeals

Admissions

Welcome to Hillside Primary & Nursery School. We are delighted to be able to share with you our vision and values to help you get a true flavour of our school. We are confident that you will find us a welcoming school – one where your child will flourish and realise their potential, whatever that potential might be. We value getting to know all our children. This means we have a better idea of what motivates them and what success should look like for them.

We are committed to providing our children with the very best opportunities and experiences, and we are proud of the relationships that we have with our children, parents and the community. In partnership, we want to provide an outstanding education for the children at Hillside to ensure they are well equipped to be confident individuals, lifelong learners and good citizens.

At Hillside we believe that all pupils have the ability to achieve wonderful things. Our aim is to ensure that our children are happy and enjoy their time at school. This is achieved by providing an environment where children feel safe to explore the new challenges and learning opportunities they encounter. 

All our staff are passionate about making children happy, developing their confidence and inspiring them to be successful. This passion ensures that Hillside is a vibrant and creative place to be. We aim to help develop creative children who are inspired learners, are considerate citizens, are independent thinkers, have curious and enquiring minds and are caring friends.  

We care about every child in our school. Through our strong commitment to pastoral care we strive to ensure that we provide outstanding support for all of our pupils and families. Hillside prides itself on supporting all children, regardless of their background or additional circumstances. We believe that a child’s potential should not be limited or pre-determined.

Our School also offers:

Hillside's Twilight Club – A fantastic wraparound care club to support those families requiring provision before and/or after school – to find out more click here

We aim for our schools to be the best in the universe! 
 
By the end of their primary education we aim for all of our children to be ready for secondary school and be inspired to be the best they can be through our seven values. The values are fundamental to everything the Trust represents; they run through all elements of school improvement and are understood and owned by all members of the school community. Schools with their own clear USP linked to their values blend together the Trust values with those held so dear within each individual school. 
 
As a Trust Partnership our expectation is that all schools: 

• Demonstrate a restlessness to continually improve, to never stand still, with the ultimate aim of providing the best opportunities and experiences for our children. 
• Strive to ensure every child fulfils their potential regardless of potential barriers to learning. 
• Commit to become an outstanding, self-improving school and to support the profession and development of all schools within the partnership. 
• Commit to a school-led system. 
• Commit to the values, principles, policies and procedures of the Trust. 
• To ultimately strive to be the best school in the Universe. 

 
In our schools you will see we work together to: 

• Ensure schools feel connected to the Trust whilst maintaining their unique qualities, character and relationship with their community. 
• Ensure high quality teaching and learning. 
• Engage with our families and wider communities to raise aspiration for all. 
• Develop the whole child and create inquisitive learners. 
• Enable all children to be confident, building on strengths and improving in areas of need. 
• Enable children to understand the part they play in the world in the future - as a positive citizen and a driver of business and enterprise. 
• Support the development of all staff to be the best they can be and to realise their career potential. 

What you need to know when applying for a place:

• Before you apply for your child’s school place at Hillside , please make sure that your child is the right age – meaning they were born between 1 September and 31 August of  academic year before admission.
• If you apply online or using a paper form, you will be asked to pick four schools in order of preference.
• One of these schools should be your catchment school, although it does not have to be your top choice.
• The closing date for primary school applications in England will be in January. 
• You will then find out whether your child has a place with us in April.
• You can find out more and apply online go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissions or call 0300 500 8080 for help with your application.
• The school’s catchment area is centred on Hucknall. However, we have always accepted pupils from outside the area. We are proud of our tradition of warmly welcoming pupils from outside Hucknall. All children are part of our family once they walk through our gates for the first time. If you live outside Hucknall and have any questions at all about how applying for a place with us might work, then do get in touch with the office.

Applying for a school place
 

Admissions to the school are processed by the Local Authority as part of the Nottinghamshire County Council’s Admissions Office - Phone: 0300 500 8080 or visit: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/contact-and-complaints/contact-us/contact-us  where you will find guidance about application dates and access to online application forms for primary school places. Applications can also be made via post or over the phone.   

The Published Admissions Number (PAN) for the school is 60 pupils

Admissions for 2023/2024

For admissions in September 2023/24:

• The application round opens on 7th November 2022 and closes on 15 January 2023 
• The offer date for the September 2023 intake is 17th April 2023 (National Offer Day)

Admissions arrangements and oversubscription criteria

• Admission arrangements policy 2023/24

• Map/Links to catchment area
• School Admissions Code 2021
• Summer Born Children

Admissions for 2024/2025

For admissions in September 2024/25:

• The application round opens on 7th November 2023 and closes on 15 January 2024 
• The offer date for the September 2024 intake is 17th April 2023 (National Offer Day)

Admissions arrangements and oversubscription criteria

• Admissions arrangements policy 2024/2025
• Map/Links to catchment area
• School Admissions Code 2021
• Summer Born Children

Admissions Consultation 2025-2026

As a school we are required to consult on our Admissions Arrangements every 7 years, even if we do not intent to make any changes. Please view our Admissions Consultation letter and 2025-2026 Admissions policy below:

• Admissions Consultation Letter
• Proposed Admissions Arrangements 2025-2026

Appeals 

If your child has been refused a place and you would like to appeal against the decision, please see below further information on making an appeal.

In-year admissions only 2022/23

• If your appeal relates to an in-year admission you should submit your appeal within 28 days of being told that your application was unsuccessful. 

2023/24 application round

• If your appeal is for a child transferring to a junior school or starting an infant or primary school in September 2023 and you are told of the decision on 17th April 2023 (National Offer Day) you should submit your appeal by 17th May 2023. 
• If you are told of an infant, junior or primary decision after 17th April 2023 or it relates to an in-year admission you should submit your appeal within 28 days of being told that your application was unsuccessful. 

How to appeal

• Your appeal, once submitted will be forwarded to an Independent Clerk and a date will be agreed for the hearing to take place within the mandatory guidelines. Your appeal should be sent to info@flyinghightrust.co.uk using the form below and you will receive acknowledgement that the appeal has been received, update on the situation and contact details for the appeals clerk who will manage your appeal and keep you informed of progress, date and outcomes. Appeals will be held in line with the DfE’s School Admission Appeals Code (October 2022)

Appeals Timetable 2023/24:

National offer day – 17 April. Appeals to be made within 28 days and all appeals will be heard within 40 days during June and July.

Appeal Form – see separate document

School Appeal Code 2022

Please click on the below to see full details of our Admissions and Appeals arrangements: