Catmose College is the first choice for many parents and in recent years we are usually oversubscribed; we have more applicants for places than we have available in each year group. To find out more about the College, please view our online prospectus and our Admissions Policy which is used to allocate places.
YEAR 7 ADMISSIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2025
The deadline for parents to apply for a place at the College is 31 October 2024 for admission into Year 7. Applications which are received after that date will be viewed as late and can only be considered after all other places have been allocated on national offer day.
We have received a number of queries regarding where families live in relation to the distance to the College and if it is likely that their child will gain a place. This varies each year; however, you may view this link to analyse Year 7 admissions in September 2024 which also includes second round offers and the waiting list. Please note that this analysis only applies to September 2024 admissions. The distance from which we admit students will vary every year and should not be relied on to determine if your child will be admitted in any given year. In subsequent rounds of offers and for the waiting list, the ranking is determined by the Admissions Policy and will change as new applications are made based on this criteria.
The College does not have a catchment area; we have in the past accepted applications from Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and our home county of Rutland. A significant number of students walk to College but around half will travel by car or public transport. We offer a bus service from Melton Mowbray, Tilton, Hallaton, Cottingham and Uppingham due to the significant proportion of students who travel from there.
HOW TO APPLY VIA YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
Parents of children who are due to start secondary school in September 2025, must submit an application to their ‘home’ local authority. This means that an application must be submitted to the council where you live, even if you want to apply for a place at a school in another local authority area. Further information from a number of local authorities can be found below.
ADMISSIONS POLICY
The policy for admissions for September 2025 was determined by the governing body in December 2023 and was consulted upon in 2022.
The order of priority if we are oversubscribed is:
- Looked after children.
- Sibling link.
- Attends Catmose Primary School.
- A child of staff at the Federation.
- Children who live nearest the College by distance.
If your child is initially declined a place due to the College being oversubscribed, they may be offered a place in subsequent offer rounds. We will write and inform you of your place on the waiting list and next stpes.
APPEAL TIMETABLE 2025
Parents have the right to appeal if a place cannot be offered at the College. You should put your intention to appeal in writing, providing all appropriate supporting evidence and the grounds for the appeal. Please email this to admissions@rutlandfederation.com by Monday 31 March 2025. An independent appeal panel will be convened to hear the appeal. Last year there were no successful appeals for Year 7 admissions.
| Monday 3 March 2025 | National Offer Day – offers made by Local Authorities. |
| Monday 31 March 2025 | 20-school day deadline (from offer day) for parents to lodge appeal.
Paperwork for appeals received after the deadline will be heard within 40 school days of receipt. |
| Monday 19 June 2025 | 40-school day deadline (from deadline to lodge appeal) for appeals to be heard. |
| Week commencing 31 March 2025 | Second round offers made by the Local Authority (21 days after National Offer Day). |
| Before 19 June 2025 | All appeals will he heard within 40 school days of being lodged. |
In-Year Admissions
If you are considering moving your child from another secondary school, we advise you to visit the College and arrange a meeting to discuss the move to help ensure we are the right school for your child. This is not part of the admissions process but it is a good way for you to find out more about our ethos, provision and learning environment. It is our experience that students who move from one secondary school to another often struggle with the transition even if it is carefully managed.
We usually have no places available to accept in-year admissions and have waiting lists for places. This would not, however, prevent you from making a formal application. We maintain a waiting list if we receive an application for a year group for which we are unable to admit an additional student.
If you wish to make an in-year application, please read our Admissions Policy before completing and returning the application form which is at the back of the policy. The Admissions Committee meet to consider all applications received and will respond to applicants within 15 College days.
If your application is unsuccessful, you have a right to appeal this decision. Should you wish to appeal, please write to the principal, detailing your grounds for making an appeal. An independent appeal panel will formally hear your appeal and you will have an opportunity to present your supporting evidence. The deadline for you to lodge your appeal is 20 school days from the date of the letter. Appeals will normally be held within 40 College days of them being lodged.
For further queries, please contact our admissions team via: admissions@rutlandfederation.com
