Admissions Guide

Securing a secondary school place for your child is an important milestone. Magna Academy operates as a non-selective school. This means places are not allocated based on an academic entrance exam or an eleven-plus test. Instead, places are offered based on a set of objective oversubscription criteria when there are more applicants than places available.

The BCP Coordinated Admissions Scheme

Because Magna Academy is located within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) local authority area, applications for Year 7 entry are managed through the BCP Coordinated Admissions Scheme. This centralised process ensures that parents only need to fill out one application form, provided by their home local authority, regardless of which schools they are applying to.

Even though the school is an academy sponsor led governed by ASPIRATIONS ACADEMIES TRUST, the initial allocation of Year 7 places is coordinated by the council to streamline the process for families. If you live outside the BCP area (for example, in Dorset Council), you must apply through your own home local authority, which will then liaise with BCP on your behalf.

Key Timeline for Year 7 Entry

The admissions timeline is dictated by national guidelines. Missing these deadlines can significantly impact your chances of securing a place.

• Application Deadline: 31 October of your child's Year 6 academic year. Applications submitted after this date are considered 'late' and are usually processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated.
• National Offer Day: 1 March (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend). On this day, you will be notified by your local authority of the school place offered to your child.
• Appeals: If you are not offered a place at Magna Academy, you have the legal right to appeal to an independent panel. Appeals typically take place during the spring and summer terms before the September start.

Oversubscription and Allocation

With a total capacity of 1100 and 938 pupils currently on roll, Magna Academy is a popular choice for local families. When the number of applications exceeds the Published Admission Number (PAN) for the incoming Year 7 cohort, the school applies its oversubscription criteria.

While the specific criteria can change slightly from year to year, non-selective schools generally prioritize Looked After Children (LAC), siblings of current pupils, children of staff, and those living closest to the school (measured by straight-line distance or within a designated catchment area).