St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery

St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery is a voluntary aided Catholic primary co-educational day school with a Nursery attached. The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic Church. The school is conducted as a Catholic school in accordance with the canon law and teachings of the Catholic Church and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.

The Governors aim to offer a Catholic education. The ethos of this school is one of respect and care for all. The Governors ask all parents applying for a place here to respect this ethos and its importance to the school community. This does not affect the right of parents who are not Catholics to apply for and be considered for a place here. The school fully respects the beliefs of parents and children from all denominations and faith backgrounds. Children are taught respect and tolerance for others and there is provision in the religious education programme for the study of different faiths.

If you would like to apply for a place at St Mary Magdalen's, please complete the Supplementary Information Form for this school year and return it to the school office. In addition to this you will also need to apply via Brighton and Hove City Council. You can do this online at www.brighton- hove.gov.uk/schooladmissions or by calling the School Admissions Team on 01273 293653.

The Admissions Criteria for the academic year 2025/2026 were formally determined by St Mary Magdalen's Governing Body. Please see below for the Admission Criteria and Supplementary Information Form.

• Admissions Policy 2025/2026
• Supplementary Information Form 2025/2026
• In Year Admissions

The Admissions Criteria for the academic year 2026/2027 were formally determined by St Mary Magdalen's Governing Body. Please see below for the Admission Criteria and Supplementary Information Form.

• Admissions Policy 2026/2027
• Supplementary Information Form 2026/2027
• In Year Admissions

CONSULTATION ON ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR ST MARY MAGDALEN'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY FOR 2027-28 ACADEMIC YEAR

Notice is hereby given in accordance with legislation that the governing body as the admission authority for St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery is formally consulting on its proposed admission arrangements for the school year 2027-28.

As an admission authority, the school is required to consult the following:
a) Parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen;
b) Other persons in the ‘relevant area’ (set by the Local Authority) who in the opinion of the school have an interest in the proposed admissions (e.g. local priests, other deanery Catholic schools, etc);
c) All other admission authorities within the ‘relevant area’;
d) The Local Authority (LA);
e) The Education Service of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton;

In summary the proposed changes being made to admission arrangements are to accommodate new policies that align with the national Catholic Education Service models and wording, including:

• Making criteria clearer and reducing unnecessary criteria
• Ensuring notes are more succinct
• Adding children of staff
• Removing reference to parishes

The six-week (minimum) consultation will begin on 04/12/2025 with the closing date for submitting comments being 15/01/2026.
If you require a printed copy of the admissions arrangements and a response form, please contact the school office at office@stmarymags.brighton-hove.sch.uk.

Comments on the proposed admission arrangements should be sent to St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery by the closing date (latest midnight on 15/01/2026).

Note: The ‘relevant area’ is the area for a school (determined by its LA and then reviewed every two years) within which the admission authority for that school must consult all other prescribed schools on its admission arrangements.

• Admissions Policy 2027/2028
• Supplementary Information Form 2027/2028