Making an application for Year 7 2025
last updated 20 February 2025
Thank you for your interest in joining Great Western Academy. The information on this page explains the admissions process for applications to join Year 7 in September 2025.​​
If you would like to speak to someone regarding admissions, please telephone 01793 209700 or email admissions@gwacademy.co.uk
Applying for a place in Year 7 for September 2025
Open Evening
We hope you were able to join us for our open evening in September 2024.
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If you were unable to visit we invite you to watch the videos below. (We suggest you watch them in the order as this would most closely reflect the experience you would have had, but the choice is yours.
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The following documents may also support your decision making
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Unfortunately we do not offer individual tours at this time.
Making your application
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All applications for places in Year 7 must be made via the local authority where you live. If you live in Swindon, the link to make your application can be found below
The deadline for applications is 31 October 2024. Applications can still be made after this date, however they will be treated as late applications and only considered after all ontime applications have been dealt with.
Moving House​
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If you are moving house after you have sumbitted your application, you need to ensure that the Council is notified of your new address. The deadline for submitting evidence of a proof of move is 12 January 2025.
How applications are considered​
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All applications are considered against the schools admissions criteria, these can be found on the Policies page of the website.
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The school priorities applications in the following order​​
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Children with an Educational Health and Care Plan which names the school in the plan
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Looked after or previously looked after children​
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Children of Staff​
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Siblings attending the school at the point of admission
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All other applications
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Within each category, students are ranked according to the straight line distance from the home adress to the school, with those living closest to the school has having priority.
Offer Day​
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The national offer day for secondary school places is 3 March 2025. You will receive notification from your home local authority advising of the outcome of your application and which school you have been offered.
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What next
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If you have been offered a place at Great Western Academy, you are asked to accept the place through the Council. We will also write to you about forthcoming transition activites and you can find more information on our transition page.
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If you have not been offered a place at Great Western Academy, the reason for this will be because the school received more applications than there were places available and when considering the application alongside all others who applied, your application was not ranked sufficiently high in the oversubscription criteria to get a place.
Appeals​
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Where an application has been refused, there is a right of appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing through Swindon Borough Council. The link to the appeal form is below
Appeals will be heard in accordance with the Department for Education (DfE) Admissions Appeal Code which can be downloaded from the DfE website.
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The appeal should lodged 30 March 2025. The appeal must be in writing through Swindon Borough Council as indicated above.
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The Council will arrange with Great Western Academy when the appeals are to be heard.
Parents/Carers will be give at least 10 school days’ notes of the appeal date.
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Appeal for ontime applications are expected to be held between 4th - 6th June 2025
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Late applications
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If an application has been refused for the normal round of admissions after the national date, then a parent or carer wishing to appeal should do so within 20 school days from the date of the letter.
The appeal will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.
Waiting list​
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Where an application has been refused, the child's name will be automatically be added to the waiting list for the relevant year group.
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The waiting list for Year 7 will be held until the end of the Year 7 academic year (in this case Summer 2026).
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The waiting list is held according the oversubscription criteria listed above and a child's position on the list will move up or down in relation to whether places are offered or how they rank within the oversubscription criteria.
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Enquiries about a child's position on the list can be made by completing this form.