Applying for a child's first school place

We hope this information is helpful. Please refer to our main Admissions Policy and the County Council's website for further detailed information. 

Admissions Policy

Nottinghamshire County Council Admissions page

Is your child the right age?

Before you apply for your child’s school place, please make sure that your child is the right age for the year group*. For a place in Reception September 2025, your child should turn 5 years old between 1st September 2025 and 31st August 2026. This means your child's date of birth is between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021 inclusive.

NCC further information on admissions outside normal age range

Catchment

The school’s catchment area is centred on the Nuthall estate. However, we have always accepted pupils from outside the area. We are proud of our tradition of welcoming pupils from outside Nuthall. See the information below for a boundary map and list of streets. 

Horsendale catchment information

You can also find catchment areas of other schools using this page: https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-admissions/school-catchment-areas

Ranking

For all applications to our school, we must follow a ranking process. This follows our Admissions Criteria within our Policy. We only rank using the 5 criteria points, we do not rank on ability, faith or staff connection.

We must first rank children into each group (see main policy for more detailed information on the criteria and process):

1. ‘Looked after’ child or ‘previously looked after’ child (either is or has been in the care of the Local Authority.)
2. Child living in catchment, with a sibling on roll at the school at the time of admission
3. Child living in catchment, no sibling in school
4. Child living outside of catchment, with a sibling on roll at the school at the time of admission
5. Child living outside of catchment, no sibling in school

Within each group, applications are then ranked again. This time in order of distance from school. The distance from school is calculated by the Local Authority.

Because places are ranked using a home address, proof of address is required by the school.

Parents are encouraged to read the oversubscription criteria carefully for their preferred schools and use all 4 preferences. 

Procedure

• Deadline for applications to the Local Authority (LA) is 15^th January.
• Ranking process is carried out and submitted to the LA.
• National Offer Day – Thursday 16^th April. Parents are contacted directly by their LA.
• Parents have a window in which to accept or decline the offer.
• Final acceptances are communicated to school by the LA.
• School admin will contact parents using the phone, address and email they provided to the LA when they first applied. The new starter process, paperwork, parent meetings and transition dates are organised directly with parents by the school.

Please read the Local Authority Admissions Guide for Parents, linked below, which will provide information on everything from preferences, how applications are processed, late applications and admission outside of normal age group.

Admissions Guide for Parents 2025-2026

Applying for a school place

If your child needs a school place for September 2025, and you live in the County Council catchment, you should apply for a school place through Nottinghamshire County Council Admissions - even if the schools you want are Nottingham City Schools, outside the County boundary.

If you live within the Nottingham City boundary and you wish to apply for a County school, you would apply through Nottingham City Council Admissions. Apply through your own Local Authority.

If you’re not sure whether you live in the area covered by Nottinghamshire County Council, you can find your local council on GOV.UK.

If you live within the Nottinghamshire County Council boundary please use this link.

If you live within the Nottingham City Council boundary, please use this link.

Admissions contacts

 Nottinghamshire County Council Admissions

Phone : 0300 500 8080

Website : https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-admissions/apply-for-a-school-place