Raynsford Academy Church of England Acdemy

Admissions

Reception 2026 Applications

Applications for Reception class places for a September start close on Thursday 15 January.

The local authority has advised that there are still a significant number of children for whom an application has not yet been submitted. We kindly ask that parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 ensure an application is made by this deadline so that it can be processed on time.

Applications must be completed online via the Central Bedfordshire Council school admissions system

Parents who apply on time will receive confirmation of their child’s school place on 16 April (National Offer Day). Applications received after the closing date will be treated as late applications, and confirmation of a school place will be delayed.

While the local authority supports and encourages school enrolment, it also recognises parents’ right to electively home educate their child. Once a child reaches statutory school age (5 years), parents choosing to home educate must inform the Home Education Team directly at ehe@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

If you are aware of a family who has decided to home educate rather than apply for a school place, the local authority asks that this is communicated to, Samantha Hayden, the Schools Admissions Officer, Samantha.Hayden@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, so the child can be removed from the reminder system.

Thank you for your support in ensuring all children are accounted for and able to access appropriate education provision.

Admissions Consultation for 2027–2028

Raynsford Church of England Academy is undertaking a formal consultation on our proposed Admissions Policy for the academic year 2027–2028.

In accordance with the School Admissions Code (2021), schools must consult on their admissions arrangements at least every seven years. As we have reached this point in the cycle, we are now seeking the views of parents, carers, staff, local schools, the Diocese, and the wider community.

Consultation Period

The consultation will run for six weeks from:
5th December 2025 to 16th January 2026

How to Respond

We welcome comments or feedback on the proposed policy.
Please send any responses to:
📧 office@raynsfordacademy.co.uk or by post to:
Raynsford Church of England Academy, Park Lane, Henlow, SG16 6AT

Consultation Documents

Please click below to view the proposed Admissions Policy for 2027–2028:

🔗 School Admissions Policy 2027–2028 (Draft for Consultation)

Applying for a Reception Place (September 2026)

All admissions to Raynsford Church of England Academy — including Reception, in-year transfers and secondary school applications — are managed by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC).

If Central Bedfordshire is your home local authority, please apply via the link below.
If it is not, you will need to apply through your own local authority (you can find out who your council is on GOV.UK).

Apply Online:
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/admissions

Key Dates for September 2026 Reception Admissions

On-time applications closed on 15 January 2026.
Offer Day for on-time applications was 16 April 2026.
Late applications received between 16 January and 30 April 2026 will be processed in the late allocation round.
Offer Day for late applications is 1 June 2026.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact CBC Admissions directly.

SEND Admissions

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), applications should be made through the Central Bedfordshire SEND Team as part of the annual review process rather than through the standard admissions route.

Published Admission Number (PAN)

Raynsford Church of England Academy is able to admit 30 children into Reception each year, in line with our Published Admission Number (PAN).

Reception School Tours

If your child is due to start Reception in September 2026, we warmly invite you to join one of our school tours to see what Raynsford can offer your family.

Due to high levels of interest, additional tour slots have been added.
To book a place, please contact the school office: office@raynsfordacademy.co.uk

Upcoming Tour Dates

Wednesday 15th October, 9:30–10:30am
Wednesday 22nd October, 1:15–2:00pm
Wednesday 22nd October, 2:00–2:45pm
Wednesday 5th November, 9:45am
Tuesday 18th November, 1:15–2:00pm

If you would like to get in touch with any questions in the meantime, please contact the school office.

Secondary School Applications (2025 Transfer)

Parents can now make an online application for Secondary Transfer 2025 via the CBC website:

www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/admissions

In-Year Admissions

If your child is already attending school full time and you would like them to transfer to Raynsford Academy, please contact Central Bedfordshire Admissions on 0300 300 8037 or visit their website.

We also warmly welcome prospective families to visit the school. To arrange a tour, please contact the school office.

Admissions Policy

For further information about the admissions process, please refer to our policy:

School Admissions Policy 2026-2027