2025/26 Admission Arrangements for Academies in

The Talentum Learning Trust

Since 2016, The Talentum Learning Trust has sought to build on the rich heritage of local schools, collaborate and build together;

• Excellence in standards
• Strength through collaboration
• A place where everyone flourishes

Talentum’s nine academies have terrific teams of staff who educate over 2,700 students. Our shared values are Aspiration, Compassion and Integrity.

Consultation on 2025/2026 admission arrangements

In accordance with the DfE’s School Admissions Code 2021, The Talentum Learning Trust wishes to hear your views on its proposed admission arrangements for 2025/2026.  The Talentum Learning Trust Schools are:

All Saints CE First School – Cheadle Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 5QY

Beresford Memorial CE First School – Novi Lane, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6NR

Blackshaw Moor CE First School – Buxton Road, Blackshaw Moor, Staffordshire, ST13 8TW

Churnet View Middle School – Churnet View, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6PU

Leek First School – East Street, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6LF

Leek High School – Springfield Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6EU

Rushton CE First School – Sugar Street, Rushton Spencer, Macclesfield, SK11 0SG

Westwood First School – Westwood Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8DL

Westwood College – Westwood Park, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8NP

The attached admission arrangements ensure that the allocation of school places is fair, clear and objective.  Through admission arrangements, publication and consultation, the allocation of school places should be understandable to all.

1. Advice has been sought and we are proposing to remove the following oversubscription criterion:

 a) Children who satisfy both of the following tests: Test 1: the child is distinguished from the great majority of applicants either on their own medical grounds or by other exceptional circumstances.    Medical grounds must be supported by a medical report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application). This report must clearly justify, for health reasons only, why it is better for the child’s health to attend the preferred school rather than any other school.    Exceptional circumstances must relate to the choice of school and the individual child, i.e. the circumstances of the child, not the economic or social circumstances of the parent/carer. It should be supported by a professional report (obtained by the applicant and provided at the point of application), e.g. social worker. This report must clearly justify why it is better for the child to attend the preferred school rather than any other school.    Test 2: the child would suffer hardship if they were unable to attend the preferred school.    Hardship means severe suffering of any kind, not merely difficulty or inconvenience, which is likely to be experienced as a result of the child attending a different school. Applicants must provide detailed information about both the type and severity of any likely hardship at the time of application.  

b) Reference to named major contributory feeder schools

2. We are proposing to change;

• The published admission number for Leek High School to 75, provide limited choice outside of catchment but maintain the number of places which matches applications over several years.
• The published admission number for Westwood College to 210, provide limited choice outside of catchment but maintain the number of places available over several years.
• The area criteria for Westwood First School from catchment to a clear and objective distance measurement.

3. We are also proposing to add the following oversubscription criterion, which individually account for a small number of applications per year:

4. Proposed Supplementary Information Form to be used by our Church of England Schools

Your opinions are important to us, and we are keen to receive your comments on the arrangements to headoffice@ttlt.org.uk prior to the close of this consultation on Monday 4^th December 2023.

Thank you for considering this information as we seek to ensure arrangements are understandable and clear for all.