An application for a place at St Alban’s can be made at any time during the current school year and the child will be admitted where there are available places.  An application should be made to the school directly by completing an in-year application form (ADM1) together with a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and returning both forms to admissions@st-albans.suffolk.sch.uk or The Admissions Officer, St Alban’s Catholic High School, Digby Road, Ipswich, IP4 3NJ. You may use the link above to provide this information via an online form but you should also download the ADM1 and SIF forms for reference as they contain important notes.

Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission policy for 2023/2024 will be applied. Parents are advised to read the admission policy carefully before making their application.

If there are no places available, the child will be added to the waiting list. Please see the admission policy for more details.

You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible.  Applicants must be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days of receipt, but the aim is to notify applicants of the outcome of their application within 10 school days of receipt.

You have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if your application is unsuccessful.

If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions please contact the school via email at admissions@st-albans.suffolk.sch.uk or call us on 01473 726178. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority via email at admissions@suffolk.gov.uk or call on 0345 600 0981.

You have the right to appeal for places at all schools for which you have applied and been refused a place.
If you have been refused a school place for your child at St Alban's Catholic High School you will receive a letter which will offer you the right of appeal. The letter will include information with a link to an appeal application form and the Guide to School Admission Appeals. You must fill in a separate form for each school you wish to appeal for.

The appeal process and its administration are independent of the admission authority, the school and its governing body. The independent appeal panel has no previous knowledge of your child’s case, nor have they had any contact with the school, governing body or admission authority. They will make a decision based only on the evidence presented to them.

If you are appealing for St Alban's Catholic High School, please return the appeal form directly to the Education Appeals Office, PO Box 579, Ipswich, IP1 2BX marked Private and Confidential. We strongly suggest that you get proof of postage. The Education Appeals Office is not responsible for forms that are lost in the post.

If you are planning to appeal it is very important that your appeal application form is received in good time by the Education Appeals Office. The key dates are set out below.

Applications received on time for admission to St Alban's in September 2023

Please refer to: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/index.php/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-places/education-admission-appeals-and-permanent-exclusion-reviews/

In-Year appeals

If your application is refused for an in-year admission or for the first year of entry and it is submitted on or after the first day of the first school term of the admission year, your appeal will be heard within 30 school days of the form being received by The Education Appeals office.

Sixth Form Appeals

The dates for Sixth Form appeals are considerably later. Where the offer of a place would have been conditional upon exam results, appeal applications relating to September 2023 must be received by Friday 22nd September 2023 and heard within 40 schools days

Where the offer of a place would not have been conditional upon exam results, appeal applications must be received by Friday 22nd September 2023 and heard within 40 school days.

Any appeals submitted after this date will be heard within 30 school days.

For applications relating to admission to the sixth form in September 2023 please visit our Sixth Form page here

An independent appeal panel will review the decision to refuse your child a place at this school.

During the appeal hearing we will explain why your request for a place was refused and why it is not possible to offer your child a place at this school. You will be given the opportunity to explain why you think that it is in the best interests of your child to attend this school.

The panel will look at your written case but it is strongly suggested that you go to the appeal hearing to help clarify, explain and expand upon your written reasons for appealing.

The Clerk will let you know the decision of the panel in writing within 5 school days of the hearing. If the panel decide that a place should be made available (i.e your appeal is successful) you should contact the School Office as we will arrange for your child to be admitted as soon as is practicable.

Please read the Guide to School Admission Appeals, https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/Children-families-and-learning/schools/A-guide-to-school-admission-appeals.pdf.

You can also contact The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) on 0808 800 5793 for further help, or call the Education Appeals Office directly on 01473 264088 or 264219.