Applying for a Place at The Cornerstone Academy
Securing a secondary school place is one of the most important milestones for parents and children. The Cornerstone Academy is a non-selective secondary school, meaning it does not select students based on academic ability or an entrance exam. Instead, places are allocated based on a set of objective criteria designed to serve the local community.
As an academy sponsor led, the school acts as its own admissions authority (under the UNITED LEARNING TRUST). However, the application process itself is entirely managed through the local authority's coordinated admissions scheme. This ensures a fair and standardized process for all families living in the area.
The BCP Coordinated Admissions Scheme
If you live within the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) local authority area, you must apply for a Year 7 place through the BCP Council admissions portal, regardless of whether the school is an academy, a maintained school, or a grammar school. If you live outside the BCP area (for example, in the Dorset Council area), you must apply through your "home" local authority, which will then coordinate with BCP.
Key Dates and Timeline
The secondary school admissions cycle follows a strict national timeline. Missing these deadlines can severely impact your chances of securing a place at your preferred school.
- 31 October (Year 6): This is the absolute national deadline for submitting your secondary school application. You can usually list up to four preferences on your form.
- 1 March: National Offer Day. On this day, local authorities send out the results of the applications. You will be informed which school your child has been allocated.
- Spring/Summer Term: If you are not offered a place at The Cornerstone Academy and it was ranked higher on your list than the school you were offered, you have the statutory right to appeal to an independent panel. Appeals are typically heard between May and July.
Understanding Oversubscription and Catchment
Because The Cornerstone Academy is a popular choice in Poole, it may receive more applications than there are places available (the school has a total capacity of 900 pupils across all year groups). When a school is oversubscribed, it uses its specific "oversubscription criteria" to decide who gets a place.
While the exact wording changes slightly from year to year, non-selective schools in the BCP area generally prioritize applications in the following order:
- Looked After Children (LAC) and previously Looked After Children.
- Children with a sibling already attending the school who will still be on roll at the time of admission.
- Children living within the school’s designated catchment area.
- Children of staff working at the school.
- Distance from the school: For the remaining places, priority is given to those who live closest to the school, measured by a straight-line distance from the home address to the school gates.
Since catchment boundaries and the exact tie-break distance change annually based on birth rates and local housing dynamics, living near the school is often the most critical factor after sibling priority.
Official School Policies
This guide provides a general overview of the local admissions framework. However, because the academy trust sets the final policy, you must read the official admissions policy for the exact year of entry. This document will detail the precise Published Admission Number (PAN), the exact catchment map, and any specific supplementary information required.
Please visit the official school website to view the most up-to-date admissions criteria:
http://www.carter.poole.sch.uk/