Welcome to St Joseph’s RC High School.
As a voluntary aided school, the governors of St Joseph’s have responsibility for decisions regarding admissions of pupils to our school. St Joseph’s RC High School and Sports College is an 11-16 co-education Roman Catholic Secondary School under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Salford. It is maintained by the Bolton Local Authority (LA). As a Voluntary Aided School the Governing Body is the Admissions Authority and is responsible for taking decisions on applications for admissions. The co-ordination of admissions arrangements is undertaken by the Local Authority.
The Governing Body recognises that the first responsibility of the school is to serve the Roman Catholic community for which it has been established. This is focused on designated parish communities and the Roman Catholic primary schools that are partners in providing education for those communities. As a consequence St Joseph’s ethos is distinctly Roman Catholic and we ask all parents applying for a place and students attending here to respect this ethos and its importance to the St Joseph’s community. (This doesn’t mean that you have to be a Baptised Catholic to apply to St Joseph’s and our admission criteria means that we are able to accept and welcome those of all faiths and those who have no formal faith – the key thing is that you are sensitive and share our ethos and values.)
Admissions Policy for September 24-25
Admissions Policy 2025 SJs
In accordance with the DfE’S statutory ‘School Admissions Code’ guidance, admission authorities must consult on admission arrangements at least once every seven years, even if no changes are proposed. The period of consultation took place from 8th November 22 and closed on 17th January 2023.
You can apply for a secondary school place online anytime from 1 September 2024 to 31 October 2024 11:59pm.
Please register or log in to the Citizen Portal to make your application – see user guide.
You can make changes to your application until 31 October 2024 by logging to the Citizen Portal and making your amendments. You must then resubmit your application. Please make sure you receive a confirmation email of these changes.
If you need to apply for a secondary school place after 31 October 2024, you should contact the local authority for an application form by emailing admissions@bolton.gov.uk . Your application will be classed as late and will only be considered after all those received on time. You may not receive an offer of a school place until after 1 March 2025.
School offers will be sent on 1 March each year. If you have applied online, you will receive an email on that day. You can also view your school offer and accept the place by logging into the Citizen Portal. If you applied using a paper form, you will receive a letter in the post with your school offer.
In-Year Applications
An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places. An application should be made to the school by completing the in-year admissions application form and returning it to
Pupil and Student services, Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU
or via the
One Stop Shop, Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU
Email: admissions@bolton.gov.uk
Number of preferences expressed for the school September 2023 – 577
How places were allocated for admission in September 2023
Criteria Number of Children
Children with EHCP | 9 |
LAC | 6 |
Category 2 | 108 |
Category 3 | 4 |
Category 4 | 8 |
Category 5 | 88 |
Category 6 | 1 |
Category 7 | 6 |
Category 8 | 38 |
Category 9 | 22 |
Category 10 | 286 |
Places available | 0 |
Number of places offered March 2023 – 210
The school was oversubscribed for admission in September 2023.
Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements will be applied.
Parents are advised to read the admission arrangements carefully before making their application.
If there are no places available, the child will be added to the waiting list. Please see the admission arrangements for more details.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 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 Mr Malji in school.
Our Open evening is scheduled for Tuesday 17th September 2024. If you are new to our school though please make sure that you contact us so that we can give you a personal welcome on our dedicated email address: Transition@st-josephs.bolton.sch.uk
Please see our ‘Transition Page’ for more information about our transition process for links to our dedicated Y6 YouTube Channel Playlist
In the event of your child not being allocated a place a St Joseph’s you will receive a letter outlining the process to lodge an appeal. The deadline for this is 21st March. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/admission-appeals-for-school-places/advice-for-parents-and-guardians-on-school-admission-appeals
