Admissions
Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and we warmly invite you to discover life at Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, Cowley, where every child is valued, nurtured and encouraged to flourish.
Rooted in our Catholic faith, we are proud to foster a welcoming and inclusive community where our RUAH values of Respect, Understanding, Affection and Humour are at the heart of all we do. We believe that every child deserves to feel loved, supported and inspired to achieve their full potential, both academically and personally.
As an academy, our admissions arrangements are managed by the Academy Committee. We welcome applications from families of all faiths and backgrounds. Full details of our admissions arrangements can be found in our Admissions Policy below.
We warmly encourage prospective parents and carers to visit our school, meet our dedicated team and experience our vibrant, caring community first-hand. To arrange a visit and discover what makes Our Lady’s such a special place to learn, grow and belong, please contact the school office.
The School’s Admission Number for our Reception Class for the school year beginning in 2026-2027 is 45.
If the number of applications exceeds the admission number, the school governors will give priority to applications in accordance with the criteria listed in the policy.
Reception Admissions
We are delighted that you are considering Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, Cowley, for your child’s Reception year. We look forward to welcoming new families into our caring, inclusive and faith-filled school community, where every child is valued, encouraged and supported to flourish.
Children are admitted to our Reception class through the Local Authority’s Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme and can start school in the September following their fourth birthday.
To apply for a Reception place, parents and carers must complete their home Local Authority’s Reception Admission Application Form. Families living in Oxfordshire can apply through Oxfordshire County Council’s admissions process. If you live outside Oxfordshire, please apply through your own Local Authority and follow its published application deadlines.
For help and support applying for a school place, please use the following link:
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/schools/apply-school-place
In addition to the Local Authority application, parents and carers are asked to complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which is available within our Admissions Policy and can be downloaded below. This form provides the Academy Committee with the information needed to consider applications in accordance with the school’s published admissions criteria.
If you are applying under a Catholic admissions category, please provide a copy of your child’s Certificate of Catholic Baptism or Reception, where applicable, alongside the Supplementary Information Form. Without the required supporting evidence, your application may be considered under a different admissions category.
All applications are considered in accordance with the school’s published Admissions Policy. Please note that applying early does not give priority over other applicants.
We warmly welcome prospective parents and carers to visit Our Lady’s and experience our wonderful school for themselves. We would be delighted to show you around, introduce you to our team and share how we nurture every child through our Catholic faith, our RUAH values of Respect, Understanding, Affection and Humour, and our commitment to helping every child learn, grow and thrive.
To arrange a visit, please contact the school office. We look forward to meeting you and your family!
