Shiphay Learning Academy
Admissions
The Orchard Nursery Admissions
The Orchard Nursery is open for 38 weeks of the year in the Nursery rooms and up to 50 weeks of the year using additional childcare facilities in The Hub. This offers parents the ability to use their 15 - 30 funded hours in the Nursery over 38 weeks or stretched for up to 50 weeks per year; this means less hours per week over a greater number of weeks, up to 1140 hours per year. Children can start in the nursery once they turn three, with funding starting the term after their third birthday.
For more information, click HERE
The Admissions Process
Shiphay Learning Academy is a member of the Riviera Education Trust which is the admissions authority responsible for the admissions policies and decisions on applications for admission. We have an admissions policy for each academic year. They are written to comply with the School Admissions Code and School Admissions Appeals Code. We take part in the co-ordinated admissions schemes of Torbay Council.
Come and visit us!
If you are interested in your child attending our school, please come and visit us; you’d be very welcome!
Please make an appointment by calling 01803 613556 or by emailing shiphayadmin@rivieraet.co.uk.
The Office will be able to discuss admission with you.
Applying to come here
Once you decide you would like a place at Shiphay Learning Academy, you must make a formal application. You can do this by applying to the Local Authority and not direct to the school. A fresh application must be made for children who are attending our Nursery.
For the Normal Round intake into school, children are offered places to start in Reception at the beginning of the September term after their fourth birthday. Children who are admitted to a vacancy at any time after this point are called 'In-Year' Admissions.
Parents/carers can apply for school places in Reception for September 2026 from 1st November 2025. All applications for a school place within Torbay are submitted through Torbay Admissions via an online form which can be found at: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/admissions/primary-admissions/
The Local Authority
Torbay Council publishes information about admissions and its own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. This is at https://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/admissions/
Applications can be made online at https://www.torbay.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/admissions/primary-admissions/primary-applications/
The appeals process is detailed at https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place/school-appeals
For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Torbay on 01803 208908 or by email to pupil.services@torbay.gov.uk.
You can also contact the Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk.
TIPS 8 - Primary and secondary school admissions
Information for parents and carers who need to apply for a school place in the main admission round. Please click the link below:
Our Admissions Policies
You can find our admissions policies below - we review the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this would be in the best interests of the school and our community.
Each academic year has its own policy document, with details about how to apply for a place in school from the start of Reception through to Year 6.
Shiphay Admission Policy 2025-26
This is our determined policy. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
You can view the policy below:
Shiphay Admissions Policy 2026-27
This is our determined policy. If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
You can view the policy below:
The Admissions Appeal Timetable 2026
The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.
Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2025
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2025
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 25 July 2025
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 25 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.
Shiphay Admissions Policy 2027-28 FOR CONSULTATION
We will consult on an admissions policy between November 2025 and 16 January 2026. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2026. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2026.
Objections can be made up to 15 May 2026 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator.
You can view the policy below:
The Admissions Appeal Timetable 2027
The deadline for submitting appeals allows appellants at least 20 school days to prepare and submit a written appeal. The appeal must then be heard within 40 school days for the normal round and within 30 days for in-year admissions.
Allocation date for the normal round Reception: 16 April 2027
Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2027
Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 23 July 2027
Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 23 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.
Published Admission Number (PAN)
Reception: 60 places
Year 1: 60 places
Year 2: 60 places
Year 3: 60 places
Year 4: 60 places
Year 5: 60 places
Year 6: 60 places