Admissions Information

Welcome to the admissions portal for The Yoredale Federation. Our federation comprises two unique school environments working in partnership:

• Bainbridge CE Infant School (Reception to Year 2)
• Askrigg VC Junior School (Year 3 to Year 6)

As Voluntary-Controlled (VC) schools, our admissions arrangements are determined and administered directly by our local authority, North Yorkshire Council. The governing board does not make decisions regarding pupil selection or place allocation.

Published Admission Number (PAN)

The agreed Published Admission Number (PAN) for each of our schools is:

• Bainbridge CE Infant School PAN: 15 pupils per year group.
• Askrigg VC Junior School PAN: 15 pupils per year group.

If the number of applications is equal to or fewer than 15, all applicants will be offered a place.

Key Deadlines & Timelines

All applications for normal entry points must be submitted to the local authority.

Starting Reception (Bainbridge CE Infant School)

• Applications Open: September 2026
• Applications Close: 15 January 2027
• National Offer Day: 16 April 2027

Junior School Transition to Year 3 (Askrigg VC Junior School)

Children attending Bainbridge CE Infant School do not automatically transition to Askrigg Junior School; parents must submit a junior school application.

• Applications Open: September 2026
• Applications Close: 15 January 2027
• National Offer Day: 16 April 2027

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the online portal of the local authority where you pay your council tax.

• North Yorkshire Residents: Complete your application via the North Yorkshire Council School Admissions Portal.
• No Supplementary Forms: Because both schools are Voluntary-Controlled, you do not need to fill out any extra school-specific or religious supplementary information forms (SIFs).

Oversubscription Criteria & Waiting Lists

If either school receives more than 15 applications for a year group, North Yorkshire Council will allocate places strictly following their standard policy.

Priority is given in the following sequence:

1. Looked After Children (LAC) and all previously Looked After Children.
2. Children with exceptional social or medical reasons backed by professional evidence.
3. Children living within the defined catchment area of the school who have a sibling attending the school.
4. Other children living inside the school's catchment area.
5. Children living outside the catchment area who have a sibling attending the school.
6. Children living outside the catchment area closest to the school, measured by a straight line.

Waiting Lists & Appeals

• Waiting Lists: North Yorkshire Council automatically manages the waiting list for our oversubscribed year groups from National Offer Day until 31 December 2027, ranked strictly by the criteria above.
• Appeals: If you are refused a place, statutory admission appeals are heard by an independent panel managed by the council.

In-Year Admissions

If you are moving to the area or wishing to transfer your child to Bainbridge CE Infant School or Askrigg VC Junior School during the school year, you must apply via the North Yorkshire Council In-Year Transfer Scheme.

Please contact our federation administration office directly to check our current numbers and see if we have immediate vacancies in your child's year group.

For school admissions information and access to an electronic application form, please use this link to visit the School Admissions page of the North Yorkshire County Council website.

You can use north Yorkshire Council interactive maps to find out what catchment area you live in.

Several of our pupils travel into school from surrounding villages and our local authority provides a transport service for this. Please click on the link to find out more.