Admissions

Damers First School is an Academy that is part of the Wessex Multi Academy Trust. For the purposes of admission arrangements, Dorset Council acts as the admission authority responsible for admission decisions in connection with the school.

Applying for a Reception Place to Start in 2024

There are two ways to apply, either on paper (click here to download the form) or online here.

The closing date for applications is 15 January 2024.  Any application or change made after this date will be classed as late and will not be considered until after the on-time round.

You will know the outcome:

  • on 16 April 2024 if you applied on time (by 15 January 2024)
  • on 13 May 2024 if you apply late (between 16 January and 15 April 2024)
  • from June onwards if you apply after 15 April 2024

If you applied online by 15 January 2024 you can log into your online account to view the result of your application.  You will also receive an email later in the day with your offer letter.

For more information about how to apply, see the Dorset Council’s Parents’ Guide.

Admissions Policies

You can find our Admissions Policies for 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 on our School Policies page.

In-Year Admissions

If you wish to apply for a place during the school year (in-year admission) you can apply either on paper (click here to download the form) or online here.  Should you wish to visit the school, please contact the school office on 01305 264924 to arrange an informal tour.

For information regarding the In-Year application process for those starting school in 2022, please click here, or for 2023, click here.

Appeals

The Local Authority will act on behalf of the school for all appeals regarding admissions.

For more information, including an online appeals form and an appeals timetables of dates, please see Dorset School Admission Appeals page.

Further Information

Further information about applying to a school in Dorset can be found on Dorset Council’s ‘Apply for a school place’ page.

School Admission Consultation

Wessex MAT have entered into the statutory consultation on its School Admission Arrangements for 2025/2026 running through to the 26th January 2023.

You can find a copy of the proposed new Trust Admissions Policy 2025-26 here which will apply to Damers First School and that will replace the current arrangement of individual school policies.  Please note, there are no changes to the Published Admissions Number for any Trust Schools.  This can also be viewed on the Trust Website: www.wessex.ac

Responses must be submitted either in writing to Vicky Smyth, Governance Manager, Wessex Multi-Academy Trust, Wessex House, Unit 4 Poundbury Business Centre, Holmead Walk, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3WA or by email to matclerk@wessex.ac by Friday 26th January 2024.

Upon the conclusion of the consultation period all responses will be considered carefully, and a report will be presented to Wessex Multi-Academy Trust’s Board of Trustees at their meeting on Wednesday 7th February 2024.

The key dates for this consultation are set out below: 

Wessex Multi-Academy Trust consultation ends 26th January 2024
Own Admission Authorities (Wessex MAT Board of Trustees) determine Admission Arrangements 7th February 2024
Statutory Deadline for Admissions Authorities to determine Admission Arrangements 28th February 2024
Statutory Deadline for Admission Authorities to publish Admission Arrangements 15th March 2024
Statutory Deadline for Objections to Office of the School’s Adjudicator 15th May 2024