Are you applying for a faith-based place at a church school for your child? As your parish church, St Mary's is delighted to support families seeking a Christian education.
We frequently provide admissions references for local schools, including Bulwell St Mary's Church of England Primary School, as well as regional secondary providers such as Bluecoat Aspley Academy, Bluecoat Wollaton Academy, and The National Church of England Academy in Hucknall.
Because church schools are highly oversubscribed, they use a strict points system based on your Supplementary Information Form (SIF). To help us complete your reference accurately, legally, and fairly, please read our parish guidelines below.⛪ How We Verify Your Attendance
To sign your form, St Mary's clergy must be able to honestly confirm your family’s attendance and involvement. School admission policies calculate faith points based on how often you worship at your parish church.To meet the minimum criteria for a church reference, the child and/or parent must attend worship at least once a month over the timeframe specified by the school (often 12 or 24 months prior to application).
To ensure absolute fairness, we do not rely on memory alone. We cross-reference all SIF requests with our official parish records. We track this minimum monthly attendance through three exact methods:- The Sunday School (Whiz Kids) Register: For children who attend our Sunday child provision during worship.
- The Muddy Church Register: For families who actively engage with our Muddy Church sessions.
- The Church Electoral Roll: Our official membership roll. Being registered on the St Mary's Electoral Roll demonstrates an adult's formal commitment to the life of our parish.
📋 The Application Process: Step-by-Step
- Download the Right Forms: You must complete both your standard Local Authority application and the school's specific Supplementary Information Form (SIF). Download these directly from the school.
- Fill in Your Sections First: Complete all personal parent and child details on the SIF before passing it to the church.
- Speak to your Vicar: Speak directly to Father Andrew or a member of the Ministry Team after a Sunday service, or contact us to arrange a brief chat to review your application.
- Submission: Please check each school’s specific rules. Some academies require the church to return the form directly to them to prevent tampering, while others allow us to return it to you. If it must be posted by the church, please provide us with a stamped, addressed envelope.
⚠️ Critical Deadlines & Rules
- Give Us Time: Please hand your form to the church at least two weeks before your deadline. Our clergy handle a number of references, and we cannot guarantee last-minute turnarounds.
- Your Responsibility: It is the parent's responsibility - not the church's - to ensure that the completed reference is received by the school's admissions team on time.
- Independent Checks: Please note that academies routinely contact St Mary’s directly after submission to verify the authenticity of signatures and attendance logs.