Matford Brook Academy is an all-through school based on the south-west outskirts of Exeter, serving families with children from age 2 to 16 once we have opened every year group. 

We currently welcome pupils into Nursery, Preschool, Reception, Years 1 and 2, and Years 7–9. This will extend to Years 3 and 10 from September 2026.

Our all-through model reflects a ‘cradle to career’ philosophy, providing a seamless journey of support, continuity, and opportunity throughout every stage of a child’s education.

At Matford Brook Academy, we write our story. Our mission is to provide an excellent, all-through education that empowers children to believe they can, and should, change the world around them. We do this through the values of scholarship, kindness and community.

Admission Number(s)

The school has an admission number of 90 for entry in Year 7 and 60 in Reception (with a working PAN of 30). Admission to Reception at Matford Brook Academy is made on the understanding that Matford Brook Academy is an all-through school and children will automatically transfer to the secondary phase of the school in Year 7. The school will accordingly admit this number of pupils if there are sufficient applications. Where fewer applicants than the published admission number(s) for the relevant year group are received, the Academy Trust will offer places at the school to all those who have applied.

Application Process

The Ted Wragg Academy Trust is the admissions authority for our school, responsible for the admissions policies and decisions when there is an application for admission. We have an admissions policy for each academic year. Policies are written to comply with the School Admissions Code 2021 and the School Admissions Appeals Code 2022. We take part in the normal round and the in-year coordinated admissions schemes of Devon County Council. 

Once you decide you would like a place in the main intake into Reception / Year 1 (we call this the normal round) you must make a formal application. You can do this by applying to the Local Authority and not direct to the school. The application form can be obtained from devon.cc/admissionsonline:  https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place.

A fresh application must be made for children who are attending our Nursery/Preschool. Applications for Nursery/Preschool places are made direct to the school. Please see further information on our Nursery/Preschool page.

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, even if they intend to defer admission until later in the academic year.

Visits

Please visit our 'Primary Admissions' and 'Secondary Admissions' pages for more information about open events. 

Admissions Policies Information from Devon County Council

Devon County Council (DCC) publishes information about admissions and its own policies to support the admissions application and appeals process. This is at www.devon.gov.uk/admissions

Applications can be made online at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline or by using the forms available at http://devon.cc/applicationforms. 

There is an appeals process if an application is refused; this is detailed at www.devon.gov.uk/school-appeals.

For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to [email protected].

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 / the start of Year 3 to Year 6 / the start of Year 7 to Year 11; please note that Matford Brook Academy is open to reception and Year 1 starting in September 2024. 

Admissions Policies 

Proposed School Admissions Policy 2028-29

You can view the proposed policy here 

We are currently consulting on our admissions policy for 2028-2029. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or [email protected]. Please note that you must do this before the 16 January 2027.

After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2027. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2027.

Objections can be made up to 15 May 2027 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator, School admission arrangements - GOV.UK

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School Admissions Policy 2027-28

You can view this policy here

This is our determined policy. If you have any comments regarding the policy you can contact us at the school or [email protected].  

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School Admissions Policy 2026-27

You can view this policy here

This is our determined policy.  If you have any comments regarding the policy, you can contact us at the school or [email protected].  

We amended our policy to remove a time limitation on when in-year applications could be made for children of Crown Servants or UK Service personnel. 

The Admissions Appeals 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 Reception:  16 April 2027

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2027

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 24 July 2027

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 24 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.

Allocation date for Year 7: 1 March 2027

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 20 April 2027

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 23 June 2027

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 20 April will be heard by 23 June. 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.