Matford Brook Academy is a 2-16 all through school based on the south-west outskirts of Exeter. Opening in 2023 for the first cohorts of children in Nursery, Reception and Year 7, our all-through establishment models a ‘cradle to career’ approach with seamless support and opportunity for children throughout their school career.

At Matford Brook Academy, we write our story. Our mission 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 150 for entry in Year 7 and 90 in Reception. 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.

Closing Dates and Application Process

The closing date for secondary school applications is 31/10/2022 and for primary school applications 15/01/2023. Secondary school offers will be made on 01/03/2023 and primary school offers will be made on 17/04/2023.

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.

Get in touch... 

If you are interested in your child attending our school, particularly for the current round of admission (primary) as well as pre-school and nursery, you are encouraged to email your interest with any questions; we will respond via email or call you back for an initial conversation. We would be very happy to arrange a follow-up call to our Headteacher (Emily) or Deputy Headteacher (Dan) as required.  

We are planning to arrange site visits and will update all interested families who have expressed an interest or made an application as soon as this is possible. 

Please email [email protected] for a member of our team to discuss admission with you, leaving your preferred number if you prefer a call back.

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].

Please find DCC admissions policies here - this is reviewed annually to consider changes where these are 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 / 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. 

School admissions policy 2023-24

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

You can view this policy here.

School admissions policy 2024-25

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

You can view this policy here.

School admissions policy 2025-26

We will consult on an admissions policy between 1 November 2023 and 12 January 2024. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at [email protected].  

From 1 November, you can view this policy here.

After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2024. Once determined, the policy will be updated by 15 March 2024.

Objections can be made up to 15 May 2024 to the Office of the Schools' Adjudicator.

The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2024

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 or the new Year 3 intake: 16 April 2024

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 31 May 2024

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 26 July 2024

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 31 May will be heard by 26 July. If that is not possible, they will be heard within 30 school days of the appeal form being submitted.

Allocation date for the normal round new Year 7 intake: 1 March 2024

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 22 April 2024

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 26 June 2024

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 22 April will be heard by 26 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.

The Admissions Appeals Timetable 2025

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.

Allocation date for the normal round new Year 7 intake: 3 March 2025

Deadline for appeal forms to be submitted: 22 April 2025

Appeals will be heard within 40 school days, by: 24 June 2025

Where possible, appeals that are submitted after 22 April will be heard by 24 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.

Admissions policy for 2025-26: Annual Consultation

Along with all our schools and academies in Devon, we are consulting on an admission policy for 2025-26. The Local Authority is also consulting on its admission arrangements. You are invited to look at the proposals which are based on policies for this year and next year and have your say.

Our proposed policyis below and you can see all policies at http://devon.cc/schoolpolicy . Further information is here: www.devon.gov.uk/admissionarrangements

The consultation runs until 12 January 2024. Policies will be determined by the end of February and published in the same places by 15 March next year. You can comment at [email protected].