Admissions
School Admissions for Reception Age Children
We welcome applications from parents for their children to join our school. If the school place you are seeking for your child is for Reception please follow the link below.
Link to Dorset Council School Admissions
In Year School Admissions
We welcome applications from parents for their children to join our school at any time. If the school place you are seeking for your child is required during the school year, you must apply directly through the Dorset Council Admissions website using the links below.
Together with other schools in Dorset and in accordance with statutory requirements, Hillside First School has agreed to join the Local Authority’s co-ordinated admissions scheme for the entry admission and transfer process for 2022-23. Therefore, the in-year application and allocation process will be handled by the Local Authority.
Full details of the application process, and the main application form, can be found on the Dorset Council Admissions website on the link below.
Link to Dorset Council In-Year School Admissions
Tours of the School
We are always delighted to show parents/carers around the school and answer any questions they might have. Please telephone the school on 01202 882737 to arrange a tour. In most cases the headteacher or deputy headteacher will accompany parents/carers on school tours.
For new pupils due to start school in September, tours are available during the Autumn Term at our Open Day. Details of our Open Days will be advertised in the local area and also on our website nearer the time.
Details of the application process for appeals can be found on the Dorset Council website on the link below.
Link to Dorset Council Admissions Appeals Process
Appeals Against In-Year Applications
| Action | Deadline |
| Local Authority publishes appeals timetable to include: | 28 February. |
| For a parent to submit an appeal to the Local Authority | At least 20 schools days from the parent receiving notice of the refusal of a school place |
| Notice of the appeal hearing | At least 10 school days before the appeal hearing |
| Appellants (usually the parents) to submit evidence | 8 school days before the appeal hearing |
| Admissions Authority (the school) to submit their evidence | 8 school days before the appeal hearing |
| The clerk (person organising the appeal) sends appeal papers to the parents, the panel and the school | 5 school days before the appeal hearing |
| Additional evidence from the appellants: sometimes the appellants want to provide additional information after seeing all the papers | 5 school days before the appeal hearing |
| Decision letters sent to the appellants: this is the letter that tells the appellant if their appeal has been upheld or refused | Within 5 school days of the hearing (wherever possible) |
| For applications made in the normal admission round appeals must be heard. | Within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals. Appeals must be submitted by Friday 26 March. |
| For in year and late applications: those that came in after the deadline and have not been decided by the offer date. Appeals must be heard. | Within 30 school days of the appeal. |
Details of the application process for appeals and the School Admissions Appeal Code 2022 can be found on the Dorset Council website on the links below.
Link to Dorset Council Admissions Appeals Process
Waiting list information
A waiting list is held by Dorset Council for each year group. You can add your child to a waiting list if you have been refused a place or want to renew your place. If you want to be added to the waiting list, please follow the link below.