Year 7 Admissions
Our open events took place on Wednesday 18 September and Saturday 21 September 2024.
If you weren’t able to make it to these events and would like to visit to look around our school, please contact us directly on info@scbso.shirelandcat.net or 0121 818 4620.
Our inclusive admissions process is, at all times, open, transparent and fair, and meets the requirements of the national Schools Admissions Code, the Appeals Code and Admissions Legislation.
Shireland CBSO Academy processes applications inside of the normal Local Authority process for coordinating school offers.
We will have 150 year 7 places for the academic year beginning September 2025.
read our prospectus
Admissions to shireland CBSO Academy
Shireland CBSO Academy is a unique and vibrant school that welcomes students from across a wide geographical area. We are not limited to just our immediate local community; instead, our admissions structure ensures that children from all six towns of Sandwell: Wednesbury, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, and Rowley Regis have equal opportunities to gain a place at our Academy.
We also welcome applications from outside Sandwell, these applications will also be judged on distance to the nearest nodal point. Admissions based on musical aptitude are not geographically restricted.
Year 7 Admissions and Nodal Points
Our admissions process is based on a nodal point system. This means that instead of considering the distance from the Academy itself, we assess applications based on how close a student lives to their nearest nodal point (in each of the six Sandwell towns). This approach ensures a fair and inclusive admissions process, giving every child in Sandwell and the surrounding areas an opportunity to attend Shireland CBSO Academy.
Key Information:
- Published Admissions Number (PAN): 150 places available for Year 7 entry from September 2025.
- Nodal Points: Located in Wednesbury, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, and Rowley Regis.
- Application Deadline: Parents must complete an online registration form via their Local Authority (LA) by 31 October 2024.
- Oversubscription Criteria: If applications exceed available places, we apply our admissions policy criteria to allocate spaces fairly.
Admissions Criteria (in priority order):
In accordance with the law, children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be admitted to the school where Shireland CBSO Academy has been named as the most appropriate placement.
- Looked After Children & Previously Looked After Children – including those adopted from state care outside England.
- Aptitude for Music – Up to 15 students (10% of places) demonstrating musical potential. This is not geographically restricted.
- Siblings – Applicants with siblings already at the Academy (excluding Sixth Form).
- Nodal Point Allocation – Up to 25 places for each of the six Sandwell towns and surrounding areas, determined by distance to the nearest nodal point.
Transport Links and Accessibility
Shireland CBSO Academy benefits from excellent transport connections, making it easily accessible for students across Sandwell and beyond.
- Public Transport: The Academy is well-served by local bus routes connecting all six towns in Sandwell.
- Train Services: Nearby railway stations offer convenient links for families traveling from a wider area.
- Cycling & Walking Routes: Safe and accessible routes are available for students who wish to cycle or walk to school.
- Drop-off & Parking: Designated areas ensure smooth school drop-offs for parents and carers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We accept applications from students across Sandwell and beyond. Our nodal point system ensures a fair allocation of places, giving children from all six Sandwell towns and the surrounding areas the opportunity to attend.
If the Academy is oversubscribed (we receive more than 150 applications), your application (which could come from outside Sandwell) will be judged on your distance to your nearest nodal point.
Parents must complete the online registration form via their Local Authority by 31 October 2024. Ensure Shireland CBSO Academy is listed as one of your preferences.
If we receive more applications than our 150 available places, we allocate places based on our admissions criteria, prioritising looked-after children, music aptitude students, siblings, and proximity to nodal points.
Instead of measuring distance to the Academy, we consider how close students live to their nearest nodal point. This ensures fair distribution across all Sandwell towns.
While the Academy does not operate its own bus service, we are well-connected via public transport, with numerous bus routes and train links available.
Yes, applications from outside Sandwell are welcome and considered based on the admissions criteria which is the distance to the nearest nodal point. Parents applying for children who reside outside Sandwell would need to apply for the school through their own Local Authority, listing the school as one of their preferences. All preferences have to be made through their own Authority, and parents need to ensure they rank the schools in order of preference. If you need help with another local authority system, please contact the main office at the Academy.
In this instance, a nodal point is a place on the map, in this case each of the six towns in Sandwell.
No, there are no geographical restrictions for music aptitude.
Visit this link and it’ll provide all of the information that you need.
For more information, please refer to our Admissions Policy or contact our admissions team.
Important dates for Year 7 applications - Sept 2025 entry:
- July 2024: Applications open in Sandwell – apply via your local authority.
- Wednesday 18 September 2024, 5pm-7.30pm: Open evening
- Saturday 21 September 2024, 9am-11am: Open morning
- Monday 30 September 2024: Music aptitude applications close – apply via our website.
- W/c Monday 14 October 2024: Music aptitude auditions take place.
- Thursday 31 October 2024: Deadline for year 7 applications.
- Monday 3 March 2025: National Offer Day for year 7.
- Monday 17 March 2025: Deadline for accepting offers.
Music Aptitude Programme
All students attending Shireland CBSO Academy are expected to have a commitment to music, recognising that they will be immersed in a musical experience throughout their time with us.
Each year, we are able to offer a limited number of year 7 places (15) on our music aptitude programme for students who are already exceptionally talented in music. Obtaining a place at the Academy via this music aptitude route means that these students will be expected to be leaders amongst their peers and an example of key characteristics of a successful musician through, for example, their outstanding performance skills. They will be expected to act as ambassadors for the Academy and support our work with our local primary schools and community groups to help shape the Shireland CBSO students of the future.
For admissions enquiries email info@scbso.shirelandcat.net or call 0121 818 4620.
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