Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision for any family. Whether you are about to send your child to school for the first time, or moving into the area with older children, you are always welcome to come and have a look around our school. Please call or email the school to plan a visit.
How do I apply for a school place in Devon?
More information about admissions to schools in Devon can be found on the Devon County Council website by clicking on the following links:
Once you decide you would like a place in any of our year groups, you must make a formal application. A fresh application must be made for children who are moving on from our Year 6 to their secondary school in Year 7.
Most children join our school at the normal round, the main intake into school from the start of September in Reception. As a parent, you can apply for a place in our school through the Local Authority.
Applications for residents of Devon are made between 15 November and 15 January for primary schools at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline.
Applications for residents of Devon are made between 1 September and 31 October for secondary schools at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline.
If your child lives in another LA, including Cornwall, Dorset, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay you should apply through that council. The closing dates are the same nationally.
For questions about your child joining the school or just about the admissions process in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the school direct or contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk.
Devon publishes guides to the admissions process: the Step-by-Step Guide and the In-Year Guide at www.devon.cc/prospectus
If you are interested in your child joining the school in-year (once the academic year has started), you can apply for a place through Devon County Council at www.devon.gov.uk/admissionsonline. There is a right of appeal and to a place on a waiting list for places where an application is refused.
Admission Arrangements
Pupils and Parents Privacy Notice
Devon is the admissions authority for our school. It has responsibility for the admissions policies and decisions on applications for admission. We have an admissions policy for each academic year and they will be published on this page when they are proposed for consultation and after they have been determined annually.
The Local Authority
We take part in the co-ordinated admissions schemes of Devon County Council. Devon County Council 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
The appeals process is detailed at www.devon.gov.uk/school-appeals
Our Admissions Policies
You can find our admissions policies below – we review and consult on the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this would be in the best interests of the school and our community.
School Admissions Policies
Bowhill Primary School Admission Policy 2026/27
Bowhill Primary School Admission Policy 2025/26
Applying to come here
Once you decide you would like a place you must make a formal application. You can do this by applying to the Local Authority (Devon County Council). If your child is due to start Reception (Foundation Stage) 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.
The Local Authority
Devon County Council 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 the school direct or contact Devon School Admissions Service on 0345 155 1019 or by email to admissions@devon.gov.uk.
School Admissions Policy 2026-27
We will consult on an admissions policy between November 2024 and 10 January 2025. If you have any comments regarding the policy we propose, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Admissions Policy 2026-2027 – Consultation
After the consultation, we will determine the policy at a meeting of the admissions authority held before the end of February 2025. Once determined, the policy will be updated online by 15 March 2025.
Objections can be made up to 15 May 2025 to the Office of the Schools’ Adjudicator.
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 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: 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 2026
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.
In-year appeals can be submitted after a refusal. They will be heard within 30 school days of an appeal being submitted.