News
Churston Ferrers Grammar School changes its 2027 admission rules after a Schools Adjudicator decision
- Published
- By ExamKind Editorial Team
Churston Ferrers Grammar School in Brixham, Torbay, has changed its admission rules for September 2027 entry. On its admissions pages the school says: "Following a determination by the Schools Adjudicator in October 2026, priority for the 15 named primary schools has been removed, sibling priority has been reinstated, and the wording of two parts of the policy has been clarified."
What has changed
- Sibling priority: reinstated for 2027 entry. The school had earlier said it was removing its sibling clause for 2027 entry.
- Named primary schools: None (feeder-school priority removed for 2027 entry)Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Special places (2027)Checked 13 Oct 2026 against Churston Ferrers Grammar School.The source says:
Yes. Following a determination by the Schools Adjudicator in October 2026, priority for the 15 named primary schools has been removed, sibling priority has been reinstated, and the wording of two parts of the policy has been clarified.
View the official source. The school now says its admissions policy welcomes applications from children from any primary school. - Pupil Premium: the school says priority for children eligible for free school meals, Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium remains.
The school's own summary of the 2027 order for eligible children is: looked after and previously looked after children; then the highest-scoring children; then children eligible for free school meals, Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium at the time of the test; then children with a brother or sister at the school; then children of staff; then all other eligible children by scoreChurston Ferrers Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2027)Checked 13 Oct 2026 against Churston Ferrers Grammar School.The source says: For 2027 entry, eligible children are prioritised in this order: looked after and previously looked after children; the highest-scoring children; children eligible for free school meals, Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium at the time of the test; children with a sibling on roll at the school already; children of staff; then all other eligible children by score.
View the official source.
Who is affected
Children applying now for a Year 7 place in September 2027: those born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016Torbay 2027 entry: Birth date rangeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Torbay Council.The source says: Children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 will start Secondary School in September 2027.
View the official source. The Torbay selective test was on Saturday 19 September 2026Torbay 2027 entry: Test dateChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Torbay Council.The source says: 19 September 2026 | Selective testing day for all grammar schools and The Spires selective places in Torbay
View the official source. Families receive a guidance letter within a few weeks of the test saying whether a grammar school application is likely to succeed.
The school's statement covers the order of priority; it does not mention any change to the test. The change it describes is to the order in which eligible children are offered places if the school has more applicants than places.
What we don't know yet
The amended 2027 admissions policy is published as a file we have not been able to read in full, so we report the school's own summary. That summary does not say how many places go to the highest-scoring children, how ties are broken or how distance is used. The school says it will consult on its arrangements for 2028 entry in December and January. We will update this story when the amended policy or the 2028 consultation is published.
What to do now
- Check your school list against the new order. If you have a child at Churston already, or your child attends one of the primary schools that previously had priority, the change may affect your chances. Contact the school's admissions team if you are unsure: admissions@churstongrammar.com; reception 01803 842289Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Admissions contactChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Churston Ferrers Grammar School.The source says:
Reception ... 01803 842289 ... Email (Admissions) ... admissions@churstongrammar.com
View the official source. - Apply through your own council by the deadline. In short, you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council areaWho you apply throughChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says:
You apply through your local council even if you’re applying for schools in another council area or you’ve just moved to England.
View the official source. For Torbay residents the deadline is Saturday 31 October 2026Torbay 2027 entry: School place applications close (CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Torbay Council.The source says:Apply by 31 October 2026. If you apply by this date you will get your offer on 1 March 2027.
View the official source; if you live elsewhere, for example in Devon, use your own council's deadline. Offers arrive on Monday 1 March 2027Torbay 2027 entry: National Offer DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Torbay Council.The source says:1 March 2027 | National Allocation Day.
View the official source. - List schools in your real order of preference. By law, schools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank themNo extra priority for naming a school firstChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says:
give extra priority to children whose parents rank preferred schools in a particular order, including ‘first preference first’ arrangements;
View the official source.
If you are not offered a place, you can appeal. Torbay Council's closing date for first-round appeals is Monday 5 April 2027Torbay 2027 entry: Appeal deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Torbay Council.The source says: 5 April 2027 | Closing date for receipt of 1st round appeals to be included in the main body of appeal hearings
View the official source.
Where to find more
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Special places (2027) | None (feeder-school priority removed for 2027 entry) | Source: Churston Ferrers Grammar School, checked |
| Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2027) | looked after and previously looked after children; then the highest-scoring children; then children eligible for free school meals, Pupil Premium or Service Pupil Premium at the time of the test; then children with a brother or sister at the school; then children of staff; then all other eligible children by score | Source: Churston Ferrers Grammar School, checked |
| Torbay 2027 entry: Birth date range | 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 | Source: Torbay Council, checked |
| Torbay 2027 entry: Test date | Saturday 19 September 2026 | Source: Torbay Council, checked |
| Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Admissions contact | admissions@churstongrammar.com; reception 01803 842289 | Source: Churston Ferrers Grammar School, checked |
| Who you apply through | you apply through your own local council, even for schools in another council area | Source: GOV.UK, checked |
| Torbay 2027 entry: School place applications close (CAF) | Saturday 31 October 2026 | Source: Torbay Council, checked |
| Torbay 2027 entry: National Offer Day | Monday 1 March 2027 | Source: Torbay Council, checked |
| No extra priority for naming a school first | schools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank them | Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked |
| Torbay 2027 entry: Appeal deadline | Monday 5 April 2027 | Source: Torbay Council, checked |
Reported and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team from official sources. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.