Admissions and Transition
Transition into Secondary
Welcome to Bolton St Catherine's Academy
We are delighted that your child has been offered a place at BSCA. We have a team of staff in place to help and support you through this exciting time as they transition into the next stage of their education.
Our Academy values are ‘Believe, Strive, Care and Achieve’ - we want each student to believe in themselves, to strive to be the very best they can, to care for our community and to achieve their excellence in all areas. These values will drive all that we do together at BSCA and help to shape each student and who they become.
We have put together a 'Transition Video', which gives you information about the transition process and lets you visually see us and our Academy.
Included In our Welcome Pack:
The Welcome booklet provides you with lots of information about our Academy
Click here to complete online version via google forms
Click here to complete online version on Microsoft Word (this will download to your device to complete. You will need to save the completed version and either emails it back or print and post it)This form asks you for information that we need from you as soon as possible, including:
- Personal and contact details
- Healthcare/Medical details
- Academy agreements and permissions
- Welcome Meeting – request for your preference of date and time.
Should you have any questions or concerns with regards to transition, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01204 332 533 or transition@boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk.
We are looking forward to your family becoming part of the BSCA community.
Yours sincerely
Rachael Lucas
Headteacher
Key contacts
01204 332533 or transition@boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk
 |
 |
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| Mrs Farrell | Mrs Fairclough | Mrs Gastall |
| Deputy Headteacher |
Head of Year 7 and Transition Lead |
Office Manager |
Key Dates
Welcome Viewing Event
You will be able to have a tour of the Academy with some of our staff and students. You will also have the opportunity to have a chat with our Headteacher. Parents/Carers and students are welcome, but please let your child’s current school know.
School Welcome Visit – June
During June our Senior and Pastoral Leaders will visit your child’s school to:
- introduce themselves, welcome them to BSCA
- give them more information about who we are and what they can expect
- give your child the opportunity to ask any questions they might have. It also gives us the opportunity to speak to your child’s current teacher.
We will contact your child’s school directly to arrange this visit.
Welcome Meetings
Our Welcome Meetings are for parents/carers and students to meet with either a Senior or Pastoral Leader. During the meeting our staff will discuss:
- a typical Academy day
- our Academy expectations
- our Academy agreements
- any support that may be required for your child
- our parent apps
- key dates and events we are running as part of our transition process.
In addition to this, you will be required to bring:
- Your child’s ID – birth certificate, passport or identity card.
- If applicable, you will be able to complete a Health Care Plan for your child if they have any medical conditions that may affect them in school.
***We will be contact you by email or letter to let you know the date and time of your meeting based on your preference indicated .***
Induction Day
Please arrive via our Main entrance
We will be holding your child’s Induction Day (date to be confirmed) where your child will be released from their current Primary School to spend the day with us at BSCA.
Students love this day, and it gives them an opportunity to experience our amazing building and facilities, and spend some time with some of our staff and students whilst having fun.
During the day they will:
- Experience a day as a student at BSCA.
- Meet fellow students in their year group.
- Meet Mrs Fairclough, Head of Year 7.
- Find out which form they will be in, and meet their Form Tutor.
- Visit different subjects, and find out the kind of lessons you will be having.
They will need to arrive at our main entrance on Stitch-Mi-Lane (BL2 4HU) to be welcomed by our Pastoral Team between 8.45am – 9.00am. They will finish for the day at 2.45pm and leave via our main reception on Stitch-Mi-Lane.
***We will need to know how your child will be making their way home on the day – walk home, or being collected.***
What happens next?
- Make a note of these dates in your diary/calendar.
- Complete the Data Collection Form
- Read our Welcome Booklet with your child to find out more about us.
- Keep an eye out for emails/messages from us via our Administration Manager or our EduLink One communication system as we will keep you up to date throughout this transition period. This is also another way for you to contact us.
Students and parents can keep connected to BSCA using our website and social media:
Website - https://www.boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk/
This gives you a wealth of information about BSCA from our contact details, news updates, our values and vision, welfare and Christian support, expectations and values, curriculum information, and much much more, please use it to get to know BSCA better.
Facebook - /OfficialBSCA/
Our Facebook is where you will see our celebrations of students, notifications of community events and updates on life at BSCA.
X - @official_BSCA
X is a place where we celebrate students achievements, share current vacancies, signpost you to support and community events and provide regular updates on life at BSCA for staff and students.
Instagram – /bolton_stcatherines_academy/
Out Instagram is a celebration of students and all they achieve, plus where we showcase activities across the Academy. You will find quizzes in our Instagram stories, updates on exam timetables and notifications for events taking place.
BSCA has places available in Primary and Secondary.
To apply for a place in any phase of our school, please read our Admission Policy below and further information about our Primary.
Please see the full version of Bolton St Catherine's Academy's Admission's Policy:
Appeals
BSCA is part of the local authority appeals process which can found here - https://www.bolton.gov.uk/admissions/school-admission-appeals
Thinking about applying
Thinking about which Secondary School to apply for? Then apply now for our Secondary @ BSCA through Bolton Council (https://www.bolton.gov.uk/admissions/secondary-school-places-1) and join our caring school community that offers a rich and varied curriculum for our children.
Watch our video now to find out more about how amazing our school is for our young people:
How to Apply
In common with other local secondary schools, Bolton St Catherine’s Academy will work within Bolton local authority’s admission arrangements: https://www.bolton.gov.uk/admissions/secondary-school-places-1 .
There will be a total of 160 places for boys and girls moving from primary to secondary school. All applications for 165 Year 7 places will be considered. Where less than 165 applications have been received, places will be offered to all those who applied.
Timetable for admissions:
September/October
The Academy will provide opportunities for parents to visit.
October
Application forms need to be completed online by the end of October. Please read above section on how to apply.
March
Offer letters are sent to parents.
End of March
Deadline for appeals.
Open Events
Welcome to Bolton St Catherine's Academy
September 2025 start
Welcome to BSCA Secondary Open Events
Discover the real BSCA
Thank you for taking the time to have a look on our website about our open events in 2024 for students starting Year 7 in September 2025. If you wish to view the school, please contact us on 01204 332533 during office hours, or email us at contact@boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk.
Here is a little more information about us now:
Our Academy values are ‘Believe, Strive, Care and Achieve’ - we want each student to believe in themselves, to strive to be the very best they can, to care for our community and to achieve the very best academic results possible. These values will drive all that we do together at BSCA and help to shape each student and who they become.
We have put together a 'Profile Video', which gives you lots more information about us and who we are, and lets you visually see us and our Academy before and after you attend any of our events.
Applying for other years
In-Year Admissions
Admission to other year groups at Bolton St Catherine's Academy:
There are arrangements for admitting students to other year groups, which are subject to the provisions in the local authority's admission arrangements relating to applications submitted for years other than the normal year of entry: https://www.bolton.gov.uk/admissions
The Academy must consider all such applications and if the year group applied for has a place available, admit the child. If more applications are received than there are places available, the oversubscription criteria shall apply. Parents whose application is turned down are entitled to appeal.
Please see our Admissions Policies for further information at the top of this page.
