Admissions

Thank you for your interest in seeking a place at Cardinal Allen Catholic High School for your son / daughter. Our website contains a vast amount of information covering all aspects of the life of the school and the links at the bottom of the page will take you to the information that we think will help you in choosing a high school along with links to the application process.

Application Process

Cardinal Allen High School is a Voluntary Aided School, and so admissions are controlled by the Governors in accordance with arrangements agreed with Lancashire Education Authority. Cardinal Allen is part of a family of Catholic schools. Other members of this family, who are often referred to as our ‘partner schools’ are: Sacred Heart, Thornton; St John's, Poulton; St Mary's, Fleetwood; St William's, Pilling; St Bernadette's, Bispham; St Mary's, Gt Eccleston; St Teresa's, Cleveleys; and, St Wulstan's & St Edmund's, Fleetwood.

In recent years, in addition to our partner schools, pupils have also been admitted from the following schools: Carelton Green Community Primary; Bispham Endowed CE; Thornton Primary; Holy Family (Blackpool); Anchorsholme; St Hilda's (Carleton); Charles Saer; Chaucer; Flakefleet; Larkholme; Manor Beach; Norbreck; Northfold; Royles Brook; Shakespeare; Stanah; Westcliffe; and Revoe.

There are 166 places available for admission to Year 7 in September 2025. The equal preference system considers all applicants, not only those pupils and their families applying from our partner schools.

Parents apply for a place at secondary school through their local authority by either completing a paper application form or by applying online. For a place at Cardinal Allen and other Voluntary Aided Church schools, parents also need to complete our Supplementary Information Form (SIF) and return it directly to the school. Over recent years, several families have missed out on a place for their child simply because we did not have the relevant information that the SIF provides. If we do not receive a SIF then it may result in your application being incorrectly assessed and you missing out on a place for your son / daughter.

Applying for a place at our school during the school year (In-Year Admissions)

It sometimes happens that a pupil needs to change school other than at the “normal” time; such admissions are known as ‘In Year’ admissions.  If you are new to the area and require a school place or if you already reside in the area and you want to move your child from their current local school to our school, your application should be made directly to our school and we will advise if there are places available.  If your child is a Looked After Child and / or has an Education Healthcare Plan (EHCP) please contact Pupil Access in the first instance.

To apply for a place, please complete our In-Year Admissions form and the Supplementary Information Form below and return to t.sales@cardinalallen.co.uk or bring to the main school office for the attention of Mrs Sales.

In-Year Admissions Form

Supplementary Information Form 2025

If there is a place in the appropriate class, then the governors will arrange for the admission to take place.  If your application is rejected because the year group is full or oversubscribed, parents have the right to appeal to an independent admission appeal panel.

Appeals should be made online and the online form is available from the Lancashire County Council website at:

Secondary School Appeals - Lancashire County Council

Please note that you cannot re-apply for a place at a school within the same school year unless there has been relevant, significant and material change in the family circumstances.

If you should have any questions about any aspect of school life or the application process please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The links below will help you access what you need.

School Prospectus

Additional Guidance For Eastern Christian/Orthodox Churches

School Prospectus Insert

School Admissions Policy 2025

Lancashire Parents

Blackpool Parents