Where there are more applicants than places available, children will be admitted on the basis of the following order of priorities:
Children from within the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission;
Children from outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission who were directed to that school by the Authority in the absence of a place being available in the catchment area school;
Children from within the catchment area with exceptional social, medical or educational needs;
In relation to Church of England Voluntary Controlled Schools, children from within the catchment area with a parent on the electoral roll of a C. of E. church - see below;
Other children from within the catchment area, giving priority to those for whom access to an alternative school with space available is the most problematic;
Children from outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission, giving priority to those children with the youngest siblings;
Children from outside the catchment area with exceptional social, medical or educational needs;
In relation to Church of England Voluntary Controlled Schools, children from outside the catchment area with a parent on the electoral roll of a C. of E. church - see below;
Children from outside the catchment area, giving priority to those who live closest to the school, measured in a straight line on the map.
Applications will be prioritised according to the above criteria. An exception may be made:
under the Authority's arrangements for the admission of children with special needs where a child holds a Statement of Special Educational Needs, or is currently being assessed, and it is considered that a particular school would best meet the needs of that child;
where the Authority has been unable to offer a child a place in his or her catchment area school because insufficient places are available.
Where reference is made to associated infant and junior schools, this is to describe those situations where infant and junior schools share the same catchment area.
If parents believe they qualify for consideration under criterion number 2, they should indicate this on the preference form.
Where parents feel that there are exceptional social, medical or educational grounds they must provide full details at the time of applying. The Authority may seek further verification such as a medical, Educational Welfare Officer's or Social Worker's report. To be given priority for admission on this basis the Authority would have to be satisfied that the child's needs could only be met at the school in question.
If parents believe they qualify for consideration under criteria number 4 or 8 they must provide proof that they are on an electoral roll of a C of E church and have been for a period of two years prior to the closing date for the submission of preference forms. Proof must be submitted with the completed form. It may relate to more than one church.
Cumbria Education Service
General Admissions Policy 1999/2000
