• Admission to infant/primary schools criteria
• Admission to junior school criteria

Admission to infant/primary schools criteria 2012/13

In the event of oversubscription within any of the criteria listed below, preference will be given to applicants who live closest to the school, as measured in a straight line (i.e. as the crow flies) from a point on the school site to a point at the pupil's home (by a computerised geographical information system) both identified by the Local Land and Property Gazetteer. Where two or more pupils are equal in all respects and it is therefore not possible to differentiate between them, a method of random allocation by drawing lots will be used to allocate places (supervised by someone independent of the School Admissions Team).

Pupils who have a Statement of Special Educational Need, where that school is named in the child's statement will be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available for other pupils.

1. Places will first be allocated to pupils looked after by the local authority (Children in Public Care) as required by the Education (Admissions of Looked After Children) (England) Regulations 2006 and in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989 and who (a) are looked after at the time of an application for admission to a school is made and (b) in relation to whom the local authority has confirmed that the child will still be looked after at the time when the child will be admitted to the school.
2. Places will then be allocated to pupils who, at the closing date for applications, live within the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school or the linked junior school, or Individual Needs Centre.
3. Places will then be allocated to other pupils who, at the closing date for applications, live within the catchment area and whose parents have requested a place at the school.
4. Places will then be allocated to pupils who live outside the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school or the linked junior school, or Individual Needs Centre.
5. Places will then be allocated to pupils attending the nursery of the school at the closing date for applications and whose parents have requested a place at that school.
6. Places will then be allocated to other pupils who live outside the catchment area whose parents have requested a place at the school.

The above criteria (2-6) may be overridden and priority given to an applicant who can establish any of the following:

• pupils with special educational needs that can only be met at a specific school (e.g. where the school has specialist provision);*
• children of travellers, pupils with exceptional medical, mobility, or social grounds that can only be met at a specific school.*

*Applications in these categories must be supported by a statement in writing from a doctor, social worker or other relevant professional. This is necessary because you will be asking the local authority to assess your child as having a stronger case than other children. Each case will be considered on its merits by the Corporate Director of Children and Families (or his nominated representative) in consultation with the school concerned.

Please note that attending a school's nursery does not guarantee admission to the main school for infant/primary education. All applications for admission to the main school must be made to the local authority and will be considered against the oversubscription criteria set out 1-6 on this page.

Where applications are received in respect of twins, triplets or children of other multiple births, the local authority will endeavour to offer places in the same school, admitting above the planned admission number where necessary. Where this is not possible, the parent/carer will be asked which child(ren) should take up the place(s). The parent/carer will still have a right of appeal* against a refusal of a place. (Full details will be provided at the time of refusal).

*(Except, the parent/carer of a child who has been permanently excluded from two schools and where at least one of those exclusions took place after 1 September 1997. This applies to a twice excluded pupil for a period of two years beginning with the date the last exclusion took place).

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Admission to junior school criteria 2012/13

The admission criteria set out below are used to allocate places at Nottingham city community junior schools.

Pupils who have a Statement of Special Educational Need, where that school is named in the child's statement will be admitted. This will reduce the number of places available for other pupils.

1. Places will first be allocated to pupils looked after by the local authority (Children in Public Care) as required by the Education (Admissions of Looked After Children) (England) Regulations 2006 and in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989 and who (a) are looked after at the time of an application for admission to a school is made and (b) in relation to whom the local authority has confirmed that the child will still be looked after at the time when the child will be admitted to the school.
2. Places will then be allocated to pupils who attend the linked infant school, whose parents have requested a place at the school. In the event of oversubscription within this second criterion, preference will be given to pupils in the following way:
   1. pupils who at the closing date for applications live within the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school or the linked infant school or Individual Needs Centre;
   2. pupils who, at the closing date for applications live within the catchment area and whose parents have requested a place at the school;
   3. pupils living outside the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission will have a brother or sister attending the school or linked infant school or Individual Needs Centre;
   4. other pupils living outside the catchment area whose parents have requested a place at the school.
      
      In the event of oversubscription within any of the criteria listed above and below, preference will be given to applicants who live closest to the school, as measured in a straight line distance (i.e. as the crow flies) from a point on the school site to a point at the pupil's home (by a computerised geographical information system) both identified by the Local Land and Property Gazetteer. Where two or more pupils are equal in all respects, and it is therefore not possible to differentiate between them, a method of random allocation by drawing lots will be used to allocate places (supervised by someone independent of the School Admissions Team).
3. Places will then be allocated to pupils who at the closing date for applications, live within the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school or the linked infant school or Individual Needs Centre.
4. Places will then be allocated to other pupils who, at the closing date for applications, live within the catchment area and whose parents have requested a place at the school.
5. Places will then be allocated to pupils who live outside the catchment area, whose parents have requested a place at the school and who, at the time of admission, will have a brother or sister attending the school or linked infant school or Individual Needs Centre.
6. Places will then be allocated to other pupils who live outside the catchment area whose parents have requested a place at the school.

The above criteria (2-6) may be overridden and priority given to an applicant who can establish any of the following:

• pupils with special educational needs that can only be met at a specific school (e.g. where the school has specialist provision)*;
• children of travellers, pupils with exceptional medical, mobility, or social grounds that can only be met at a specific school*.

*Applications in these categories must be supported by a statement in writing from a doctor, social worker or other relevant professional. This is necessary because you will be asking the local authority to assess your child as having a stronger case than other children. Each case will be considered on its merits by the Corporate Director of Children and Families (or his nominated representative) in consultation with the school concerned.

Where applications are received in respect of twins, triplets or children of other multiple births, the local authority will endeavour to offer places in the same school, admitting above the planned admission number where necessary. If this is not possible, the parent/carer will be asked which child(ren) should take up the place(s). The parent/carer will still have a right of appeal* against a refusal of a place. (Full details will be provided at the time of refusal).

*(Except, the parent/carer of a child who has been permanently excluded from two schools and where at least one of those exclusions took place after 1 September 1997. This applies to a twice excluded pupil for a period of two years beginning with the date the last exclusion took place).

Brothers or sisters - sibling connection

1. For admission purposes Nottingham City Council considers a sibling connection to relate to any of the following:
   • a brother or sister who share the same parents;
   • a half brother or half sister, where two children share one common parent;
   • a step brother or step sister, where two children are related by a parent's marriage;
   • adopted or fostered children living in the same household under the terms of a Residence Order.
2. Nottingham City Council does not consider a sibling connection to relate to any of the following:
   • cousins or other family relationships not included in 1 above;
   • siblings who at 1 September 2012 will not be registered pupils at the preferred school.

Other admission authorities may use different definitions of a sibling connection.

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