Oversubscribed schools

When a school has received more applications than places, it is oversubscribed. 

The number of places at a school is its public admission number (PAN).

The oversubscription criteria on this page confirm the priorities for admission to community and voluntary controlled schools. 

If your enquiry relates to a specific year group, you will need to get in touch with us for specific information.

Schools that are their own Admission Authority

Governing Bodies for voluntary aided and foundation schools, such as faith schools, are their own Admission Authority. 

This means they establish their own admission arrangements, and they allocate school places by their own criteria not set by the Council. 

The oversubscription criteria on this page do not apply to schools that are their own admission authority.

Broomhill Infant School is the only foundation school in Sheffield.

Special educational needs and disabilities

Any child that has a statement or Educational, Health and Care Plan that names a specific school must be given a place there.

This is a priority that takes precedence over all other criteria.

Oversubscription criteria for secondary schools

1 March 2024 is the national allocation day for Year 7 starters in September 2024. 

Parents who applied online will receive an email after 12am Wednesday 1 March 2024. Parents who submitted paper applications will receive a letter confirming their decision around the same time. 

For parents who have not been offered a higher ranked preference, they will be informed of the appeal procedure.

We expect a high volume of calls week commencing 1 March 2024. If you have problems getting through, please email at ed-admissions@sheffield.gov.uk.

The following criteria confirm the priorities for admission into Sheffield community and voluntary controlled Secondary schools.

Priority 1: children in care

Pupils who are in care or have been previously but ceased to be so because they were adopted, became subject to a child arrangement order or a special Guardianship Order immediately following being in care.

Priority 2: catchment area with sibling

Children who reside in the defined catchment area who also have a brother or sister at the preferred school at the point of entry.

Priority 3: catchment area

Children who reside in the defined catchment area of a school.

Priority 4: siblings 

A sibling is defined as a child who permanently or usually lives at the same address as:

  • a brother and/or sister (including half brothers/sisters)
  • a stepbrother and/or stepsister
  • in both cases, will attend the preferred school at point of entry

Priority 5: attendance at a feeder school

The priority is given if the child attends a designated linked feeder school at the time of allocation.

Priority 6: other applications

Any child who does not fit into the above categories will be considered next.

Tie breakers

If the admission number is reached mid-category, there are 2 stages of further consideration carried out within the above outlined categories:

  1. where exceptional medical, social or special educational needs are demonstrated and evidenced by a professional
  2. if no exceptional circumstances are present; admissions are prioritised by the straight line distance from the centre of the home to the centre of the school building.
Oversubscription criteria for primary schools

The following criteria confirm the priorities for admission into Sheffield community and voluntary controlled primary schools.

Priority 1: children in care

Pupils who are in care or have been previously but ceased to be so because they were adopted, became subject to a child arrangement order or a special Guardianship Order immediately following being in care.

Priority 2: catchment area with sibling

Children who reside in the defined catchment area who also have a brother or sister at the preferred school at the point of entry.

Priority 3: catchment area

Children who reside in the defined catchment area of a school.

Priority 4: siblings 

A sibling is defined as a child who permanently or usually lives at the same address as:

•    a brother and/or sister (including half brothers/sisters)

•    a stepbrother and/or stepsister

•    in both cases, will attend the preferred school at point of entry

Priority 5: other applications

Any child who does not fit into the above categories will be considered next.

Places are only allocated up to the published indicated admission number.

Tie breakers

If the admission number is reached mid-category, then there is a tie break, meaning places will be allocated either: 

  1. where exceptional medical, social or special educational needs are demonstrated and evidenced by a professional
  2. if no exceptional circumstances are present; admissions are prioritised by the straight-line distance from the centre of the home to the centre of the school building

Further information on oversubscription in reception, junior and year 3  

The oversubscribed infant and primary school document shows:

  • the number of places at each of the oversubscribed schools
  • categories and numbers of pupils allocated
  • categories and numbers of pupils refused
  • the distance from home to school of the last child allocated

If a school does not appear on the list, it is because it was possible to allocate places for all those who applied expressing preference before the allocation date 19 April 2023

Oversubscription criteria for transfers from infant to junior school

The following criteria confirm the priorities for admission from Sheffield community and voluntary controlled infant schools to junior schools.

Priority 1: children in care

Pupils who are in care or have been previously but ceased to be so because they were adopted, became subject to a child arrangement order or a special Guardianship Order immediately following being in care.

Priority 2: attendance at a linked feeder school

This category applies to the transfer from year 2 to year 3 at separate infant and junior schools.

The priority is given if the child attends a designated linked feeder school at the time of allocation.

Should there be oversubscription within this category, then places will allocated within this criteria according to:

  • Feeder Catchment and sibling
  • Feeder Catchment
  • Feeder Sibling
  • Feeder Other
  • Catchment and Sibling
  • Catchment
  • Sibling
  • Other

Priority 3: catchment area with sibling

Children who reside in the defined catchment area who also have a brother or sister at the preferred school at the point of entry will be considered next.

Priority 4: catchment area

Children who reside in the defined catchment area of a school.

Priority 5: siblings who were refused a place at their catchment school in a previous year

A sibling is defined as a child who permanently or usually lives at the same address as:

a brother and/or sister (including half brothers/sisters)

a stepbrother and/or stepsister

in both cases, will attend the preferred school at point of entry

Priority 6: siblings

A sibling is defined as a child who permanently or usually lives at the same address as:

  • a brother and/or sister (including half brothers/sisters)
  • a stepbrother and/or stepsister
  • in both cases, will attend the preferred school at point of entry

Priority 7 other applications

Any child who does not fit into the above categories will be considered next.

Places are only allocated up to the published indicated admission number.

Tie breakers

If the admission number is reached mid-category, then there is a tie break, meaning places will be allocated either:

  • where exceptional medical, social or special educational needs are demonstrated and evidenced by a professional
  • if no exceptional circumstances are present; admissions are prioritised by the straight-line distance from the centre of the home to the centre of the school building

School admission refusals

We operate a catchment, area based admissions policy. Sometimes, children are refused admission to a school and placed on a waiting list. This is because there were more applications received than places available. In this instance, we use our admissions policy to prioritise places.

Refused on prejudice grounds

Oversubscribed schools will refuse further admission on the grounds that the admission of extra pupils would prejudice the provision of efficient education.

Places refused on prejudice will only apply to secondary school places and key stage 2 primary school year groups.

Details of schools last year that were oversubscribed under prejudice are available in the Oversubscribed secondary schools and Oversubscribed junior schools documents.

Refused on grounds of class size

By law, infant classes (infant classes, reception, year 1 and year 2) with one teacher cannot contain more than 30 children. Once reached, The Admissions Authority cannot allocate any more children. 

The schools that were oversubscribed last year on grounds of class size and refused further admission are available as a pdf.

Appeals

If you are refused a place from your desired school(s) you can make an appeal against the decision. Appeals are not guaranteed, and you are advised to continue making arrangements for your child's education in the run up to your appeal. 

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