Living in a catchment area does not guarantee a place at the school.

That year group may already be full. If so, you can still apply for a place but you will have to submit an appeal.

Refused a place at primary school, on prejudice grounds, & on class size

Refused a place at primary school

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

Details of schools that were over-subscribed and refused further admission on the grounds that admission of extra pupils would prejudice the provision of efficient education, are available in the document on the right.

Refused on grounds of class size

We must allocate up to the published admission number if there is a demand. However, by law, Infant classes (children aged 5, 6 and 7) with one teacher cannot contain more than 30 children. Once reached, The Admissions Authority cannot allocate any more children. The schools that were over-subscribed and refused further admission are available in the document on the right.

Over-subscription criteria for primary school places

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

If your enquiry relates to a specific year you will need to see the criteria for that year.

Governing Bodies for voluntary aided and foundation schools are the Admission Authority who establish admission arrangements and allocate school places.

Broomhill Infant School is the only foundation school in Sheffield. The school is independent from ourselves and the Governing Body is responsible for setting and applying their own admission criteria.

Priority 1 – children in care (previously in care)

Pupils who are, or have previously been in care 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 normally 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 3 – catchment area

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

Priority 4 – siblings who were refused a place at their catchment school in a previous year, where parents applied there

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 – 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, 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.

Over-subscribed primary schools for reception & junior for year 3

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 18 April 2016.

The document on the right shows:

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

Transfer from an infant to junior school over-subscribed criteria

Below are the over-subscription criteria priorities for admissions to Sheffield community and voluntary controlled schools.

The Governing Bodies for voluntary, aided and foundation schools are the Admission Authority who establish admission arrangements and allocate schools places.

The following over-subscription criteria outline the priorities for admissions to Sheffield Community schools and Academies, except Church Schools and Academies.

Special Educational Needs

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

Priority 1 – children in care (previously in care)

Pupils who are, or have previously been in care 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 over-subscription within this category, normal categories would be applied.

Priority 3 – catchment area with sibling

Children who normally 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 normally 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, where parents applied there

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, 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.

Over subscription Criteria for Secondary Schools


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

If your enquiry relates to a specific year you will need to see the criteria for that year.

Governing Bodies for voluntary aided and foundation schools are the Admission Authority who establish admission arrangements and allocate school places.

Priority 1 Children in Care (previously in care)

Pupils who are, or have previously been in care 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 normally 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 3 Catchment Area

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

Priority 4 Brother or sisters (siblings) of children refused a place at their Sheffield catchment school

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 Brothers or sisters (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 6 Designated Feeder School

Attendance at a primary school which is officially designated as a feeder school to a secondary school, but where you live outside the catchment area.

Priority 7 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.

Admissions

ed-admissions@sheffield.gov.uk

0114 273 5766

Supporting information

You might also like…