Hannah Ball Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked After Children — A child who is looked after (as defined in the Children Act 1989) or a child who was previously looked after and subsequently became subject to an adoption order, residence order, or special guardianship order.
2. 2Siblings of Current Pupils — Children who have a sibling living in the same household who currently attends Hannah Ball Academy full-time and will continue to do so on the date of admission. A sibling is defined as a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, adopted brother, or adopted sister with one parent in common.
3. 3Children of staff (skill-shortage) — Children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area.
4. 4Catchment area — Children living within the catchment or intending, by national offer day, to live within the catchment area set out in the map at the end of this policy. Children living on the boundary line will be considered to be living within the catchment area.
5. 5Long-Term Medical or Psychological Conditions — Children who have a long term medical or psychological condition that necessitates attendance at Hannah Ball Academy. Applications must be accompanied by medical evidence from a GP or hospital consultant.
6. 6Nearest distance — Once the above criteria have been applied, any further places will be awarded according to the journey distance between the family's normal home address and the Academy's nearest entrance gate; closest first, measured in accordance with the straight line distance used to determine proximity of the home to the academy will be measured by Buckinghamshire's Local Authority Geographical Information System as described in the Buckinghamshire LA admissions booklet.

If two applications tie: If in categories 4 and 5 above a tie-break is necessary to determine which child is admitted, the child living closest to the Academy will be given priority for admission. Distance is measured from the child's home to the front gates of the Academy in a straight-line using Buckinghamshire Council's Geographical Information System. Random allocation undertaken by Buckinghamshire Council or another body unconnected with the Academy Trust will be used as a tie-break in categories 4, 5 and 6 above to decide who has highest priority for admission if the distance between a child's home and the Academy is equidistant in any two or more cases. Random allocation will not be applied to multiple birth siblings (twins and triplets etc.) from the same family tied for the final place. We will admit them all, as permitted by the infant class size rules and exceed our Published Admission Number (PAN).

How places were allocated, published by Buckinghamshire Council for the September 2026 intake (How_Places_Were_Allocated_Into_Reception_September_2026_as_at_16_April_2026.xlsx). The council records: "All applicants offered". No cut-off distance exists for this year because every applicant could be offered a place. Infant class size note: Infant Class Size. Places still available after this round: Yes. After the admission of pupils with statements of special educational needs that name the Academy (EHCP), as stated in the document.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.