Middlewich High School

When there are more applications than places for 2025-26 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children in Local Authority Care — Children in Local Authority Care – as defined in section 22 of the Children Act 1989. Change of status from that of Child in Local Authority Care or have been in state care outside of England as a consequence of adoption, residence order or special guardianship order will not impair an application on behalf of that child.
2. 2Siblings — Children with elder brothers or sisters, step-brothers or step-sisters, half-brothers or half-sisters, adopted brothers or adopted sisters or other children living together at the same address, already attending the preferred school (with the exception of Year 11) and expected to continue at the school in the following school year (i.e. at the time of admission). The address used for admission purposes will be that at which the child wakes up on a majority of school days (Monday to Friday).
3. 3Catchment zone residents — Children resident within the designated catchment zone. The catchment zone is the area determined by the boundary lines designated historically. Children will be classed within this category if they and their parents/carers are resident within the area served by the school on the close date for applications.
4. 4Out-of-zone feeder school attendees — Children who are not resident within the designated catchment zone but attend a school designated as a partner/feeder school as out-of-zone students. Designated partner schools: Cledford Junior School, Middlewich Primary School, Byley Primary School, Wimboldsley Primary School, Warmingham Primary School. All schools will be treated equally.
5. 5Medical or social reasons — Children for whom there are particular medical or social reasons which, in the Governors' view, justify admission to Middlewich High School. Supporting evidence from a registered professional, such as a medical practitioner, psychologist or social worker, must be provided which sets out the particular reasons why Middlewich High School is the most suitable school and the difficulties that would be caused if the child has to attend another school. A panel of Governors will consider the information presented and will determine whether the evidence is sufficiently compelling to apply this criterion to the application. The Governors, if it is considered appropriate, will seek the views of the Doctor or Educational Psychologist in the event of parents/carers requesting admission on medical or psychological grounds. This criterion cannot be considered if the required documents have not been received. Few applications fall within this category.
6. 6Children of employees — Children of employees at Middlewich High School
7. 7Distance — All other students based on distance criteria whereby preference will be given to students living nearest the school. Ranked distances are measured using Ordnance Survey mapping in conjunction with Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) to identify each property and each school. A straight-line measurement in miles is taken from the place of residence to the preferred school to calculate the distance. Proof of address and residency may be required and the Governors retain the right to withdraw any place offered on the basis of a fraudulent or intentionally misleading application.

If two applications tie: Random allocation will be used as a tie-break in criteria '7' to decide who has the highest priority for admission if the distance between two children's homes and the school is the same. This process will be independently verified.

Document states 'Determination Year: 2023 2024' and 'proposed admissions arrangements policy for 2025-2026 admissions offers'. Within each criterion, distance order is applied as a secondary ranking. The address used is where the child wakes up on a majority of school days (Monday to Friday).

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.