Robert Ferguson Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children looked after — Children looked after, i.e. in public care, giving priority, if necessary, to the youngest child(ren); children who were previously looked after; and children who were previously looked after outside of England - see note 1.
2. 2Children living in the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school — Children living in the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of admission - see notes 2, 3 and 4.
3. 3Children living outside the catchment area who — Children living outside the catchment area who, at the time of their admission, have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) who were allocated a place at that school by the Local Authority either (a) in the absence of a place being available in the catchment area school due to oversubscription and the school was identified by the Local Authority as the next nearest with a place available or (b) the school is named in the sibling’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) - see notes 2, 3 and 5.
4. 4Other children living in the catchment area giving priority to those living closest to the school — Other children living in the catchment area giving priority to those living closest to the school, measured by a straight-line measurement between the centre of the pupil’s home address and a common point on the school site as determined by the Local Authority - see notes 6 and 7.
5. 5Children living outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school — Children living outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters in the school (or associated infant or junior school) at the time of their admission - see notes 2, 3 and 4.
6. 6Children living outside the catchment area — Children living outside the catchment area, giving priority to those who live closest to the school, measured by a straight-line measurement between the centre of the pupil’s home address and a common point on the school site as determined by the Local Authority - see notes 6 and 7. Applications will be prioritised on the above basis. An exception will be made under the Local Authority’s policy for the education of children with special educational needs where a child holds an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), that names the school.

If two applications tie: Straight-line measurement on the council's GIS between the centre of the pupil's home address and a common point on the school site; random allocation, independently verified, where distances are equal.

Cumberland Council is the admission authority for community and voluntary controlled schools and determines one General Admissions Policy covering them all (Appendix 2 of the determined admission arrangements for 2027-28). Catchment areas defined by the council carry priority under criteria 2, 4 and 6.

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.