Mowden Junior School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 3), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children including those from outside of England — A 'looked after' child is a pupil who is in Local Authority care or provided with accommodation by that authority (For more in depth definitions see Section 22(1), Section 8, Section 14A of the Children's Act 1989 and Section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002). A previously 'looked after' child is a pupil who was looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Children who appear (to the admission authority of the school) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society.
2. 2Medical Reasons — Children with very exceptional medical factors directly related to placement at Mowden Infant or Mowden Junior School. Applications under this criterion should be supported by written evidence from a professional health care practitioner. The supporting evidence should set out the particular reasons why Mowden school is the most suitable and why another school could not provide the necessary support for the child. Where further information is sought by Mowden to understand how the child's condition may affect their admission into school, permission from the child's parent will be assumed from application.
3. 3Sibling Links — Either (a) Children who have a brother or sister already attending Mowden Schools and who are expected to be on the roll at the time of admission. Or (b) In the case of associated schools a sibling link would exist if a brother or sister would be expected to be on roll of either Mowden Infant School or Mowden Junior School at the time of admission. Children have a sibling link if: They are half or full brother or sister; They are adoptive brother or sister; They are a foster brother or sister; Their carers are married/co-habiting and children live together in the same household; They are children of the same household (e.g. carers have Special Guardianship/Residency Order)
4. 4Associated Schools — Children who are transferring from Mowden Infant School to Mowden Junior School will be given priority over pupils from other schools.
5. 5Rural — Area D on Map. For children living in the area to the south of the B6279 road AND within the Ward of Heighington and Coniscliffe in the Borough of Darlington who have been unsuccessful in obtaining a place at one of their preferred schools AND for whom the nearest alternative school would otherwise be more than two miles from their home the alternative school is Mowden Infant School or Mowden Junior School.
6. 6Distance — Urban Wards of Darlington Borough Council - Children who live nearest the preferred school measured from the front door of the home address (including flats) to the main school gate, by the shortest walking route. This will be based on the home address of the child. To remain consistent the Authority uses a Geographical Information System to measure all distances. The Authority's priority when measuring a route is to identify the shortest route judged to be safe (safe is lit at regular intervals, paved/tarmaced).

If two applications tie: In the event of a tie-break in any oversubscription criteria, distance will be the deciding factor, which may involve an officer walking the route using a pedometer.

Policy covers both Mowden Infant School and Mowden Junior School. PAN of 60 is for Reception entry. EHCP children where Mowden Infant or Junior School is named are admitted before the oversubscription criteria are applied.

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.