The Gilberd School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children in Care / Previously Looked After — Children in Care* will be admitted over and above any other Priority A child listed in the criteria 1-4. A separate admission process exists for children with Educational, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and Statements of Special Educational Needs.
2. 2Priority A1 – Children of staff — Children of teaching and non-teaching staff**: i. Who have been employees for two or more years at the time of the application for a school space. ii. Where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Parents applying under this criterion must inform the Admissions Officer at The Gilberd School in writing. (Maximum 273 places across Priority A)
3. 3Priority A2 – Sibling — Where a student's sibling***, who lives within the same household, attends The Gilberd School in Year 7 to Year 10 at the date of application and is still expected to be on roll at the time of the proposed admission.
4. 4Priority A3 – Service Pupil Premium (SPP) — Students eligible for Service Pupil Premium (SPP) living at a permanent home address (up to a maximum of 2 places). If more than 2 applications are received, places will be allocated on the basis of lots drawn****. If fewer than 2 applications are received, places will be reallocated to Priority A Criterion 4 (distance). Applicants seeking admission under this criterion should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is available from the Admissions Officer at The Gilberd School. The SIF must be received by the Admissions Officer by Friday 23rd October 2026.
5. 5Priority A4 – Distance — The remaining places will be allocated on the basis of straight-line distance from the child's home address***** to the school, with those closest to the school being given the highest priority (regardless of the priority criteria under which they have applied******). Distance will be measured using the Local Authority's Geographical Information System.
6. 6Priority B – Feeder school (distance) — A maximum of 15 places will be allocated to children attending Boxted St Peter's CEVC Primary School or Langham Primary School, with those living closest to The Gilberd School being given the highest priority. In the event that a student who is offered a place under Priority B has a sibling(s)*** in the same year group, the sibling(s) will be considered under Priority A, Criteria 2. In the event of Priority B places remaining unfilled, they will be reallocated to Priority A applicants in line with Priority A criteria.
7. 7Priority C – Musical Aptitude — A maximum of 32 places (or 10% of the total admissions intake) in each year group will be allocated on the following basis: Children resident in the Colchester or Tendring area******* at the time of application who are identified as having a proven aptitude in music as determined by the school's aptitude test. Applicants seeking admission under this criterion should complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which is available from the Admissions Officer at The Gilberd School. The SIF must be received by the Admissions Officer by Thursday 24th September 2026. Tests/auditions will then be scheduled and concluded so that parents can be notified of the outcome prior to 31st October 2026. Selective places will be allocated as follows: i. In the event of over-subscription within Priority C, priority will be given to applicants with the highest scores for aptitude as determined by the school's aptitude test. There is no specific pass mark. ii. In the event of a Priority C applicant not wishing to take up their place or being allocated a place via a Priority A or B criterion, this place will be reallocated to other Priority C applicants in rank order of aptitude score until the Priority C waiting list is exhausted. iii. In the event of Priority C places remaining unfilled after ii) above, they will be reallocated to Priority A applicants in line with Priority A criteria. iv. In the event that a student who is offered a place under Priority C has a sibling(s)*** in the same year group, the sibling(s) will be considered under Priority A, Criteria 2.

If two applications tie: In the unlikely event of two applicants with an identical distance, (Priority A and Priority B), or identical aptitude (Priority C), competing for a single place at the school, the place will be offered to one applicant on the basis of lots drawn****. (Lots will be drawn by a School Governor not involved in admissions, supervised by an independent scrutineer.)

Priority A is capped at 273 places; Priority B at 15 places; Priority C at 32 places (10% of intake). Children in Care are admitted above and beyond any Priority A child. Priority C applicants are first considered under Priority A and B; musical aptitude places are only offered to those who do not qualify under Priority A or B. SPP criterion is capped at 2 places with allocation by lots if oversubscribed. Cohort year is 2027/28 (September 2027 entry).

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.