Cove School

When there are more applications than places for 2026-27 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after children — Looked after children or children who were previously looked after (see definition i).
2. 2Exceptional medical/social need — Children or families with an exceptional medical and/or social need (see definition ii). Supporting evidence must from a professional is required such as a doctor and/or consultant for medical needs or a social worker, health visitor, housing officer, the police or probation officer for social needs. This evidence must confirm the child or family's medical or social need and why that need(s) makes it essential that the child attends Cove School rather than any other. If evidence is not submitted by the application deadline, the medical and/or social need cannot be considered.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of staff (see definition iii) who have, (1) been employed at Cove school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, or (2) have been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4. 4Catchment area with sibling — Children living in the catchment area (see definition iv) who at the time of application have a sibling (see definition v) on the roll of Cove School who will still be on roll at the time of admission. [See 6 for additional children who may be considered under this criterion.]
5. 5Other catchment children — Other children living in the catchment area of Cove school.
6. 6Out of catchment with sibling — Children living out of the catchment area who at the time of application have a sibling (see definition v) on the roll of Cove School who will still be on roll at the time of admission. [Where a sibling was allocated a place at Cove School in the normal admission round in a previous year because the child was displaced (see definition vi) from the catchment school for their address, the application will be considered under 4, above, subject to the siblings still living in the catchment area for the school from which they were displaced. In future normal admissions rounds a younger sibling will be considered to have been displaced where they were allocated a place at the school under this criterion as a consequence of their elder sibling's displacement and are still living in the catchment area for the school from which they were displaced].
7. 7Linked primary/junior schools — Children living out of the catchment area who at the time of application are on the roll of a linked junior or primary school: Cove Junior School; Guillemont Junior School; Manor Junior School; Cherrywood Community Primary School; or Tower Hill Primary School
8. 8Other children — Other children.

If two applications tie: If Cove school is oversubscribed from within any of the above categories, straight line distance will be used to prioritise applications; applicants living nearer Cove school have priority. Distances will be measured from the Ordnance Survey home address point to the school address point using Hampshire County Council's Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Distances to multiple dwellings will give priority to the ground floor over the first floor and so on. On individual floors, distances will be measured to the stairs leading to the communal entrance. Where two or more applicants are equidistant, random allocation will be used to allocate the place.

PAN of 210 includes 2 statemented pupils admitted to the specialist SEN/HI provision. Any child with an EHCP naming the school will be admitted; where possible such children will be admitted within the PAN.

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.