The Costello 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. 1Looked after Children or children who were previously looked after — Looked after children and previously looked after children (as defined in section 3)
2. 2Children or families with an exceptional medical and social need — Each application wishing to be considered under this criterion must include supporting evidence from an independent professional 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 family or child's medical or social needs and must be clear why these needs can only be met at this school rather than any other. The evidence must be specific to this school and it must show why the school is the most suitable; what facilities will benefit the child, and why no other school can offer the same support.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of school staff where the member of staff meets the criteria under section 3.
4. 4Sibling on roll — Children who at the time of application have a sibling (as defined in section 3) on the roll of the school and who will still be on roll at the time of the sibling's admission. Priority will not be given to children with siblings who are former pupils of the School (or who left during or at the end of academic year 2026/27)
5. 5Children living within catchment and attending a linked school — Children whose permanent home address is inside the school's designated catchment area and attend a linked school. In alphabetical order: Fairfields, Great Binfields, Rucstall, St Marys
6. 6Children living in catchment not attending linked school — Children whose permanent home address is inside the School's designated catchment area and who live closest to the school. Distances will be measured from the Ordnance Survey home address point to the school address point using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
7. 7Children living outside the catchment area, in order of priority — i. Children living outside the designated catchment area who attend a linked school as mentioned in the list above ii. Children who live closest to the school based on distance measured from the ordnance survey home address point to school using the GIS system.

If two applications tie: When two or more applicants are equidistant, random allocation will be used to allocate a place by the Local authority who are coordinating the admissions process.

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school will be admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied. Multiple births exception: where a twin or child from a multiple birth is offered the last place available within the PAN, any further twin or child of the same multiple birth will also be offered a place if logistically possible, even though this may raise the number above 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.