Thornden 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 / previously looked after children — Looked after children or children who were previously looked after.
2. 2Exceptional medical and/or social need — Children or families with an exceptional medical and/or social need. Each application must include supporting evidence from an independent professional (e.g. doctor/consultant for medical needs, or social worker, health visitor, housing officer, police or probation officer for social needs) confirming the need and why it can only be met at this school. Applicants must have ticked the appropriate box on the application form and submitted supporting evidence.
3. 3Children of staff — Children of staff who have (1) been employed at the school for two or more years at the time the application is made, or (2) 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 who at the time of application have a sibling on the roll of the school who will still be on roll at the time of admission.
5. 5Other children in the catchment area — Other children living in the catchment area of the school.
6. 6Sibling, outside the catchment area — Children living out of the catchment area who at the time of application have a sibling on the roll of the school who will still be on roll at the time of admission.
7. 7On roll of a linked junior/primary school — Children living out of the catchment area who at the time of application are on the roll of a linked junior or primary school (Hiltingbury Junior School, Knightwood Primary School, Merdon Junior School, Otterbourne Church of England Primary School, Scantabout Primary School, or St Francis Church of England Primary School).
8. 8Other children — Other children.

If two applications tie: Within an oversubscribed criterion, straight-line distance is used to prioritise applications (applicants living nearer the school have priority), measured from the Ordnance Survey home address point to the school address point using Hampshire County Council's GIS. Where two or more applicants are equidistant ("Tiebreaker"), random allocation will be used; an explanation of the random allocation procedure is available on the County website.

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school are admitted first (stated ahead of the numbered list, not itself numbered as a criterion), and are admitted within the PAN where possible. Multiple births: if a twin/multiple-birth child is offered the last place within the PAN, other children of the same birth are also offered a place even if this takes the year group above PAN. Thornden School is part of the HISP Multi Academy Trust; the Academy Committee is the admission authority.

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.