Dame Alice Owen's 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 and previously looked after children — Children looked after and children who were previously looked after, including those who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangement order or a special guardianship order.
2. 2Closest permanent home address (locality) — The twenty-two children whose permanent home address is closest to the School at the date of application.
3. 3Siblings — Children who have a sibling attending the school at the date of application, excluding siblings who first entered the school in the Sixth Form (Y12 and Y13).
4. 4Musical aptitude — Children demonstrating musical aptitude as determined by the Governors' Assessment Procedure (not more than 10 places).
5. 5Academic ability — Up to 65 children selected by academic ability, having taken the two parts of the Governors' Entrance Examination, with allocation ensuring at least 20 from Islington Priority Area and total not more than 65.
6. 6Children of staff — A member of staff is defined as a person who has a permanent contract of employment with the Governing Body of the School at the time of application, qualifying if employed 2+ years or recruited to fill a demonstrable skill shortage post.
7. 7Closest permanent home address (remaining places) — Children whose permanent home address is closest to the School at the date of application.

If two applications tie: If a tie-break is needed between children who are equally qualified within criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 the place will be offered to the child whose permanent home address is closest to the School. If a tie-break is needed for children who are equally qualified within criterion 6 - Children of Staff - this tie break will be the length of service of the member of staff. In the event that two or more applicants have the identical distance from home to School then each name will be issued a number and drawn randomly, with the first name drawn taking priority.

At least 20 places overall will be offered to children who either have their permanent home address within the London Borough of Islington or who are being educated in that Borough at the date of application. Places under criteria 4 & 5 restricted to children within Local Priority Areas or educated in Islington. Vacancies in Years 8-11 filled using a reduced set of criteria in order: 1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children; 2. Children of Staff; 3. Siblings; 4. Proximity to the School. Sixth form (external) PAN is 30, with separate oversubscription criteria: 1. Looked After/Previously Looked After Children; 2. Availability in subject combination required.

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.