Longdean 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 — Children looked after and children who were previously looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, subject to a special guardianship order or child arrangement order. This includes children previously from outside England who were cared for by the state because he or she would not otherwise have been cared for adequately and subsequently adopted.
2. 2Particular medical or social need — Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social need to go to the school. For children in years 7-11, a panel of Hertfordshire County Council officers will determine whether the evidence provided is sufficiently compelling to meet the requirements for this rule. The evidence must relate specifically to the school applied for under Rule 2 and must clearly demonstrate why it is the only school that can meet the child's needs.
3. 3Sibling — Children who have a sibling within the normal age range at the school at the time of application, unless the sibling is in the last year of the normal age-range of the school.
4. 4Children of staff — Children of members of staff who have been employed directly by the school on a permanent contract, for two or more years at the time at which the application is made, whether full time or part time, teaching or educational support staff, or where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage; such shortage to be determined by the Trust Admissions Committee. This includes children of the member of staff's partner, as long as the child lives at the same address as the member of staff.
5. 5Priority area, nearest non-faith co-educational non-partially selective school — Children who live in the priority area for whom it is their nearest Hertfordshire maintained school or academy that is non-faith, co-educational, and non-partially selective.
6. 6Priority area, nearest to school — Children who live in the priority area who live nearest the school.
7. 7Outside priority area, distance — Children living outside the priority area on the basis of distance, with those living nearest to the school given priority.

If two applications tie: When there is a need for a tie break where two addresses are the same distance from the school, both applicants will be accepted.

Document also covers Sixth Form entry (PAN 50 for external students) and in-year admissions, but full ordered oversubscription criteria in Appendix 1 apply to secondary transfer at Year 7 (and referenced for Sixth Form/in-year via same Appendix 1 rules).

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.