Townsend Church of England 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. 1Children looked after / previously looked after — Children looked after and children who were previously looked after, including those who appear (to the Governors) to have been in state care outside of England, and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Previously looked after children are those who were looked after but ceased to be so because of being adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or a special guardianship order.
2. 2Medical or social need — Children for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a particular medical or social need to go to the school. In common with most Admission Authorities, the Governors will give prior attention to children whose parent(s)/carer(s) can prove to the satisfaction of Governors, that they have a particular medical or social reason why they must attend Townsend and this request is supported by a Social Worker, Education Welfare Officer, Doctor or similar professional. Admission under this category will be limited to those who provide proof of their claim and provided that the needs identified can be met by the existing provision/resources of the school, or by additional provision/resources provided by the Local Authority. Only a very small number of children usually qualify under these conditions.
3. 3Sibling — Children who have a sibling in Years 7 to 12 at the school at the time of application. A sibling is defined as the sister, brother or half-brother or half-sister, adopted brother or sister, child of the parent/carer or their partner or a child looked after or previously looked after and in every case living permanently in a placement within the home as part of the family household from Monday to Friday at the time of admission.
4. 4Foundation/Faith Places – F1: Regular worship in the Church of England — Parents/carers or children who regularly worship at a Church of England Church and whose application is supported by their minister. Regular worship means attending at least once a month and for at least the past twelve months at the closing date for applications. Worship as part of school activities would not be considered sufficient. (60% of residual places)
5. 5Foundation/Faith Places – F2: Regular worship in another recognised Christian Church — Parents/carers or children who regularly worship at another Christian Church and whose application is supported by their minister. Regular worship means attending at least once a month and for at least the past twelve months at the closing date for applications. A recognised Christian Church will be one that applicants can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Governors' Admission Committee is a member of Churches Together in England, the Evangelical Alliance or Affinity. (60% of residual places)
6. 6Foundation/Faith Places – F3: Church of England Primary School — Children who attend a Church of England Primary School. The child must be on the roll of the Church of England Primary School at the closing date for receipt of applications. (60% of residual places)
7. 7Community Places – C1: Regular worship in a non-Christian faith community — Children or parents/carers who regularly worship in a non-Christian faith community and whose participation is confirmed by their appropriate faith leader. Regular worship in a non-Christian faith means taking part in faith-sponsored worship at least once a month and for at least the last twelve months at the closing date for applications. (40% of residual places)
8. 8Community Places – C2: Any other applicants — Any other applicants. Distance from school will be measured using the straight-line computerised system described earlier in this document. (40% of residual places)

If two applications tie: In the event of two children having an equal claim to the last available place then a place will be chosen by random tie break. Every applicant is given a unique random number for each of their school preferences. When a random tie break is needed, this random number is used to allocate the place. The lowest number is given priority. In the case of two applicants in the same block of flats the applicant with the lower door number is allocated the place.

Residual places after Rules 1–3 are split: 60% allocated as Foundation/Faith Places (F1–F3 in priority order) and 40% as Community Places (C1–C2 in priority order). Within any priority group, oversubscription is resolved by straight-line distance (closest first). In the event of under-subscription in either category the remaining places go to the other category. The school is a Voluntary Aided Church of England school and HCC Priority Areas do not apply.

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.