Chartham Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Children in care / previously looked after children — Highest priority will be given to children in care and all previously looked after children who apply for a place at the school.
2. 2Children of staff — Children whose parents work as permanent staff members at the academies being applied to, in either or both of the following circumstances: i) Where the member of staff has been employed at the academy for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the academy is made, and/or ii) The member of staff is recruited to the Trust to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
3. 3Siblings — Priority will next be given to children with siblings at the school. Siblings include step siblings, foster siblings, adopted siblings and other children living permanently at the same address. Siblings are 'current family association'-a brother or sister in the same school at the time of entry where the family continue to live at the same address as when the sibling was admitted-or-if they have moved-live within 2 miles of the school, or have moved to a property that is nearer to the school than the previous property as defined by the 'nearness' criterion. If sibling priority is lost, it will not be reinstated for any reason. Priority will not be given to children with siblings who are former pupils of the school.
4. 4Social or medical need — Priority will next be given to children on the basis of social or medical need. Medical, health, social and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school's legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Equally this priority will apply to children whose parents'/guardians' physical or mental health or social needs mean that they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and the particular school.
5. 5Distance — Priority will next be given to children in distance order. We use the distance between the child's permanent home address and the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point.

If two applications tie: In the case of 2 or more applications that cannot be separated by the oversubscription criteria outlined above, we will use the distance between the school and a child's home as a tie breaker to decide between applicants. Priority will be given to children who live closest to the school. Distance will be measured in a straight line from the child's home address to the school's front gates. Where the distance between 2 or more children's homes and the school is the same, random allocation will be used to decide between them.

Before the application of oversubscription criteria, children with a statement of special educational need or Education (SSEN), Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school will be admitted; the published admissions number will be reduced accordingly.

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.