EKC Sheppey Secondary

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 — Looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those who appear to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, or who became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order.
2. 2Siblings — Children having a brother or sister (sibling) already at the Academy when the child is due to start.
3. 3Children attending Queenborough Primary School and Nursery — Children who attend Queenborough Primary School and Nursery (part of EKC Schools Trust), up to a maximum of 60 places.
4. 4Children of staff — A child of staff employed at the Academy where (a) the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time the application is made, and/or (b) the member of staff was recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5. 5Isle of Sheppey residents — Priority to those living on the Isle of Sheppey, applying the policy’s "Dual address" definition.
6. 6Distance — Priority to those living nearest the Academy, measured as set out in the policy’s "Distance" definition.

If two applications tie: Distance from the Academy is the tie breaker whenever two children have the same priority under any criterion. If two or more children are in every other way equally eligible for the last available place, each name is issued a number and drawn at random to decide who is offered the place, supervised by someone independent of the school.

EKC Schools Trust is the admission authority for this school, so these rules are set by the trust rather than by Kent County Council, and the same policy covers every EKC school. A child with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the Academy is admitted automatically, which reduces the number of places left. Applications are made on the common application form of the local authority where the child lives — for Kent residents that is Kent County Council — and the offer is made by that authority. Two priorities here are unusual and worth knowing: children at Queenborough Primary School and Nursery have feeder priority for up to 60 places, and living on the Isle of Sheppey is itself a criterion, ranked above straight-line distance.

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.